No, you’re not being overly cautious by worrying about rust on your Colorbond fence.
Rust damage can significantly shorten the life of your fence. Colorbond steel is tough, but it can still rust if you don’t take the right preventative actions. This article will show you how to stop your Colorbond fence from rusting and what to do if you can already see rust damage.
P.S. This guide applies to Colorbond Post & Rail, and Colorbond Good Neighbour fences.
Do Colorbond Fences Rust?
Let me start by clearing up a misconception.
Many people believe Colorbond is this “superstar” material that can withstand any damage or corrosion, no matter how it’s treated.
While it’s one of the most durable materials you can build your fence with, it’s still prone to rust when not properly cared for.
So yes;
Colorbond fences can rust.
What Causes Rust On Colorbond Fences?
There are a bunch of conditions that cause Colorbond fences to rust.
Almost all of them have to do with exposure to moisture. Being in regular contact with wet/moist conditions will cause rust over time. The most common form of this is having dirt or garden soil up against the bottom of the fence.
This stuff holds moisture for a while, especially after it rains.
In other words, your fence doesn’t need to be in a pool of water to rust.
All it needs is soil pressed up against it, and it’ll cause just as much damage over time.
How Long Does Colorbond Take To Rust?
Could be weeks, months, or years.
Depending on the conditions and how often your Colorbond fence is in contact with damp/moist surfaces.
Let’s look at a quick example;
Imagine you had a new post and rail fence installed today.
And as soon as the contractors left, your garden soil moved to cover about 10cm of the bottom of the fence. If it rained every now and then, and you didn’t move the soil away, you can expect to see the first signs of surface rust within 6 months.
Serious damage, like holes in the fence, can occur within 3 years.
It seems like a long time, but Colorbond fences should last at least 20 years.
Meaning, you shouldn’t see damage like this in just the first 3 years. If ignored, you could be looking at costly fence repairs sooner than you’d expect.
3 Ways To Prevent Rust On Colorbond Fences
To prevent the need for costly fence repairs sooner than expected, you must stop rust damage before it becomes a problem.
This section reveals 3 ways to prevent rust on your Colorbond fence:
- Regular cleaning of the fence
- Keeping soil away from the fence
- Keep your lawn trimmed
These are some super simple methods, so let’s discuss them further.
1. Regular Cleaning Of The Fence
Cleaning your Colorbond fence isn’t hard.
Oftentimes, you won’t need any soap or detergent or really any cleaning supplies at all. A simple rinse down with hose water every 6 months works just fine. You would aim to clear your fence of debris, mess, and organic matter.
Might take about 10 minutes, depending on the length of your fence.
But there’s no need to make a separate time for this. You can do it while watering the garden, cleaning the deck/patio, etc.
2. Keep Soil/Dirt Away From The Fence
Your Colorbond fence is not a retaining wall.
You can’t keep a garden bed or any sort of soil up against it, especially for long periods.
Colorbond steel, unlike concrete, will corrode after a while of regular exposure to soil.
That’s why it’s important to separate soil from your fence.
Unfortunately for us, the people who lived in our house before we moved in didn’t follow this advice.
So now we have pretty horrible-looking holes in our back fence as a result of excessive rust damage.
To prevent your fence from looking like this, keep it away from the soil.
Tip: If you’ve just realised you’ve got soil up against your fence, grab a shovel or dirt-moving tool and just push it forward a bit throughout the whole fence line. It’s an annoying task, but it might just increase your fence’s lifespan by years.
3. Keep Your Lawn Edged Trimmed
Keeping on top of your lawn helps too.
Grass, and any sort of foliage, hold moisture well. Especially during the rainy season of winter.
If wet grass is constantly brushing up against the fence, it can cause corrosive/rust damage just like soil.
Best to keep that lawn mowed, at least near the edges where your fence is.
4. Don’t Pee On The Fence! (Bonus Tip)
Just thought I’d include this as a fun little bonus tip for you;
Don’t pee on the fence.
Or at least don’t do it all the time in the same spot.
You’ve likely noticed the pattern that regular moisture exposure means a higher chance of rust damage on your Colorbond fence.
Well, this includes pee too. So just don’t do it.
Tell this to your dog as well!
Treating Rust On Colorbond Fences
If you’re well past the stage of prevention, and you’re looking at surface rust or serious rust damage right now, don’t worry. This section will tell you exactly how to treat rust on your Colorbond fence, and whether or not you need to hire contractors for repairs.
Hint:
A bit of surface rust can be easy to fix.
Rust that has penetrated deep into the steel… Not so much 🙁
Treating Surface Rust On Colorbond Fence Panels (3 Simple Steps)
It takes a bit of time and effort, but it’s not that hard. Here’s a quick step-by-step on removing surface rust from Colorbond fence panels:
- Clean rusted areas: First, identify where surface rust has occurred. Then use a wire brush to remove loose bits of rust and other debris until you’re looking at a relatively clean surface.
- Apply rust converter: This is a liquid chemical product that mixes with rust and turns it into a cleaner surface that you can paint over. Apply this liquid to the rusted section. Follow the product label for the best results, and wear protective gloves and masks for safety.
- Paint over the rusted area: Buy genuine Colorbond paint that matches the colour of the fence for a seamless blend. Then just use a roller or brush to paint over the area. Easy peasy!
Tip: Use a paintbrush/roller to apply rust converter to the rusted area.
Tip: Wear masks and protective gloves throughout the process.
Tip: This also works for treating surface rust on steel posts.
Treating More Serious Rust & Holes In The Fence
There’s not too much more advice I can give you for treating extreme rust damage on your Colorbond fence.
Besides this;
Do what you think you can with the rust converter method explained above.
And if you don’t think that’s enough, consider replacing the sheets.
That’s the best solution for any major fence damage, including rust damage. If rust has gone right into the steel and made holes in your fence, there’s no saving that panel. It’s gotta be replaced with a fresh one.
If not, the strength of the entire fence is diminished.
Summary
Here’s a quick summary of key points:
Do Colorbond Fences Rust?:
- Yes, while Colorbond steel is resistant, it can still rust without proper care, maintenance, and preventative measures.
What Causes Rust?
- Continuous exposure to moisture, such as from garden soil or wet grass.
Preventing Rust:
- Regularly rinse your fence down with water every six months.
- Keep soil and dirt away from the bottom of the fence.
- Maintain trimmed edges to prevent grass from holding moisture against the fence.
Treating Rust:
- For surface rust; apply a rust converter, and paint over the area.
- For serious rust, consider replacing damaged panels to maintain fence integrity.
If rust damage has rendered your Colorbond fence beyond repair, and you’re looking to replace a couple of sheets, give us a call. We’ll assess the damage, send you a price for the work, and then get started on building your fence back up to full health straight away.
We’ll remove and dispose of your old rusted fence panel, then replace it with a fresh one!
Reach out today and get a free online quote within 24 hours.
Call Nick: 043 999 8295