Metal fence and gates in Boise are exposed to various environmental elements and varying temperatures throughout the year. Our hot summers can make colored fences fade and our cold winters bring rust and other challenges to even the most sturdy fencing structures. Protective coats and paints on wrought iron or other metals are prone to nicks and scratches that expose bare metal parts to moisture and air that cause corrosion. Today, we’ll outline some key maintenance practices that you can undertake to help keep your metal fence and or gate looking new!
Regular Inspections
It is always important to inspect your entire fence comprehensively at least once every year. Routine inspections will help you greatly in identifying potential problems and resolve them early enough before they damage the fence to irreparable levels. Walk around and look for the bent or broken hardware, missing caps, signs of rust, and scratches where bare metal may be exposed.
Washing
Add a small cap of dish soap to your bucket of warm water to clean the debris, bugs, and dirt off your metal fences. Just use a small amount of soap, so you don’t harm your flowers, shrubs, or grass that surround your fenced areas.
Clear the Vegetation Around Your Fence
Climbing plants and vines at times appear attractive when they uniformly intertwine with your fence. Unfortunately, these plants can gradually corrode the protective power coating and paint that protect the fencing metals from rust.
Avoid Sprinkler Water Exposure
Keep your sprinklers adjusted to avoid contact with your metal fence and gates as much as possible. It doesn’t take long for that consistent sprinkler water exposure to dull or damage the fence.
Don’t Ignore Rust Spots or Blemishes
Address any spots that come as a result of rust soon as you identify them on your fence. The appearance of rust spots indicates that the bare metal layer of your fence is exposed to air and moisture. Sand the rust spots with fine-grit sandpaper to remove them completely. Once you’ve removed the rust – time to paint.
Paint It
You can only restore the vibrancy of a faded fence through proper painting. If your wrought iron fence color looks dull or faded, it’s probably the right time for a fresh touch of paint. Ensure you take care of the rust spots early enough. It is important also to sand areas where the fence is bubbling, cracking, or peeling to eliminate these imperfections.
Replace Worn-out Fence/Gate Hardware
Ensure you replace damaged, bent, or rusting hardware for your fence to remain strong and stylish. This is where thorough inspection is essential to note any loose or damaged gate openers, fasteners, and other hardware.
If you need a new wrought iron/metal style fence, entry gates, and other ornamental metal fence products, give us a call today, or contact us online!