WPSC

Hello All!
I have a 1929 tudor with casement windows. Unfortunately, 2 sets of casements have rusted. The bottom style is quite decayed. Any suggestions on how best to make repairs. I'm not sure Bondo will do.
Thank you!

Your steel windows can be repaired or cleaned and repainted. If you are going to do the work yourself there are a few things that you need to do. First, download the National Park Service Preservation Brief #13 from http://www.cr.nps.gov, the brief gives you an outline of methods and procedures that can be used to review the condition of your windows and methods of repair.

Use a wire wheel grinder to remove rust, clean area, prime w/a direct-to-metal primer and paint.

There is a huge and untapped market for metal window repair in the Pacific Northwest! In all my searching, I can only find people and companies all east of the Rockies which is most frustrating. There are some folks in California, I understand, but that is too far geographically to travel. All the window repairs here, just repair wood. I have had at least 2 huge (to me) tax credit projects with metal windows in Portland Oregon that might have been saved. Then there are all the warehouse and industrial buildings, condo associations in old apartment buildings and other random projects that jump out all the time. While I can provide technical advice and I know technically how to repair steel windows, I have no suggestions for people to consider here and that is such a lost opportunity for being green, sustainable and preserving historic properties!

Jim writes:


Is "direct-to-metal" a generic description of a type of metal primer , or is it a product name or marketing phrase used by one manufacturer?

What does "direct to metal" mean. I understand the general meaning of the words: the primer is to be applied directly to the metal. But, I've always thought that primers were applied right on the metal. How is "direct to metal" primer different than other primers that would be used on metal?

_________________
John
Standards Co-Founder
Standards Editor

http://www.HistoricHomeWorks.com

OK, I found this:

Direct-To-Metal (DTM) coatings are all purpose
light maintenance coatings that
are designed for direct application to
metals without the use of a primer. They
function as both primer and topcoat in just
one coating.
(source: Paint for Metal Surfaces - The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute, http://www.industrialpaintquality.com/p ... rfaces.pdf)

And this:

"IAQ 4000 is a 100% acrylic, rust inhibiting direct to metal primer"
(source: Fiberlock product information, http://www.fiberlock.com/mold/8340.html)

So, now I'm really confused about what "direct to metal" means.

_________________
John
Standards Co-Founder
Standards Editor

http://www.HistoricHomeWorks.com