The Effects Of Weather On Aluminum And Steel Fencing

The biggest, long-term cause of steel and aluminum fence damage is the changing weather conditions. Both time and extreme weather can cause your fences to fall into disrepair. Weather conditions can cause wear and tear on most fences, but using the right materials for your climate will increase the life of your fencing. There are several ways to keep a fence looking and performing its best over its lifetime.

Weather damage can come in many forms such as wind, water, heat and cold. Heavy winds from severe weather conditions can bend, break or uproot both aluminum and steel fences. Normally windy environments can cause bending or warping over time. Winds accompanied by dust in arid locations or salt-laced breezes in coastal areas can lead to pits in, or the flaking of, paint and finishes. In areas liable to extreme heat or cold, aluminum can become brittle, while very wet conditions can cause corrosion, and humid and rainy environments can cause steel fence damage in the form of  rust.

Fortunately, weather related aluminum fence damage can be prevented in a number of ways. Open fence designs decrease structural stress by allowing the wind to pass through the fence rather than battering or breaking it. Almost all aluminum and steel fence options now have multi-layer finishes to protect them from the peeling and flaking that can be caused by excessive heat. For colder locales, modern metal fences have a thicker coat of finish or sealant to help avoid weather related fence damage. Regular cleaning also helps to prevent damage from the elements and will help avoid fence repair in the future.
Using a professional fencing contractor is the best way to combat weather related steel and aluminum fence damage. At Northern Fence we can make sure your fence is constructed of the materials and finishes most suited to last in your particular environment. For a fence installation, repair or replacement give us a call or click here for a quote.