Giving Your Metal Fences A New Lease Of Life

Almost all properties will have a fence surrounding their land and separating their garden from their neighbours. Whilst wooden fences tend to be more common than metal fences nowadays, many properties still have metal fences and it goes without saying that they can be beautiful architectural features. It also isn’t uncommon for homeowners who have gates at the entrance to their property to opt for these to be made with metal as opposed to wood too.

There is no denying that, like wooden fences, over time even the highest quality metal fences will experience a lot of wear and tear, and you may find that they’re starting to look a little bit tatty. Thankfully, with the right know-how, it is fairly easy to give your metal fences, and metal gates, a new lease of life and you can prevent the need for any costly replacements.

So, to help homeowners who want to give their metal fences some TLC, below are some easy steps to follow.

Clear and protect the surrounding area

Before you do anything, make sure you have the space you need to work and trim back any plants and trees that are touching the fence. The same way you would when painting a wall in your home, you should also make sure that the floor under and around your fence is protected. Simply using a plastic sheet or a dust sheet will prevent dripping paint from causing a mess.

Remove loose paint and any rust

As always, preparation is really important when you’re painting a metal fence, so this is an essential step that shouldn’t be overlooked. You need to remove any paint that has started to flake and you also need to remove any rust that has started to build up on the fence. This is fairly easy to do and you can gently use a scraper or a steel brush for this.

Sand down the surface

Once you have removed everything you can, you should then take some time to sand down the surface of any existing paintwork too. You can just use an abrasive to do this by hand, most people tend to use sandpaper, you won’t need a power tool. Ideally, you’re aiming to get a smooth finish and this will help to improve the overall finished look of the paint job.

Give the metal a quick clean

You will now be in a good position to give the fence a good clean and you can do this with a standard cloth and some mild detergent mixed with warm water. It is important to get rid of any grime and grease on the metal fence, as well as the dust you have just created by sanding the existing paintwork down.

Apply a primer (if required)

Allow the fence time to fully dry and once it is, you can then apply a primer. Depending on the metal fence paint that you’ve purchased, you may find that it doesn’t require a primer or an undercoat, but it will always inform you of this on the side of the tin. Of course, if you do use a primer, you will then need to allow it to dry before the final step too.

Paint the fence with the colour of your choice

The fence is now ready to be painted and you can do so the same way you would paint any other piece of furniture in your home. More often than not, using a smaller paintbrush is helpful to ensure that you don’t miss any spots. If required, you can add a second coat of paint once the first is dry, but most high-quality metal fence paints don’t tend to need this.

Purchasing some metal fence paint

All in all, it is fair to say that it isn’t as difficult as people assume it will be to transform their metal fences and you really can make them look as good as new again. Even if you have never attempted to clean and repaint your metal fences or metal gates before, when you have the right tools and equipment to hand, you will easily be able to improve their overall appearance and prevent the need for replacements.

If you’re looking for somewhere to purchase the products you need to transform your metal fences, be sure to visit the Decor Express website. Not only do we have a selection of high-quality metal fence paints in various colours and finishes for you to choose from, but we also have a vast number of other DIY products that are likely to be beneficial during this renovation project. We invite you to browse our website today and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to contact us, we will gladly help in any way we’re able to.