One thing you can’t avoid when it comes to maintaining your iron gates is the weather.
One thing you can’t avoid when it comes to maintaining your iron gates is the weather. Mother Nature is unpredictable, even with the best weather reports trying to read her mind. The best way to protect your metal fence and gates from the elements is to prepare it with sufficient preventative measures. Check out these tips for preventing problems that come from the wind and rain.
Surge Protection
Have you ever considered how a lightning strike directly to your iron gate would affect its operation? Lightning could cause your expensive gate operator to fail and need total replacement. Try using grounding rods to help isolate and divert the power surge away from your gate. You could also invest in a surge protection system, which would save a lot of money when it comes to continually replacing motors and other components after every lightning storm.
Keep It Closed
In the wind and rain, one of the best ways to protect your iron gates and prevent expensive damage is to keep them securely closed. High winds could cause your gate operator to stall. Depending on the ferocity of the wind and the storm, it may be necessary to use additional reinforcement to avoid the gate swinging open because of a wind gust.
Landscape Maintenance
Think of those elements on your property that surround your iron gates. They should be well-maintained throughout the year as overgrowth can affect the way winds interact with your fence. Untrimmed shrubs and trees can blow branches and limbs into your iron gate, which could cause damage. If your gate has a photo-eye component, overgrowth can also obstruct it from operating properly operation and cause your iron gate to remain open.
Hardware Maintenance
When you know that foul weather is on the horizon, prioritize fence and gate maintenance. Thus, before the wind and rain even begin, you will need to give your iron gate hardware a visual inspection and complete any necessary repairs. Make sure that the hinges and bolts are in good, working condition. If they need repairs, attend to them immediately, as the wind could cause even more extensive damage to those components.
CALL HERCULES CUSTOM IRON TO LEARN MORE TODAY
If you need more help having your metal fence repaired, replaced, or would like an aluminum fence (period!), the pros at Hercules Custom Iron are ready to help. For more information and to learn how we can meet your custom fencing needs, contact Hercules Custom Iron online or giving us a call at 1-800-331-2590. We will ensure your investment serves your family for years to come! For updates and to see projects we’re working on, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+, and Pinterest.