The contractor I hired told me that he was only going to paint wrought iron gate with primer because it would last 20 yrs. After he left, I noticed that dirt and fingerprints got on the white gate very easily. Will it rust easily only with primer?

Is he the same guy who told you paint your interior door with primer only ? What color is your wrought iron, painted white, or is it black?

This guy sounds really lazy. What has he got against primer and paint over lay ? Fire him and do it yourself and paint the door and your wrought iron properly.

Why did you make two separate posts by the way ?

Tick

He lied and it will not hold up. Let it cure, paint it with gloss exterior enamel.

Hi again, jarbell1!

Did you sign a Contract with the guy and for what length of time does he guarantee that his work will be good and stand up to any normal elements/handling to which a painted suface might be exposed, please?

Thanks!

He lied and it will not hold up. Let it cure, paint it with gloss exterior enamel.

OK. I already paid him before I did any research on this and he's long gone. Looks like I'll have to have it done again. Thanks for the advice.

Hi again, jarbell1!

If it's a latex primer and gotten a bit dirty, you can probably wash it and also apply another coat of primer, then the top coats of paint.

Thanks!

Yep, they call primer a primer for a reason. There is a new interior exterior enamel out that claims its both a primer and a top coat but it doesn't sound like this is what he sold you.

Did he use a primer that is used on metal.

I am from old school and use rust iinhibiting primer then finish with a metal finish paint by Rust-O-Lium. Use a paint glove instead of brush.

Chuck