Vancouver Island's wet winters create the perfect conditions for corrosion — months of continuous moisture, salt-laden air blowing in from the Pacific, and temperatures hovering near the dew point. Metal gates that were fine in summer can develop rust spots by spring if they are not properly maintained going into winter. Here are practical steps to protect your investment.
Inspect and Touch Up Before the Rain Starts
October is the last good window for outdoor finish work before the wet season. Inspect every surface of your gate for chips, scratches, or wear-through in the paint or powder coat. Any exposed metal is a starting point for corrosion. Sand the affected area back to clean metal, apply a rust-inhibiting primer (we recommend Rust-Oleum professional primer), and top-coat with an exterior metal paint matched to your gate colour. For powder-coated gates, touch-up paint from the powder coat manufacturer provides the best colour match.
Address Drainage Issues
Standing water at the base of gate posts is the single biggest driver of post corrosion. Ensure the ground around post bases slopes away from the posts. Clear any debris or soil that has accumulated against post bases during the year. If your posts sit in concrete, check that the concrete has not cracked, creating a gap where water can pool against the steel.
Lubricate All Moving Parts
Apply a quality silicone or lithium-based lubricant to all hinges, latches, and moving parts before winter. This prevents moisture from sitting in these tight joints where it causes accelerated corrosion. Do not use WD-40 as your primary lubricant — it displaces water initially but evaporates quickly, leaving the joint unprotected. WD-40 is a solvent, not a long-term lubricant.
Hardware and Fastener Check
Dissimilar metal corrosion is common at fastener points — stainless bolts in galvanized steel, zinc-plated hardware on aluminum. Check all fasteners for corrosion and replace any that are significantly deteriorated. Use anti-seize compound on threads to prevent galvanic corrosion and ensure the fasteners can be removed later if needed.
Need professional gate maintenance or repair before winter? T & C Fabrication services gates and fencing across Vancouver Island. Call Ted at 250-202-1643.