Help me with this picture

[johnzebo]

What would you exactly call that rusting white metal?

Thanks!

 

[oldognewtrick]

That is a steel, brick lintel.

And to House Repair Talk!

 

[nealtw]

That is a steel lintel that takes the load of the bricks above and spreads that load to each side of the door. You will have that over the windows too.

 

[johnzebo]

Can I replace that easily? or should i just paint over it?

 

[nealtw]

You won't be changing that piece, it is part of the structure, it wants to be painted with a paint for steel.

 

[kok328]

Sand, prime and paint.
DO NOT ATTEMPT REMOVAL.

 

[Snoonyb]

There are rust inhibiting primers, use oil base material.

 

[DFBonnett]

I've done many of those over the years. If it's rusty, clean it up, use rusty metal primer, then top coat with an oil base paint in a color of your choice.

 

[JohnMcNally]

Obvio it is steel and and you can easily replace it.

 

[havasu]

Easily? Sure, provided you chisel out those 6-7 bricks up top, find exact duplicates, and wedge them back into place. Not my idea of easy just because of a bit of rust.

 

[JoeD]

You do not want to replace it. Sand or wire brush it and paint with rust paint like tremclad or rustoleum.

 

[Steve123]

This is probably what you have up there. Its quarter inch thick hunk of steel angle weighing about 25 pounds. A little surface rust ain't going to make it fail. As others have mentioned, just go over it with rust paint.

 

[nealtw]

Or just go over it with some fancy wood work.

 

[bud16415]

Or go over it with a strip of aluminum or vinyl trim strip.