Can You Paint Over Metal Bathroom Partitions
Metal bathroom partitions have an annoying tendency to collect philosophical reflections from graffiti artists. Some of the more considerate members of the club will doodle their thoughts with an easily washable marker or pencil. Unfortunately, others prefer to use sharp objects and scratch the paint. When this happens, repainting is your only option.
Preparation
As with any painting job, preparation is the key to success. Soap, oil, glue or any foreign residue should be cleaned with an appropriate solvent before proceeding. Remove rust stains with a wire brush before sanding. Use a fine wet / dry sandpaper to scrape the entire surface. The new paint does not adhere properly to the smooth finish of a metal bathroom partition.
Any scratches or chipped paint should be removed and the edges plucked. You should be able to run your hand over the entire surface of the panel without feeling any bumps or dips. The paint will highlight rather than cover surface irregularities.
When the surface is smooth, remove all dust with a sticky cloth before painting.
Masking
If you do not plan to dismantle the panels for painting, hide any material that is not already painted. Paint does not adhere well to stainless steel or galvanized connectors. Masking them before painting will facilitate cleaning.
The walls should also be hidden if you intend to apply the paint with a spray gun or spray can.
Equipment
Painting the device will work well for this application. It is specially formulated to adhere well to steel. Correctly applied, it provides a smooth, washable and stain resistant surface.
Enamel paints will work well and adhere to a properly prepared surface.
Latex paints should be avoided. Latex paint is more easily removed from a metal surface after drying and does not have the durability of enamel.
Application
Spray application will give the best results. Correctly done, it will leave a surface without brush marks, bubbles or other artefacts associated with brushing or rolling.
If other considerations make spraying impossible, a high quality bristle brush should be used. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for thinning, application and cleaning.
Other considerations
Removing and dismantling partitions before preparation and painting will give the best results. If this is not possible, provide adequate ventilation of the work area and wear respiratory protection. A particulate mask must be worn during sanding and a solvent or VOC mask must be worn during painting.