Rust doesn’t have to mar the beauty of your iron fences! Here are some DIY steps to fix minor rusting.
Proper maintenance is the key to keeping your iron fences looking new and beautiful for years to come. Often, a wrought iron fence makes the perfect ornamental fence because of its elegance and durability, so it’s important to keep this fencing looking great so it can continue to add beauty and value to your property. Rust is the most common maintenance issue for homeowners maintaining their wrought iron fences. While rust appears as orange-brown crumbling on the surface of your iron fence, rust isn’t just a change of color for some metal. Rust forms as the result of a chemical reaction between iron and oxygen, causing iron to corrode over time. Rust is usually caused by the presence of water, which can come in the form of rainfall, ice, or even just exposure to a humid environment over time. Salt can also accelerate rusting, so it’s a good idea to be mindful of both moisture and salt in the maintenance of your fence. Luckily, if rusting does occur, there are some steps you can take to maintain and even repair minor rusting on your iron fence.
Fixing Minor Rusting
Over time, rust damage can cause corrosion that eats through your iron fence. This damage can negatively affect the appearance of your home and landscaping. In order to restore the luster to your fencing and protect the value it adds to your home, you don’t necessarily have to replace your wrought iron fencing. Here’s how you can patch and repaint rust damage to keep your iron fencing looking good as new.
Remove
The first thing to do when repairing your iron fences is to remove excess buildup of rust from the surface. Using a sanding block or rotary tool, remove loose and flaky rust from the surface to smooth out the fencing. A rotary tool will be necessary for more solid rust damage on the surface.
Brush
Next, use a stiff-bristled brush to clear loose flakes and other debris from the surface of the fence and the rusted holes. This will remove traces of rust and allow you to keep your patching and painting looking as clean and seamless as possible.
Fill
Fill the holes in your fence with putty. Using a putty knife, fill each hole with putty and smooth the surface to give the repaired area a seamless finish. Be sure to allow your putty to dry for the specified amount of time on the can before attempting to paint it over!
Sand
Sand off any excess putty using sandpaper. This will help make the putty even with the surrounding wrought iron to keep the fence looking brand new. When you run your finger over the repaired area, you shouldn’t feel an indentation where there was previously a hole.
Paint
Paint over your repaired area with a color that will match the rest of your iron fence. Since wrought iron is typically finished in black, it’s usually simple to find a match that you can paint with a brush or spray application! If the rest of your fence is faded in color, it may be a good idea to paint the rest of the fencing at the same time to give the fence a uniform look.
HAVE QUESTIONS? ASK HERCULES CUSTOM IRON
If you are ready to install your massive duty iron fence and add iron railings or you still have some more questions, we here at Hercules Custom Iron are here to help. We have many years of experience and will ensure that your chain link fence will serve you and your family for years. Visit us online or call us at 1-800-331-2590. For advice, updates, and to see what we are up to, be sure to follow us on social media on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest.