Wrought iron doors are durable and secure because of the material they’re made out of. But, unfortunately, that same material makes them susceptible to rust. Where you live can also have an impact on how likely your wrought iron door is to rust. Thankfully, it is possible to prevent metal from rusting if it’s taken care of properly. And, if you do find rust on your wrought iron door, you can generally take care of that on your own fairly quickly.
What Causes Wrought Iron Door Rust?
Corrosion occurs when a metal reacts with specific substances. Iron and iron alloys, such as steel, can react to water and salt, which causes rust to form. The more humid and salty the air is in the region you live in, the more chances your door has rusting. Because of this, those of us living closer to the coastline need to pay more attention to the care of our doors. In fact, research shows that the salty air of the coast can travel more than 50 miles inland! Not only do cities like Galveston and Rockport need to be concerned with the salty ocean air, but even Houston can be affected by that extra salt as well.
How to Prevent Rust
Even if you’re living in Rockport, you don’t need to worry. There are plenty of ways to prevent corrosion, even in the most humid climates.
The most important thing for rust prevention is to clean your door regularly. Most of you are fine to clean your doors once every month, but you should clean your doors at least twice monthly if you live closer to the coast. While you might be concerned about using water to clean your door, it’s important to remove other substances that can harm your door. Just make sure you dry it when you’re done cleaning it.
Aside from cleaning, you can also cover your door with a layer of car wax. This will protect it from water, just like it does with your car, and would only need to be reapplied every six months or so. If you don’t have car wax, you can accomplish the same effect with linseed oil, but it would need reapplying more often.
How to Remove Rust from a Wrought Iron Door
If you do spot rust on your door, it’s essential to take care of it right away before it spreads. If it spreads too much, you may not be able to get rid of it. Follow these steps to remove rust from your door, only moving on to the next step if it’s still there:
- Clean your door. If there’s not too much rust, this may be enough on its own.
- Gently scrape at the rust with a wire brush.
- Rub the rust with sandpaper.
- Dab some kerosene on the rust using a cotton pad to soften it, making it easier to remove.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3.
Is Your Door Too Far Gone?
If you’ve done all you can to try and remove the rust on your door, but it’s still there, you may want to consider getting a new wrought iron door. A rusty door not only looks unsightly but is also less secure.
Bighorn Iron Doors creates high-quality wrought iron doors of all sizes and styles. Replace your old, rusty door with a new one today by calling our helpful team at (833) 811-7199 or contacting us online.
