Painters Painting Vancouver: Paint Problem: Rusty Nail Heads

Dark vertical lines at the bottom of siding shingles are caused by rusting nail heads used to attach the siding to the xterior wall.  Good construction practices call for the use of box nails in siding, but common nails with large heads are often used.  The cannot be countersunk, so they usually rust when excessive moisture is present.

Solution For Rust Stains From Nail Heads.

Rick Anderson of Vancouver’s Best Painters www.vancouversbestpainters.com says that nail heads should be coated with a rust-inhibitive primer before house paint is applied.  If rust has already developed, it must be removed from each nail head with sandpaper and rust-inhibitive primer applied.  If possible, countersink each nail head 1/8 inch below the surface and immediately spot prime.  Fill primed, countersunk holes with caulk or putty.  Removing the stains is almost impossible, but they usualyy can be hidden by another coat or two of paint.  Cover the stains with a rust-inhibitive primer before applying the top coat.

The best prevention against further rusting is to remove the steel nails and to replace them with stainless stell, galvanized steel, or aluminum ones, but this may not be practical.  Rustinhibitive primers are usually effective enough.

Rick Anderson Vancouver’s Best Painters visit us on the web at www.vancouversbestpainers.com or www.604painters.com or www.vancouverindustrialpainting.com or www.canadasbestpainters.com or you can call us locally at 604-PAINTER or toll free at 1-800-PRO-PAINTER.