Painting Galvanized Flashing Indoors

Pop by the paint store and get good advice, but galvanized is perfectly paint-able.

Good cleaning is required (Esp. someplace where a lot of aerosols have been in use) and a primer matched to the overcoat as well as galvanized - which is why I suggest your paint shop for advice.

They make some kind of paint specific to galvanizing. Its grey in color and works great. You definitely need it as a primer as any others will peel immediately.

I worked briefly for a sheet metal and HVAC company, and what they did for galvanized metal that required painting was to wash it with strong vinegar. This makes the surface slightly more permeable and it holds the paint better. This was for exterior work, but the paints were water based.

Vinegar or acid wash to take the residue off that will cause the point to coagulate on the surface. He can then paint directly to the galvanized sheet metal. I would recommend using a zinc oxide primer to ensure the paint holds up longer because once paint chips on a metal surface it just seems to keep getting bigger. But that also depends on how much he's willing to spend on materials.

The vinegar wash is good advice.I have used it with much success.It etches the zinc for a better hold. A note of advice:Don't use flat paint on curved surfaces..like pipes or hand rails..it flakes right off after a while...must use round paint (HE! HE!)

Thank-You for all the advice , with all this research I did ,we have decided to decorate around the flashings ,TOO much work for the budget.