One of the best things about a Colorbond fence is how little it asks of you. There’s no painting, no staining, no annual reseal — the baked-on finish does the hard work. But “low maintenance” isn’t “no maintenance,” and a few simple habits will keep your fence looking sharp for decades while protecting your BlueScope warranty. Here’s exactly what to do, and just as importantly, what never to do.
The Only Routine Care Your Fence Needs
For most fences, keeping it looking new comes down to one job: hose it down periodically with plain water. Rain does most of the cleaning for you, but some spots miss out.
- Pay attention to the area under the top rail. This zone is sheltered from natural rain washing, so dirt, salt and grime build up here first.
- Use a soft broom to sweep away cobwebs and loose debris.
- In coastal areas, rinse more often — airborne salt is the number-one accelerator of corrosion on any steel product.
That’s it. No chemicals, no pressure-washing at close range, no special products. Clean water and a soft broom will handle 95% of maintenance.
The Mistakes That Damage a Fence — or Void Your Warranty
This is where good intentions cause real harm. Avoid these:
Don’t use touch-up paint on scratches. It’s tempting, but touch-up paint weathers differently to Colorbond steel and will actually void the BlueScope material warranty. Minor scratches are best left alone — they’re cosmetic and won’t affect performance. If a sheet is genuinely damaged, the right fix is to replace the individual infill sheet, which slides out and back in without dismantling the whole panel.
Don’t spray garden chemicals or fertilisers near the fence. These damage the coating. If overspray happens, wash it off immediately with water.
Don’t let soil, garden fill or mulch build up against the bottom rail and posts. Trapped moisture against steel leads to corrosion. The bottom rail has drainage holes for a reason — keep them clear and make sure water can’t pond. This is the single most common cause of premature fence corrosion, and it’s entirely avoidable.
Don’t let the fence contact incompatible materials. Bare steel, lead, copper, and chemically treated or green timber are not compatible with Colorbond steel — contact between them causes galvanic corrosion. Keep them apart.
Don’t use your fence as a retaining wall. It isn’t designed to hold back soil. If you need to manage soil levels or gaps underneath, ClickSteel plinths are made for exactly that job — see how they work in our DIY Colorbond fence kit cost breakdown.
Dealing With Rust and Ageing Screws
Colorbond’s coating is corrosion-resistant, but no steel is immune forever — especially at cut edges, fixing points and in harsh coastal or industrial air. Keep an eye on:
- Fastener corrosion. Tek screws are the small parts that hold everything together. If they show rust while the sheets are still sound, replacing them early prevents them losing grip.
- Surface marks at cut edges. Left alone, minor edge marks are cosmetic; but if you see rust spreading or pitting through a sheet, that sheet should be replaced.
Because ClickSteel fences are built from individual, replaceable components, a single tired sheet or corroded screw is a cheap, quick fix rather than a whole-fence problem.
Keeping the Finish Looking Its Best
A few extra habits protect appearance over the long haul:
- Trim back plants and vines that trap moisture against the steel.
- Keep sprinkler spray off the fence where you can — repeated wetting, especially with bore or recycled water, leaves mineral staining.
- Rinse after a dust storm or heavy pollen season rather than letting it bake on.
For colour-matched replacement sheets or screws, explore the full COLORBOND® fencing colours range so any repair blends in perfectly.
Planning a New Fence or an Upgrade?
Good maintenance starts with a well-installed fence. If you’re building from scratch, our step-by-step guide to installing a Colorbond fence walks through the whole process, and buying Colorbond fencing online covers ordering the right kit.
Need parts or a full fence? Browse Colorbond fencing with instant online pricing, delivered Australia-wide. Call us for any further assistance.