Easy DIY: How to Maintain Wrought Iron Fences with 4 Steps

There are tons of materials that you can choose to make a fence for your backyard and one of them is wrought iron. Many homeowners choose this option to make their outdoor area looks more stunning. Also, this material is the best if you want something with good durability and longevity. However, no matter how good a material is since it’s installed outdoor, it gets exposed to all weather.

Just like other materials, a fence made of wrought iron also needs maintenance to keep it lasts longer. You will need to check its condition at least once a year to make sure that there’s n buildup that will only worsen its surface. On this page, we’ll let you know about how to maintain your beautiful wrought iron fence by yourself!

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There are some simple steps that you can do to keep an iron fence looks good and last longer.

HOW TO MAINTAIN WROUGHT IRON FENCES

1. Annual Inspection

As mentioned above that you will have to do this step at least once a year to check potential issues and fix them before it gets worse. The things you can do are:

  • Take a look for missing caps, broken or bent hardware, signs of rust, chips, nicks, and scratches. As soon as you spot one of these problems, fix and replace them with the new one.
  • Cut vegetations or climb plants (vines) around the fence. Yes, we know that these plants look aesthetic but they might damage your iron fence and cause rust.

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2. Remove the Rust

This step is to remove the rust that covers the fence.

The tools and supplies you will need:

  • Gentle cleaner/car wash soap
  • Warm water
  • Sandpaper (120 – 160 grit)
  • Soft cloth
  • Protective gears
  • Fine wire brush
  • Paint scraper or a disc sander (optional)
  • Stiff metal brush (optional)
  • Towel (optional)

The steps are:

  • By using a soft cloth, a mixture of warm water, and soap, give a gentle scrub to the fence to remove any buildup of dirt and debris
  • Remove any remaining soap with clean water, as there’s a chance that this could discolor your wrought iron if left behind.
  • Once you’ve removed the dirt from your fence, use a stiff wire brush to get rid of any loose paint or rust spots.
  • If the rust is still there, you might want to use sandpaper to smoothen the surface.
  • For light rust, use 120 to 160 grit sandpaper to remove the rust on its surface. If you don’t have any sandpaper, remove the rust using a stiff metal brush.
  • If the rust is heavier, flaking, and loose, you can use a paint scraper or even a disc sander.
  • The last step is to make sure that the fence is dry. You can either leave it to air dry or dry it with a towel.

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3. Repaint the Fence

Yes, one of the methods that you can use to bring your fence a new face is by repainting it. The steps are quite easy and the same as how you paint furniture:

Tools and supplies you need:

  • Primer for metal
  • Paint
  • Brushes
  • Gloves

The steps:

  • The first step is to get the surface ready by using a primer. Please make sure that you use a primer that’s specifically made for metal. It’s because other primers may drip or not adhere to the iron which will lead the paint won’t be applied perfectly.
  • Next is to paint the fence using oil-based paint designed for metal. Before applying a new layer of paint to get a matching color, let the previous one dry first.
  • Once the last coat is dry, apply a metal-grade wax to further protect your iron fence.

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4. Take Prevention Step

By taking prevention, you can save more budget, time, and energy on the maintenance process. An easy way to prevent rust is to make sure your fence doesn’t get scratched. Scratches on wrought iron are a breeding ground for rust, and if left unattended, could cause significant damage to the structure of your fence.

That’s why it’s very recommended to coat your fence with wax or any product that can protect the fence from scratches and UV rays, especially if you live in an area with extreme weather whether it’s too hot or too cold.

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A wrought iron fence is indeed stunning and nice to see but never forget that it’s exposed to all weather 24/7 in a year. You have to maintain its longevity to keep your home looking attractive and of course, to make the fence last longer!

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