Maintaining Aluminum Fences

You may have just had an aluminum fence installed. Perhaps you have had one for years. Or maybe you are thinking about getting one and want to see what the upkeep will be if you go through with it. Whatever your reason, here you are, reading an article about aluminum fences, hoping to glean some information about their upkeep. Well, the good news is that aluminum fences do not need much care, according to a lot of current fencing companies. There are some things you can do to keep your fence looking great, though:

• Keep your shrubs and trees trimmed back from the fence. They can grow into your fence and cause problems with the form of the fence.
• Painting your fence is an option. You may have to use a deglosser to remove any powder left on it if power spraying it does not get everything off of your fence. Once your fence is thoroughly clean, now you can paint it. My suggestion is to use outdoor latex paint and some primer (not in that order). I have heard that spraying the paint works best, but I have not tried this. Once you have done this, you can keep the paint looking fresh by applying a fresh coat of it when necessary. If you bought your fence material pre-tinted and you want to fix a few spots, you can use touch-up paint from the manufacturer of your fence. Getting enough paint to touch up large areas of your fence may prove difficult through some manufacturers. Apparently people tend to simply replace the fence when it starts looking a bit worn.
• Keep your fence clean. This one is kind of an obvious one, but worth mentioning anyhow. You can use soap and water, or just a powerful hose spray of water.
• If you have any problems with your fence, you will need to contact a professional and possibly the manufacturer or original dealer from whom you have bought your fence (especially if you do not want to void your warranty).

That is really all there is to tell. There are a lot of companies out there that will guarantee you that your fence is completely maintenance-free once it is installed, since it is rust-proof from its powder finish. Some offer lifetime warranties on their fences. But you will have to read the small print to be sure of anything in their policies.