Fences and Gates Care and Maintenance

HomePlus Fences and Gates are manufactured from low-maintenance and weather-resistant aluminium which offers years of use and visual appeal. This simple maintenance program is to preserve the longevity and good looks of your fences or gate.

MAINTENANCE:

Regular visual inspections will help to identify and fix any issues before they could become serious, particularly if you have installed gates or fences around a pool area. All pool owners are required to ensure their pool gates and fences continue to meet NZ pool fencing standards, through ongoing maintenance and repairs. 
Gate hardware requires regular cleaning to overcome the effects of environmental damage such as pollution, ultraviolet light and salt deposits. Cleaning should take place every six months and every three months in more harsh environments, such as seaside or industrial areas.

CLEANING:

ALUMINIUM: The care and maintenance of your aluminium gate or fencing is listed below.
GATE HARDWARE:
1 - Remove loose deposits with a wet sponge rather than risk scratching the surface by dry dusting.
2 - Using a soft brush and mild detergent in warm water, clean the surface to remove dirt and deposits.
3 - Rinse with fresh water.
4 - If necessary, add lubrication to hinges etc.. to help gate workings.

DO NOT use detergents on plated products
DO NOT use solvents or harsh detergents on the product.

POWDER COATED / ANODISED ALUMINIUM - CARE & MAINTENANCE

To comply with warranty requirements and to extend the effective life of anodised/powder-coated finishes, very simple maintenance and regular visual inspections should be scheduled and undertaken.

MAINTENANCE:
In general, anodised or powder-coated aluminium in urban areas should be cleaned every three months and every six months in rural areas. In industrial and marine environments (within 1km of the sea), monthly cold water washing as well as six monthly washes, with warm water & detergent, is necessary.

NOTE: It is universally recognised some sunscreens adversely affect powder-coated finishes and this should be avoided near the product in question.

CLEANING:
1 - Carefully remove any loose surface deposits with a wet sponge by gently rubbing.
2 - Clean by gently rubbing the surface with a soft brush (non-abrasive) and a dilute solution of a mild detergent, e.g., pH-neutral liquid hand or dishwashing detergent in warm water to remove dust, salt, and other deposits. For stubborn stains use only recommended solvents on the affected area, e.g., Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or methylated spirits and rinse off with clean water. Do not use other aggressive solvents.
3 - Anodised finishes with greasy deposits or hard to remove grime, should be cleaned with a soft cloth dipped in white spirit, turpentine or kerosene then wiped with a dry rag.
4 - Rinse the surfaces with clean fresh water after cleaning to remove all residues. A quick wipe-over with an absorbent cloth or chamois will prevent water marks from forming

DO remove obvious deposits as they occur.
DO NOT use abrasive steel wool, scrapers, scouring liquids or powders to remove paint splashes - these will damage your anodised/powder coating.
DO NOT use aggressive solvents, thinners, petrol etc, on powder coating as these solvents will attack gloss levels and reduce its life expectancy.
DO NOT let any solvents used on anodised finishes come in contact with any rubber components as they can degrade them.
DO NOT expose your anodised/powder coatings to excessive heat, heaters or hot air guns - these may damage the coating.

DO NOT allow sunscreens to come into contact with powder coated services