Taking Care Of A Wrought Iron Gate

Wrought iron gates are quite fashionable in some parts of the world, but they do require some special treatment.  If you have one, there are a few things you absolutely need to know.  In the general sense, they require a lot more maintenance than your standard gate.  The material is highly prone to deterioration, and needs to be treated with caution.  Though they look fantastic, wrought iron gates come with their own pitfalls for residential gate installation.

The number one rule of wrought iron gates

The primary thing is that you absolutely need the wrought iron to be galvanized and powder coated.  Lately, cheaper gates, usually made in China, have flooded the market. These gates aren’t galvanized, and many of them aren’t powder coated.  This means you’ll be replacing your entire system within five years even with gate service.  Five years may seem like a long time, but considering you can buy a high-quality wrought iron set for just a few thousand dollars more, thus lasting for twenty years, it’s simply not worth it to go cheap.

The air is not your friend

Wrought iron gates are particularly susceptible to corrosion.  Iron is an element that easily oxidizes – you may better know this phenomenon as rust.  When considering such actions as hinge welding repair, consider the fact that any high heat source – such as the friction caused by constantly opening and closing the system – can cause corrosion to build up and eventually make the whole thing shut down.

To fight this, galvanized wrought iron that’s powder coated is the first step, but you’ll want to also schedule regular checkups with trained professionals.  You might not need 24/7 emergency service, but if you have a guy check your gate once a month, you should be just fine.