Metal garden gates are some of the best choices you can make for your home or garden. The gates offer great levels of quality, flexibility, resilience, and style, not to mention adding a touch of class and charm to your house. While metal gates might cost a bit more than wooden ones, they can last a lifetime when cared for properly and kept in the right shape. Since you will have spent quite some money on the metal garden gates for your home, it’s important that you know how to maintain them well and keep them clean, along with some of the routines you could try doing at least once a month.
If you have installed a metal gate from gatesandautomationdirect.co.uk at your home and you’re wondering how to best keep it clean and well-maintained, the following is a simple guide that can help you out. Metal gates usually are not hard to clean, but they do require a lot more time compared to other gates. This article will look at the procedure of cleaning metal gates to ensure that yours stays in the best condition possible.
1. Wash it with soapy water
Put a mild detergent in a bucket of warm water and mix it with your hands until the water has formed plenty of suds. Dip a sponge in the bucket and use it to apply the soapy water on the gate, and then use a scrubbing brush to give the metal gate a good scrub. This should make it easy to get rid of all the dirt, grime, and bird droppings that may have gathered on the metal garden gate. The best approach is to start with one gate first, ideally washing both of its sides and then proceeding to the next gate using the same procedure as the first one.
2. Rinse thoroughly
When you’re done washing both gates with soapy water, use a garden hose to rinse both gates thoroughly. Ensure that there are no traces of soap left behind the gate. Leaving soap residues on the surface can potentially lead to discoloration of the gate, and you certainly don’t want that to happen. When all the soapy water is rinsed and the gates are clean, use a dry towel to dry the metal gates. Let them air dry for as much time as needed.
3. Be on the lookout for rust
One of the biggest issues with metal gates is that they can develop rust. If the gates aren’t maintained properly, rust can easily develop on them, which will eventually leave the gates useless if not promptly remedied. For this reason, you want to be highly alert for any traces of rust on the surfaces. It’s easier to get rid of the rusk during its initial stages of development than later on. If it gets out of hand, you will be at risk of losing the gate altogether. If rust is left unattended, it becomes hard to get rid of it and will continue to worsen.
4. Remove any rust
If you find traces of rust on the metal surfaces of the gate, use a piece of sandpaper to rub it away. Ensure that you steadily work it and clear all the rusted parts. Take care not to rub too hard or you will damage the paint and expose more bare metal, adding to the cost of repairs. Be sure to check both sides of the gate and remove any rust thoroughly.
5. Wash and rinse
When you’re done removing rust, wash the gates as described in step one. Follow the soapy water procedure and be sure to dry the gate with a dry towel before air drying them. It’s important to allow the gates to air dry for at least 30 minutes before moving on to the next step.
6. Apply some primer
Choose the right primer for the metal from which your garden gate is made from. Ensure that the primer you go for has integrated rust inhibitors that help keep the gate free of rust. Choose a primer in a spray can so that it’s easy for you to apply it. Open the gates wide and spray the primer starting from the top of the gate. Spray evenly until the bottom of the gate. Work the same way on the other gate as well. If possible, apply two coats of primer for better protection. Ensure the first coat is dry before applying the second one
7. Lubricate the latches and locks
This is another important step in maintaining your metal gates, and you want to choose the right lubricant. WD-40 generally works wonders for gate latches and locks. It will not only lubricate the metal latches and locks on your metal gate but also protect them from rust. If you lubricate your latches and locks using WD-40, you can rest assured that they will keep opening and closing as seamlessly and smoothly as possible.
Rust is one of the key reasons that latches and locks of metal gates gradually lose their effectiveness over time, making it difficult to operate them. Lubrication with WD-40 helps to keep rust at bay and keep the gate functioning as smoothly as it should.
8. Paint
The last step is painting the metal garden gate. Of course, this step is not meant to be done every time you clean your metal gate. Painting the gate once a year should do. Be sure to choose a paint that’s suitable for the kind of metal gate you have installed and the metal it’s made of.
Painting your gate will give it another layer of protection against rust. You could apply two coats of pain in case you feel that one is not enough. However, make sure that the first coat you apply dries up well before you start applying the second coat.