Balustrade Care and Maintenance

Aluminium and glass balustrades are low maintenance, (compared to other materials such as wood), but still require some general cleaning to preserve their good looks.

MAINTENANCE:
The maintenance of aluminium and glass balustrades are similar, whilst the recommended cleaning schedule is identical. In urban areas cleaning should take place every three months and every rural areas every six months. In industrial and marine environments (within 1km of the sea), cleaning with a cold water wash should be monthly, as well as six monthly with a warm water detergent wash.
Regular visual inspections will help to identify and fix any issues before they could become serious and should be done every few months.

CLEANING:
ALUMINIUM: The care & maintenance of your aluminium balustrade is described below.
GLASS: Cleaning your glass balustrade panels is similar to how you would clean most household glass.
1 - Wash down with clean water to loosen any residues, deposits or dirt.
2 - If needed, wipe with a mild detergent and a soft cloth.
3 - Rinse off with lots of clean water, to ensure that all detergents and grime are rinsed off.
4 - For a streak free finish, you can dry the glass with a soft cloth.

DO make sure the glass is cool to touch when cleaning; do not clean while in the direct sunlight.
DO NOT leave any cleaning solution on the glass sealants for long periods.
DO NOT use abrasive cleaning solutions or materials.

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