Regular maintenance and painting of garden gates is an easy process that will help keep the gates looking like new for many years.
To paint the gates you will require the following tools.
- Steel/Wire Brush
- Paint Brushes
- Dust Sheets to protect any hard standings such as block paved driveways
- Disposable Gloves
- White Spirit – For cleaning the brushes and gate.
- High quality exterior grade paint suitable for metal
Pre installed gates should be scrubbed down using a wire brush to remove loose paint and surface rust. Ensure that all parts of the gate are covered in order to achieve a good finish. This will also create a good key for the new paintwork to adhere to. If this is not done, then the paintwork will generally start to show signs of peeling within around 1 year.
Once the gate has been prepared in the correct manner, clean the gates surface using a white spirit and cloth. To protect your skin from coming into contact with the white spirit, wear disposable gloves and use the white spirit sparingly. Before commencing painting the gates, be sure to allow the white spirit to fully evaporate.
If you are painting the driveway gates in situ, then be sure to protect the surround area with dust sheets to avoid any spillage. Gloss paint is very difficult to remove if spilt onto surfaces such as block paving or tarmac so care should be taken to cover as much area as possible with the sheets.
Depending upon the gate material, there are various options to choose from. For bare metal gates, you will need to first apply 2 coats of primer prior to the top coat being applied. Always allow enough time between coats for the paint to fully dry or runs can start to appear. Alternatively, for regular maintenance, paints are available that can be directly painted over old paint.
When painting the gates, take your time and ensure every part of the surface is covered. Areas such as detailed scroll work and fretwork will require particular attention as many parts may be hard to reach.
New gates may need to be painted with 2 coats to build up sufficient depth of colour. Repainting existing metal gates generally only requires one coat unless the colour has changed significantly.
For dramatic colour changes, the gates may require numerous coats to get a good finish. Remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and allow enough time between each coat for the paint to fully dry.
Upon successfully painting the garden gates or driveway gates, clean the brushes using the white spirit so they can be used for another project. Remove the dust sheets and clean the area down. Now you can sit back and enjoy the new look of your home security gates.
