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The durability of wrought iron means there is no reason why a piece of furniture made from the material should not last decades if it is taken care of correctly.

By looking after the appearance and functionality of wrought iron gates, they could be one of the few consistent aspects of your home over the years, as other features become damaged and are replaced.

Fear not though – it will not be a daily or weekly task to look after your gate and it may even be years before you actually have to do anything to it. The key is to be vigilant.

Maintenance

Wrought iron is capable of withstanding an extreme battering by the hot sun, freezing cold snow, howling wind and lashing rain, but it will only do so if its paintwork is in good shape. The two things you must watch out for are area flaws in the paint and any signs of corrosion.

Indications of problems include the blistering of paint, the presence of an oily residue and the sight of rust. These issues are normally prompted by water getting under the paintwork and reacting with the material underneath.

By checking your gate a few times a year, you can react quickly to seeing any of these flaws and use a chisel, wire brush or sandpaper to remedy the offending areas. If necessary, you may wish to apply a new coat of paint.

In addition to looking after the frame, it may be necessary to periodically oil the hinges of the door, even if you do not use it much.

Repainting

Nothing revitalises a wrought iron gate like a good clean and a lick of paint. Be sure that you follow painting guidelines as closely as you can however, since errors during the process can come back to haunt you later.

The basics of painting wrought iron are to scrub it down thoroughly with a wire brush, remove excess grit, apply an exterior metal primer and then paint in your chosen colour.

While most people like to keep their gates in classic colours such as black or white, there is no reason why you cannot add a little personality to your outdoor area by choosing a more daring shade, such as pillar box red or racing green.