Have Rust On Your Ornamental Iron Fence? Tips For Getting Rid Of It

You may have gotten an ornamental iron fence because you love the look of the material and the security it provides. However, the iron can have a problem where rust forms on it over the years, which will weaken the material if it continues to grow. Removing rust is an essential maintenance task for homeowners with iron fences, especially when they are in a region with large amounts of moisture in the air. When you notice a patch of rust, remove it by following these tips.

Gathering Tools And Materials

There are a few key items that you need to remove rust from an iron fence, including:

• Wire brush

• Sandpaper

• Paint brushes

• Primer

• Paint

• Mineral Spirits

Preparing The Area

It will help to prepare the area around the fence for rust removal. If there are a lot of weeds around the fence, trim them so that there will be no tall weeds rubbing up against the area you are repairing. If there are other plants around the fence that you do not want damaged, place a tarp over them.

Scraping Away The Rust

You'll want to start by getting rid of flakes of rust that have not already fallen off of the fencing material. You can do this by using your wire brush, though you can also use sandpaper with a medium grit along with a disc sander. If using a disc sander, rub it along the rust spot with circular motions.

For areas with rust that is particularly hard to remove, try soaking some paper towel with mineral spirits, then wrap it around the section of fencing. Let it soak into the rust for a few minutes before rinsing it off. Let it dry, and then try scraping it again with the wire brush or sandpaper.

Priming And Painting

Start by applying a primer to the fencing material using a brush or a sprayer. Once it dries, you can apply a coat of paint to the material. Apply it in the same way as the primer and allow it to dry. You may need an additional coat of paint to match the color with the surrounding fencing material.

If you do not feel up to tackling the rust on your own, contact a fencing company that can perform fence repairs. They'll get the job done and help ensure that your fence looks brand new again. Click here for more information.