How can I prevent rust from forming on my gazebo metal?

Roberta Younger
by Roberta Younger
  11 answers
  • Margarite Margarite on Apr 26, 2018

    I read the you can use car wax. Also check out interest for ideas.

  • SandyG SandyG on Apr 26, 2018

    Time and some work. I would purchase a spray rust inhibitor to use as opposed to using a paintbrush to apply.


    Step 1 - Preparation

    Put drop cloths all around the metal gazebo before you begin working on it. Make sure you have good safety equipment. You’ll need a dust mask and safety goggles, and you should make sure you wear a long-sleeved shirt to keep paint and rust off your skin.


    Step 2 - Cleaning

    The toughest part of keeping rust from your metal gazebo is cleaning it. Put a wire brush on an electric drill and take off the old paint from the metal gazebo as well as rubbing away any areas of rust that might have formed on the metal. Remove as much of the rust as you can. Finish the procedure by using an emery cloth on any rusted areas to take out more of the rust.

    Step 3 - Rust Inhibitor


    Rust can only form when air comes in contact with the metal. If you can seal off the metal, then rust won’t start to form. Begin by putting a coat of rust inhibitor on the metal gazebo. Apply it with a paintbrush to ensure you coat all the metal. If there are small areas of rust left after your cleaning, paint over them with rust inhibitor. It will stop the rust blooming further.


    Step 4 - Primer

    After the rust inhibitor has dried, put on good metal primer. This will add further protection to the metal gazebo as well as letting the paint adhere much better. Put on a thin coat over all the metal gazebo and leave it to dry before you apply a second coat of primer to the gazebo.


    Step 5 - Paint

    Professionals often recommend using a high gloss alkyd paint on a metal gazebo. This is because it’s very resistant to humidity and oil and is very durable, so you won’t need to repaint so often. Although you can use a roller to apply the paint, a brush will enable you to reach into all the nooks and crevices of the metal, which is important to give a good, even finish to the structure and help protect it from rust.

    Put on two thin coats of paint. Let the first coat dry before you put on the second. This adds to the painting time but means that the metal gazebo will look much better. Check the metal gazebo regularly for any signs of rust. If you’ve painted properly, there should be none for several years.

  • Cheryl Cheryl on Apr 26, 2018

    EVERYTHING I buy for use outdoors, I give it a couple coats of clear spray paint. I redo it again every 2/3 years.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Sep 25, 2023

    Paint it with Hammerite paint.

  • Annie Annie on Sep 26, 2023

    There's a video here as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz4HssDGPmo

  • Wax it with car wax.

  • Mogie Mogie on Sep 26, 2023

    Apply a rust-preventive primer to the gazebo’s surface. This will help seal any small crevices that may be harboring moisture, which can lead to rust formation.

  • Hey there, Roberta! You can check this link for more information regarding your concern. Hope this helps!


    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-prevent-metal-gazebo-from-rust-easy-step-guide-2023-shehzad