Why this is important
Painting adds additional protection to the metal from weathering and rusting. Ironwork will need repainting about once every five years. South or West facing exposures may need repainting more frequently.
All ironwork should be inspected at the first signs of rust, and, at least, annually for any signs of breakdown and decay.
What to look for
The tendency nowadays is to paint all these objects black gloss as dark colours make them appear slenderer and less solid. A visual inspection will reveal rust or peeling paint, and where that is found action is needed quickly.
Peeling paint may suggest the wrong paint has previously been used, and needs total replacement.
Rust may suggest a more complex problem.
Wirral Council Planning Department recommends that all ironwork is painted black gloss and you will need Listed Building Consent and Planning Permission from them before you can change their colour from black.
However, if you find paint colour other than black, and you wish to return to the original colour, then you must obtain Listed Building Consent and Planning Permission.
What to do if you find a problem
Any rust or loose paint should be wire brushed back to a clean bright surface then primed with two coats of a suitable metal primer.
Any bare metal needs to be primed with a suitable metal primer Red lead primer was the traditional primer but can be difficult to get hold of nowadays. Other metal primers contain Zinc Phosphate, often reinforced with micaceous iron oxide.
Once the primer has dried, apply one coat of oil based undercoat and one coat of oil based gloss. This will give a hard wearing finish that will last for several years – as long as the preparation was done carefully.
Wirral Council Planning Department recommends that all ironwork is painted black gloss and you will need Listed Building Consent and Planning Permission from them before you can change their colour from black.
Avoiding creating problems
Merely painting over rust will not stop the metal continuing to rust.
Avoid water-based primers, “universal” primers (they tend to do nothing very well) or one-coat-wonder paints.
Historical background
Recent research has shown that balconies and other metal ornamentation were originally painted other colours such as dark grey or dark green (invisible green). One reason for this may have been that black pigments tended to slow down the drying of traditional oil paints making them impractical for use outside. The story that they were painted black in traditional mourning for Queen Victoria’s Prince Albert’s death is probably apocryphal.