Iron is one of the toughest materials used in so many things – bed frames, furniture, fences, gates and railings, among others. Iron gates and railings absorb all types of weather, and changes in the weather can have an effect on their metal composition over time. If you have an iron gate that you want to last for a long time, you have to take time for its care and maintenance. Although steel is much stronger than wood and brick, you still have to do your part in maintaining it even if it is very durable and can withstand use and abuse for a long time. Here is what you can do.
Take preventive measures
Prevention is always better than cure, and it also applies to iron gates. They can accumulate rust if you do not take care of them properly, especially if you live in a coastal area where salt can deteriorate iron quicker than if you are far from the sea. You can coat your gate and fence with a protective wax to ward off rust. Do this at least two times a year, and you will be sure that your gate will always be in good shape.
Paint them
Another way of protecting them is to apply paint. Doing so will not only provide colour to it but protect it from rust as well. The most popular paint colours are black and red, but you have the prerogative to go as crazy with the colours as you would like to.
Clean them on a regular basis
Water and mild soap should be enough to keep your iron clean. Since your gate and fence are outdoors, they can get filthy – from dust, dirt, debris and animal droppings.
Get rid of rust
If you have already coated your gate with a wax protector, but it still got rusty, you can get rid of it quickly. Do not wait for the rusty spot to get worse before you take any action. Use sandpaper to get rid of the rust, and then apply a coat of wax over the area. If the rusty area is a lot bigger, you can call a professional to take care of it.
Repair bent components
It may be that there was an accident that bent or broke your iron gate and fence. Don’t worry; you can still fix it and make it look like nothing happened. If you are handy with repairs, you can use a blowtorch to heat the bent section and then use a hammer to straighten it; otherwise, call a professional maintenance specialist to do the job. For broken parts, you will need a welding machine to put them back in place.
Websites such as smartsteels.co.uk have a wide range of iron gates and fences, so you can choose what you want yours to look like. You can custom-fit your gate to your specifications, and the manufacturer will make it for you. You only have to follow the care instructions so that your gate will last you a lifetime.
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