Every fence, however well built, does better with a bit of care. The good news is that a metal or chainwire fence asks very little: control rust, keep it clean, check the structure now and then, and deal with small problems before they become big ones. Here is everything worth knowing, in one place.
Rust is the enemy, so get ahead of it
Iron and steel are what make a fence strong, and they are also what rust attacks. Exposed to oxygen and moisture, and helped along by rain, salt air and pollutants, bare metal corrodes. Once rust takes hold it holds moisture against the metal and spreads, and it does not just look bad, it breaks the fence down.
Most quality fencing is protected from the start, galvanising lays down a zinc barrier, and a PVC or powder coating adds another layer. Even so, coatings wear over the years. Where you find surface rust, wire-brush and sand it back, then treat it with a rust-inhibiting primer and repaint. For heavier corrosion there are more involved methods, rust converters, dry-grit blasting, needle guns, that are best left to someone who does them regularly. Preventing rust is always cheaper than fixing it, so a green or black PVC coating on a chainwire fence is a sound investment where corrosion is a concern.
Keep it clean
Cleaning is the single most effective habit. For most fences, a hose-down clears the bulk of the dirt. For grime or stains on a metal fence, a cup of strong household detergent in a bucket of warm water and a scrub with a wire or stiff brush does the job. For a large chainwire run, hosing the whole fence once a year, then focusing on the spots that collect dirt, keeps it in good order. Dry and oil the hinges and joints after cleaning so they keep moving freely.
While you are at it, clear debris from the base of the fence, concrete, rocks, tree roots, loose branches, and pull off any creeping vines. Left alone, these put pressure on the structure and trap moisture.
Check the structure
The foundation your posts sit in can loosen over time as soil erodes or settles. Once or twice a year, walk the fence and look for the tell-tale signs it is weakening:
- Posts that lean, tilt or feel loose
- Sagging or loose mesh and rails
- Loose or rusted bolts, hinges, latches and screws
- Broken links, holes or worn coating
Catch these early and they are small jobs. Ignored, a leaning post becomes a section rebuild. Avoid hanging heavy signs or objects on the fence, they warp the mesh and strain the posts.
Realign a dropped gate
A chainwire gate can drift out of square over time. Usually it is fixable at the hinge pins. With a socket wrench, loosen the bolts just enough to reposition the gate parallel to the fence, prop it level with a block of wood underneath, then re-tighten. If a gate is binding, sagging or scraping, this is the first thing to check.
Know when to repair and when to replace
Not everything needs a full replacement. A rough guide:
- A hairline crack or scratch: clean it and seal it.
- A small dent or gap: a suitable metal filler or sealant.
- Substantial damage to a section: replace that section. One of chainwire's strengths is that you can usually swap out the damaged part without touching the rest of the fence.
A simple seasonal rhythm
You do not need a strict schedule, just a rhythm that matches the weather.
- Spring is a good time to clear leaves and debris that built up over winter, wash the fence down and check the gates run smoothly.
- Summer's warm, dry days are ideal for the jobs that need to cure: clearing and treating rust, repainting worn coating, and any sealing work, all set better in the heat and away from the rain.
- After any big blow or storm, do a quick structural check, coastal and exposed sites take a beating in strong wind.
If you use a pressure washer, keep it on a lower setting so you do not strip the paint or coating, and take extra care around any timber posts that are not sealed.
The lifespan payoff
Maintained this way, a quality chainwire or steel fence lasts a very long time and keeps doing its job, marking a boundary, securing a property, enclosing animals or a sporting field. The returns only come if the fence stays sound, and that is what the upkeep protects.
Most of this you can do yourself. When something is beyond a quick fix, a loose foundation, warped mesh, corrosion that has gone deep, it is worth getting a fencing specialist to look at it before it spreads. You can reach the team on 02 4023 5416 or at admin@chainwire-fencing.com. A little attention now is what keeps a fence standing for decades rather than years.