Sheet Metal Supplies for Home

After you get metal from a sheet metal supply company, you need to know how to protect it from the elements. A metal building is very tough and durable, without the tendency to rot that a wooden building has, but this does not mean that it is without issues. Rust can quickly start to set in, destroying your walls and roof and forcing you to buy replacement panels. However, there are some different things that can be done to prevent this from happening. 

First of all, you could talk to the company and see if they sell metal that has already been coated in a protective agent. This is often done with metal parts; for example, you can buy galvanized nails that will not rust for years, even if they are directly exposed to the elements. These are often used on roofing projects. The supply company may have sheet metal that has been coated in a similar fashion, offering you more durability for roughly the same price. 

The simplest option, though, is just to paint the metal. You need to apply at least two coats of outdoor paint to get started. After that, you should reapply a coat every five to ten years. You can also look for damage to the paint - such as strips of it that are coming off near the top of the wall - where water could get inside. Those areas should be repainted more often because they represent breaches in your defenses that cause rust.