Metal Chain Link Fence/Hand Rail

Maintenance & Cleaning

5 Maintenance Steps

1. Fight Rust with Finish While chain link fence is known for its durability and ability to withstand the elements better than other types of fencing, without proper coating it can easily become vulnerable to rust from moisture. Rain, morning dew, and snow are the usual factors that cause rust. With proper coating of rust-resistant finish, you can easily fight them off.
2. Wash and Wax Dirt and grass from the ground accumulating on the fence are major reasons why you would need to clean your chain link fence from time to time. You can give your fence a good washing with soapy water between seasons in order to keep it looking new. Start with a wax and then oil the fence’s springs, latches, and joints, etc. with mineral oil. You can use steel wool to sand away light scratches. While painting, it is important that you let layers dry between one another, or else you will risk dripping and flaking.
3. Check for Loose Nails Loose nails can become the cause of a bigger damage into your fence if not taken care of on time. Make sure that there are no loose nails on your chain link fence. Tighten all loose screws and bolts. Pay close attention to gate hardware as it gets the most use.
4. Oil The Hinges If there’s a gate in your chain link fence, make sure that its hinges are rust free. Regularly apply oil on the hinges to keep it rust free. If you don’t do that, opening and closing the gate could become difficult as the hinges start to rust.
5. The Maintenance Routine Maintaining your chain link fence for minor problems is quite easy. Replacing pickets and palings is simple enough. You can do the maintenance on a regular basis, preferably once a month. Direct physical checks: You can perform regular physical checks to look for any changes in the condition of your chain link fence, mainly any signs of damage or movement.

Check your chain link fence regularly and if you find any form of damage, take immediate action. Amongst other things:

• Check upright and supporting posts for wear and tear. These will usually be metal, and could rust. If they weren’t concreted into the ground, they might also shift. Remember that all upright, supporting poles should be at right angles to the ground.
• The chain link itself doesn’t damage easily, though it can be if something heavy falls against it, a dead tree for example. It also isn’t easily cut, but bad things do happen, and if criminals do manage to cut or force their way through fencing, it should be replaced as soon as possible.
• If the chain link isn’t coated, it’s important to check for rust. If you catch it quickly you’ll save money in the long run.
• Of course if the fence has become a dirt trap, you’ll need to clean it.

Cleaning a Chain Link Fence the Right Way
Having mentioned that rust can be a problem on metal posts and uncoated chain link fences, you’ll need to know how to tackle this. Rather than waiting until the rust is so bad it needs a chemical rust remover or worse, requires replacement of posts and/or the fencing material itself, use steel wool to get rid of early signs of rust. Wear rubber gloves, and simply rub it off using a little pressure. If you have to use a commercial rust-removing product, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and be sure to flush well with clean water when you are finished.

If the fence is just dirty, you might be able to hose it off and scrub any debris that refuses to move when sprayed. Many people use soapy dishwater to clean their chain link fences, but a more environmentally friendly method is to use borax mixed with water (3 gals/14 liters mixed with about two cups of natural borax powder will usually do the trick). Borax doesn’t contain detergents of any kind, and it is also an effective natural pesticide. Mix it with the water and then decant into a good quality outdoor pump sprayer. Spray the areas that are dirty or have accumulated mud, bird droppings and other debris; leave for about ten minutes before hosing off with clean water. If you have to scrub, wear rubber gloves.

Sometimes mold forms on fencing. Instead of using bleach (which is admittedly an effective agent against mold), for environmental reasons it is better to use white spirit vinegar. Not only is it kinder to plants, but vinegar contains acetic acid which is both anti-bacterial and anti-viral. A mix of 3 gals/14 liters of water mixed with 2 gals/9 liters white vinegar usually works well. Again, if you have to scrub, wear rubber gloves or your skin will suffer.