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Automatic gates, sliding gates, swing gates etc. are susceptible to rust and corrosion as they weather the ever changing climatic conditions. Manufacturers make gates either from wrought iron or steel along with different kinds of metals. Long term exposure to heat, dust, wind and rain tend to cause rust and corrosion in iron gates. What is needed is to take care of them periodically in order to increase their product life.
Proper periodic maintenance of iron gates not only adds life to your gates but also maintains smaller machine parts that can make the entire functioning of the gate obsolete. Here are a few tips to prevent your gates from rusting and give them added life in their functioning.
Wrought Iron gates are offer good resilience, strength, robustness and style to outdoor gates but they gather dust and dirt easily as well. Get your iron gates cleaned with warm soapy water occasionally in order to remove the dirt, grime, bird droppings, etc. These tend to gather dust and corrode the gates easily. Once cleaned, wash the gates with your garden hose and inspect for elements of rust.
Rust is easy to remove with sandpapers. Once rust is thoroughly scrubbed, apply primer containing rust inhibitors. Apply two coats of primer to give long last effect but remember to let the first coat dry completely before applying the second coast.
Sandblasting: Sandblasting is good option for removing dirt, old paint chips, foreign matters, rust, etc. It should be done prior to galvanising or painting the steel gate. It proves to be one of the most effective methodologies for preventing metal gate from foreign substance and giving it a smoother finish.
Extremely fine sand or any high grit abrasive material is blasted with the help of compressed air through a nozzle. This material quickly removes fine objects on the surface of the metal leaving the surface smooth and shining.
Epoxy Primer is also widely used for preventing rust on steel gates. There are various types of primers that can be conveniently used for preventing rust on steel gates. Epoxy primer is expensive but it rules the roost. Basically, you are already spending so much of money on automatic gates so it makes sense to protect it and give it longer shelf life by using a good primer.
Epoxy primer is non-porous which means it does not absorb moisture like other primers and does not chip off either. It is definitely the best option if you live in a damp climate. It possesses excellent corrosion resistant properties over other conventional primers. Use the primer with spray mechanism to evenly paint the metal with the primer. If the metal surface is uneven or rough, then you can also opt for “filler” primer that permeates into the blocks and crude surfaces.
Galvanisation is a good option in case of steel iron gates. Galvanisation is the process of coating iron gates with zinc when the iron object is dipped in molten zinc and a fine layer of zinc dries up to added coating to prevent rusting.
Hot Dip Galvanizing is one of the popular methods that are extremely effective in protecting iron gates from corrosion. It is widely used for protective process where steelwork is used in exterior frames. This process is extremely cost-effective and adds extra life expectancy to the steel with its corrosion control properties. It has been tested in nearly all types of atmosphere is known to give a long life up to thirty years. Hot Dip Galvanising is has long proven performance for years.
The galvanised layer results from metallurgical bonding which tough and continuous alloy layered coating to yield maximum protection. It has a long lasting effect on the iron gates which lends toughness, longevity and self-healing properties to the framework. It acts as a barrier between the external environmental hazards and the steelwork.
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