Galvanized water pipes are a necessary, but often unattractive, feature in many homes. The galvanizing process is used to protect steel drainage, duct, and water pipes — as well as metal gutters — from corrosion, but leaves a dull gray patina that actually resists certain types of paint on visible water pipes. The best way to paint galvanized pipe is to clean the pipe thoroughly, prime it with a metal primer, and paint it with water-based acrylic paint.
Why Galvanized Pipes Look White
Without a protective coating, steel, which is mostly iron, combines with oxygen and moisture in the atmosphere to produce rust. This is a process known as corrosion. To prevent this, pipe manufacturers galvanize steel pipes by coating them with a thick layer of zinc. They either dip the pipes in a vat of the molten metal or use electroplating techniques.
Before shipping the pipes, manufacturers often coat the galvanized metal with oil to halt the reaction of zinc with the atmosphere. When this oil coating wears off, the reaction of zinc with oxygen produces a fine whitish film that changes the color of the metal from gray to an even less appealing whitish-gray.
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Preparing New Galvanized Pipes for Paint
If you've just had galvanized water pipes installed, there is a good chance that the metal still has a layer of oil on it; before you paint the metal, you have to remove the oil. A solvent such as naphtha or lacquer thinner is best for this; moisten a rag with either solvent and thoroughly wipe down the area you intend to paint. Use either solvent with care: Both are flammable, and both give off dangerously noxious fumes.
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Warning
Wear a respirator while working, keep the room well-ventilated and avoid open sources of flame, such as gas heaters or lighters.
Preparing Old Galvanized Pipes for Paint
If the pipes you want to paint have been in place for over a year, the oil has probably worn off, and the zinc has begun to react with air, which leaves a powdery, whitish residue. Clean off this residue with a strong soap solution. Using 1/2 cup of trisodium phosphate (TSP) in a gallon of water will not only remove the powder, it will etch the metal underneath and make it more receptive to paint. If you're painting very old pipes, like old water pipes in your basement, use a wire brush to physically remove any rust or powdery deposits you see.
Use Water-Based Paint on Steel Pipes
Zinc reacts with the solvents and binders in alkyd and oil-based paints to produce a soapy film that causes the paint to peel and slip off, so avoid those types of paints unless you find one specifically designed for painting galvanized metal. A water-based direct-to-metal, or DTM, paint designed for marine applications is the most reliable choice, but any quality acrylic latex paint will adhere. To be on the safe side -- and ensure reliable colors -- prime the metal with a water-based primer before painting. Apply the paint with a brush, roller, or handheld airless spray gun. You'll probably need two coats; allow the first to dry for two hours before applying the second.