If you have a sturdy wrought iron fence with an automated gate on your property, then you likely understand that the gate and its mechanisms need to be properly maintained. Maintenance is also required if you want the iron part of the gate to remain in good condition. Basic maintenance tasks must be carried out very carefully if you want to retain the structural integrity and strength of the fence. To learn more about the things you should do, keep reading.
Use the Right Type of Soap
Before you can attend to rust, missing paint, and general wear and tear, you will need to clean the fence thoroughly. However, your cleaning practices can actually cause fence damage. Specifically, the charged atoms in certain types of soap can cause a chemical reaction that forces the metal to lose ions. This can allow for more significant and quicker oxidation and the formation of rust.
There are three different types of detergents that you can purchase. These include anionic varieties that produce negative ions as they clean. Most general detergents like dish soaps and laundry soaps are considered anionic cleaners, so avoid these. Cationic soaps are ones that produce positively charged ions. Soaps that contain ammonia or ammonium compounds are cationic ones and they should be avoided as well.
What you want to purchase is a nonionic detergent or emulsifier agent. These types of cleaners can be found at your local home store and are labeled as nonionic all-purpose cleaners, emulsifiers, or detergents. If you cannot find the cleaners in the regular household cleaning section of the store, then look at the professional products instead. Many professional kitchens and cleaning companies use these types of cleaners.
Once you find the soap you need, gently scrub the dirt and debris from your fence with the help of the cleaner and a sponge. You can also remove stuck on dirt with the help of a scrub brush. However, use a gentle brush made with nylon or polypropylene bristles so you do not scratch the metal or the paint.
Remove Rust
Once the fence has been cleaned, you should inspect the surface for any signs of rust. If you see rust, then remove it. Large areas of oxidation or fencing sections with flaking rust should be cleaned with the assistance of a stainless steel wire-bristled brush. For larger areas, use a wide plater or block brush. For smaller spots, clean with a paddle or spiral brush. Use gentle pressure with your chosen brush only until the rust has been removed.
If rust is relatively deep, then a wire brush may not be effective in removing the oxidation. An acid-based rust remover may be a better option. These products use either hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid to convert or remove the rust. The rust removers come in liquid or gel form. Purchase the gel for more pinpointed spot removal. Use a small brush to apply the remover, let it sit for the designated amount of time, and then use soap and water to clean the acid and the rust away.
Once the vast majority of the rust is removed, you can use a piece of sandpaper to get rid of the leftover remnants that may remain. You want to remove rust without scratching the metal underneath. This is best accomplished with a piece of medium to fine grit sandpaper that is somewhere in the 100 to 180 grit range. You also want to make sure that you use a piece of emery paper that is strong enough to sand metal.
When the sanding is completed, use soap and water to clean again. At this time you can work to prime and paint the fence. You should use a rust inhibiting paint to reduce the future formation of rust.
To learn more about the process, contact a fence company like Phoenix Fence, Co.
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