Nail head rusting can ruin an otherwise pristine painted surface. The rust spots appear as red, brown, or orange stains on the paint surface — blemishes which can simply cover with another layer of paint because there is a tendency for them to reappear if they are not dealt with correctly.
The cause of nail head rusting is essentially the electrochemical oxidation of the metals that make up the nails. When rust sets in, it can bleed all the way through the paint layer’s surface.
This corrosion usually occurs in nails that have not been galvanized, which is the process of treating metals with a coating of zinc to prevent them from rusting. However, corrosion can also occur in galvanized nails that have gone through excessive sanding or whose protective zinc layer has simply weathered away.
Another usual cause of nail head rust spots is failure to countersink the nails. When the nails are placed in such a way that they don’t sit below the surface of the material they were driven into, the rusting can become very visible later on.
Aside from using only galvanized nails, countersinking is actually the best way to prevent rust spots from appearing. Moreover, countersunk nails should also be covered with caulk and then spot primed before being painted over with high-quality latex paint. This multi-layered approach is an effective way to the development of rust spots.
If you’re embarking on a new construction project and you want to prevent issues like nail head rust spots, make sure to get the services of licensed painting contractors like Southern Painting. Our San Antonio painters are some of the most trusted painting professionals in the state of Texas — experts who can help you with any kind of paint job you might require. For more information visit http://southernpainting.com/san-antonio.