In general, Weathering Steel is intended for and is most often used in a bare, uncoated, boldly exposed condition. However, those surfaces on which moisture accumulation can occur should be protected from corrosion. A good-quality, rust-inhibitive primer applied on cleaned material is usually adequate.

All submerged or buried members or portions of member imbedded in concrete, soil, or gravel pockets should have an adequate protective coating of those types used on carbon steel in these same environments. The protection should extend above the interface of the embedment for several inches.

If it is desirable to paint exposed Weathering Steel initially, the material can be as readily coated as regular carbon steel. In its unweathered condition, a good wire brushing and solvent wash-down is usually adequate to remove all loose material, dirt, or other contaminants before painting with a chromate oil-base paint. For synthetic resin paint systems (vinyl, epoxy, acrylic or alkyd) and inorganic zinc systems, blast cleaning or the equivalent is suggested.

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