Is Your Metal Fence Rusting? Learn How To Properly Clean And Repaint It

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One of the problems with metal fencing is that it can rust over time. When the material is not yet ready to completely replace, your best option will be to clean and repaint the metal, which will slow down additional rust formation. Your fence will look better, and you'll get some additional years out of it before it eventually needs to be replaced. Here is how you can do it on your own.

Tools and Materials

Before you can start, you'll need the following items.

  • Spray paint
  • Soft brush
  • Sandpaper
  • Toothbrush
  • Steel wool
  • Cardboard

Any of the materials that you don't have can be purchased at a local home improvement store.

Remove The Rust

The first step is to remove all of the rust from your metal fence. All large sections of rust can be removed using steel wool. Just rub the material across the section of metal fencing that is rusted. It helps to work your way down individual metal strands of a fence so that you will not miss any sections.

Sandpaper can then be used to smooth out areas that may still be rusty. The finer the grit of sandpaper, the smoother it will be. For small crevices, you should use a toothbrush to remove rust.

Once you have covered all the fencing with the steel wood and sandpaper, a soft brush should be used to remove all of the dust left behind from the rust. This is an important step to ensure the dust does not get stuck in the paint.

Painting The Fence

The painting process goes a bit easier if you can have a friend help you. While one person holds cardboard against the back of your fence, the other person can use spray paint to cover the opposite side. The cardboard helps prevent the paint from going onto the ground, yourself, or the clothes you are wearing.

Allow the paint to dry according to the manufacturer's directions, then paint the opposite side in a similar manner. If the paint has not dried, your cardboard will most likely stick to your fence and ruin the paint job.

With both sides painted, the job is complete. You should be able to get some extra years out of your fence before it needs replacement. If you do not feel up for doing this job on your own, contract a fencing company in your area to help you. Contact a business, such as Mills Fence, for more information.   

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