Advice on painting I-beams.

[Weekend_Sawyer]

I recently installed a bunch of beams in my foundation.

 

 They are going to be exposed to the elements for a couple of months and then we will be building over them.

 Maybe I'm just too close to the problem but I just can't figure out what paint would be right for this application. I called Behr directly but unfortunately the "expert" I talked to knows less than I do and was just reading the stats off of the website.

I do plan on cleaning off any rust and wiping them down with mineral spirits before I put on a coat of paint.

So, help me figure out what works best for my outdoor/indoor metal painting task.

Thanks
Jon

[Mike W]

I personally would use a rust inhibitor such as Permatex or rust oleum.  it takes a couple / few applications, have had great success with it, as you apply multiple coats, you will see the steel turn a dark black color.  It would protect the steel until under cover then you could apply whatever coating you wish as a finished product without worrying about pealing or your temp protection flaking off when the finish is applied after your in the dry.

just my $.02 worth.

[alan gage]

Steel isn't my strong suit but I'd think the easiest and cheapest option would be to go the local hardware store that the farmers use and buy an oil based paint for tractors and equipment. Bad part would be the longish drying time so you'd need a day of clear weather for each coat.

Alan

[Bruno of NH]

Sherwin Williams has a direct to metal coating that works great no need to prime.
Used it a lot when building a indoor soccer facility. 

[GRANITEstateMP]

I've had good luck with Rust-oleum on projects with I-beams.  Then again, they were never my house and easily touched up :-\  I second the idea of a "tractor" type paint.  Are you gonna spray it on or roll it?

[Raider Bill]

My Buddy paints high steel bridges. He will only use Sherwin Williams.
He buys it by the tractor trailer load.

[AZ_builder]

If it's bare metal you'll want to use an etching paint. If it's red iron then it'll pry be fine as it sits.

[moodnacreek]

If the steel is completely rusted I would use POR but you can't paint over it.