Your wrought iron fence is a beautiful addition to your home, but over time it can become rusty and unsightly. Don’t worry, though – restoring your fence is a project that anyone can do! In this blog post, we will discuss the reasons why your fence may have rusted, how to tell if it is possible to restore it, and the steps you need to take to make your fence look like new again. Your local Royal Palm Beach fence company can help you if your fence needs a ton of work or needs to be replaced, but in most cases it is possible to fix it.
Reasons Your Wrought Iron Fence May Rust
There are a few reasons why your wrought iron fence may have rusted. The most common reason is exposure to the elements, but other factors can include:
-Incorrectly applying a sealant or coating to the fence
-Failing to keep up with regular maintenance tasks like power washing and repainting
-Allowing plants or vines to grow too close and create moisture buildup on the fence
How to Tell if Your Wrought Iron Fence Can Be Restored
If you’re not sure whether your wrought iron fence can be restored, there are a few things you can look for. Rusting occurs when metal is exposed to oxygen, so if the rust appears only on certain parts of the fence and nowhere else, it may be possible to restore the fence. You can also try rubbing a magnet on the rusty areas – if the magnet sticks, then the metal is still good and restoration is possible.
If more than 50% of the metal is rusted, restoration will not be feasible or if there are any broken or missing pieces, the fence will need to be replaced as restoring it will be nearly impossible or will be costly to the point that it is not feasible.
Steps to Restore Your Rusty Wrought Iron Fence
Once you’ve determined that your wrought iron fence can be restored, here are the steps you need to take:
-Remove all of the rust by sanding down or scrubbing with a wire brush. You may have to search for rust removing chemicals to help with the process if brushing isn’t working.
-Apply a coat of primer to protect against future rusting. Remember primer is just a base layer though and won’t fully protect your fence without rust proof paint.
-Paint the fence with a rust-resistant paint color of your choice. It may take a few coats and to help stave off further rust it’s a good idea to redo this every couple of years or so.
-If the fence is severely rusted, you may need to repeat these steps more than once or move on to a professional to allow them to clean and reshape the fence to its natural look before it will be able to be gotten back to new.
All Pro Fence in Royal Palm Beach can help you with any questions or concerns you have about restoring your wrought iron fence. With a little bit of time and effort, your fence will be looking beautiful again!