Maintaining Your Steel Gates

But, before talking about the care and maintenance of your steel gates, we think it’s important you know a few things about steel, and why it’s a great material to use for making modern commercial gates, or domestic gates.

What is steel?

Steel is an alloy, made by combining iron and up to 2% carbon. Used the world over for everything from massive construction projects to the tiniest of components, steel is pretty much responsible for the modern world as we know it.

What are the main properties of steel?

The main properties of steel and why it makes such a good material to manufacture many items, such as gates, include:

• High tensile strength – Which means steel is unlikely to break under tension, including when it is used to construct a gate.
• Low weight – Steel isn’t as low weight as aluminium but is light relative to its strength.
• Corrosion resistance – Steel will rust under certain conditions, but nowhere near as quick as iron.
• Recyclable – This also makes steel a highly cost-effective material.

How to maintain your steel gates

You have the steel gate of your dreams, you’ve had it installed by an amazing steel gate specialist, and it looks fabulous. But now you need to maintain your steel gate, to keep it looking great all year, come wind, rain or shine.

The following basic steel gate maintenance tips are things that most people can do, but as gate maintenance and repair specialists, we’d recommend you use a qualified professional, either independently hired, or as part of an aftersales plan.

• Inspect your steel gate regularly

  Check for signs of corrosion and cracking (particularly around welded joints), and also check that the gate hasn’t dropped or become misaligned.

  You should also inspect automation, and if you do find a serious automation problem, such as sticking or a lack of power, it’s best to consult your gate installer or an independent gate specialist.

• Lubricate and tighten components

  When inspecting your steel gate, pay careful attention to other moving parts, such as hinges and locks, and lubricate each one with a good lubricating oil or grease.

  Also, check the tightness and overall condition of individual screws and bolts etc., holding the components in place, and nip them up using the correct-sized spanners, screwdrivers or Allen keys.

• Paint your steel gate

  Even though steel has great corrosion resistance, as your gate is open to the elements, it is important that you apply some sort of protective coating to help prolong its life and keep it looking fantastic.

  It’s best to use metal-specific oil-based paint for your steel gate, but, before any painting can begin, make sure to remove any visible rust using a combination of a wire brush, emery cloth or sandpaper.

Contact Us

If you’re looking for an experienced gate designer, manufacturer, installer and repairer, contact Gate Control today. We have over 20 years of experience in providing high-quality steel gates, aluminium gates, and wooden gates to customers across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and much further afield.