Caring for Aluminium Gates & Fencing
There is very little to do, but the little there is makes a real difference — especially near the coast.
Wash it down
This is the whole maintenance regime for the finish. Fresh water, a soft brush or cloth, and mild detergent if it needs it. Rinse afterwards.
The reason is accumulation rather than damage. Airborne salt, dust, pollution and organic matter settle on any outdoor surface and gradually dull the finish. Washing removes them before they build up.
Frequency depends entirely on where you are. Inland suburbs, a couple of times a year is plenty. Within a few streets of the surf, considerably more often — salt is the single biggest factor in how long any outdoor finish keeps looking new.
- Fresh water and a soft brush; mild detergent if needed
- No solvents, no abrasives, no high-pressure washing at close range
- Inland: a couple of times a year
- Coastal: more often, and pay attention to sheltered areas that rain does not reach
Check the moving parts
Gates have hinges and latches, and those are mechanical parts on a thing that moves several hundred times a year.
Once or twice a year, open and close the gate and pay attention. Does it swing freely through its whole arc, or does it catch at one point? Does the latch engage cleanly without lifting or pushing the gate? Has the latch side dropped relative to where it started?
Catching a hinge that has started to work loose is a five-minute job. Leaving it until the gate is dragging is not.
Scratches and damage
A scratch through the powder coating exposes bare aluminium. It will not rust, but it will be visible as a bright line against the colour.
Touch-up options are available for cosmetic repair. For anything significant, get advice rather than experimenting — an incompatible product can look worse than the original scratch.
A dent in an aluminium slat is cosmetic rather than structural in most cases. If a slat is badly damaged, individual slats can often be addressed rather than replacing a whole panel.
Around the base
Keep soil, mulch and garden beds from building up against the bottom of posts and panels. It is not a corrosion risk the way it is with steel or timber, but it traps moisture and organic matter against the finish and holds it there.
Trim back plantings that grow through or against the fence. Climbers in particular hold moisture against the surface and make washing down impossible.
