The installation of iron fences adds an elegant look to your
home, but the fences need some proper tending and care to last long. The harsh
winters in Indiana can result in major snowstorms and you do not want to wreak
havoc on your fence as you attempt to remove snow and ice.
Learn about three methods to help remove snow near a fence
area and keep your fence protected. Each method will help prevent damage and
keep your fence in pristine condition through the long winter months. Once you
establish a routine, you can follow the steps every winter.
1. Deicing Alternative
The removal of snow and ice on your driveway is essential
for cars and walking, but the use of deicers and salt can cause rust and
corrosion on an iron fence. Use deicing alternatives that will not damage the
iron material. Sand is one of the more ideal options because sun exposure can
help melt the ice and excess sand is easy to brush away off of any parts of a
fence.
You could also use coffee grinds on your property. Similar
to sand, the grinds offer a gritty grip for walking and will help melt the ice
away. When you use coffee grinds or sand, they should be spread out across the
top of snow and ice. When the sun beats down after a storm, the small pieces
will quickly heat up and melt down.
You do not need to worry about deicer getting blown or moved
onto parts of the fence. The salt material could be harmful and you will spend
a lot more time clearing off the fence area.
2. Ground Heaters
As you shovel and dig out snow around an iron fence, you do
not want the sharp edges of a shovel to cut or scratch your fence material. The
scratches can take away from the look of the fence and decrease the value. When
spring comes around, you will have to spend even more time restoring the
scratches so the material is not exposed.
Consider a hands-free way to clear out the snow near a fence
with a ground heater blanket. After a snowstorm has ended, you can lay a heated
ground blanket on the areas surrounding the fence. Once powered on, the blanket
will heat up and melt away both snow and ice.
After you clear large portions near the fence, you can slide
the power blanket under the fence to help thaw the ground and prevent ice
build-up. If you have snow and ice build-up directly on the fence, then you can
consider the purchase of a heat gun. The large device will blast out heat and
you can aim it directly towards an iron fence to quickly melt away the ice.
3. Fence Netting Mesh
Another way to protect your fence during the winter months
is with a complete fence cover. You can purchase fence netting mesh to drape
over our iron fencing. The mesh will help block out ice and snow from the iron
with a protective layer. A simple black mesh covers the fence and still keeps
the surroundings looking nice on your property.
If snow and ice accumulate on the fence, you can use a broom
to easily brush the debris away and keep the fence cleared. The mesh netting
will attach securely to the fence so high winds from a snowstorm or blizzard
does not expose the fence. When spring rolls around you can easily remove the
mesh netting and your iron fence will remain in pristine condition.
For more information on iron fence installations, reach out
to us at Capital City Iron Works.
We will help choose an elegant and timeless iron fence installation for your
home.
