Dean repaints metal driveway gates, side gates and railings in Westone, NN3, about 2.6 miles north-east of Northampton town centre. Rust is taken back and treated before primer and finish coats go on, so the new paint is not hiding active corrosion.
Gated drives on Westone’s bigger houses
Metal gates in Westone are mostly found at the front of the larger detached houses, especially along Westone Avenue, home to the district’s 1920s character houses. A drive gate there is often a pair of leaves hung on posts or piers, sometimes with matching railings or a pedestrian gate alongside. These gates are opened and closed every day, they stand out in the weather all year, and their lower rails sit close to the ground where wet leaves and grit build up. That is why most of the rust we see starts at the bottom and works upwards.
We travel to Westone from our base in Northampton, 2.6 miles away. Identifying the metal and choosing the matching primer is explained on our main metal gate and railing painting page.
Where the rust starts
| Part of the gate | Why it fails | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom rail and feet | Wet leaves and splashback from the drive | Clear debris, wire brush to sound metal, rust-treat and prime |
| Hinges and collars | Movement cracks the paint film every time the gate swings | Clean out, prime, paint while keeping the gate working |
| Joints and scrolls | Water sits in crevices between bars | Brush work into every recess, extra attention to drainage points |
| Where bars meet a pier or wall | Expanding rust can crack masonry around it | Treat the embedded section and point out any masonry repairs |
Trees, shade and road spray
Westone’s mature trees, including those in the large gardens around the former Westone Manor grounds, drop leaves and sap onto gates, and shaded metal stays damp after rain. A gate under trees can show rust bloom within a season of being painted if the preparation was rushed. Gates and railings close to the Wellingborough Road also collect traffic grime, and a main road can throw up spray in winter, so those are degreased and washed before any wire brushing. We do not paint metal that is damp or cold enough to collect condensation, which in shaded Westone front gardens can mean waiting until later in the morning.
Keeping the gate in use while we work
A drive gate cannot be out of action for days. We plan the work in stages so you can get the car in and out:
- preparation and rust treatment on one face while the gate stays usable
- primer and coats applied with the gate propped in a position you agree with us
- hinges and catches painted last, then left to harden before the gate is swung fully
If a gate is powered, the motor and any sensors are masked and we need you to switch it to manual while the paint is wet. Seized hinges or a gate that drags are worth mentioning at the quote stage, as a blacksmith or fabricator may need to fix them before painting.
Finish and colour
Black gloss is the usual choice for driveway gates on houses of this age, but deep greens and greys also suit Westone’s interwar and 1920s houses. A satin or gloss metal finish sheds water better than a flat one. If the front door, garage or fascias are being repainted at the same time, matching them can tie the frontage together. Our Westone area page lists the other outside work we take on there.
Last updated by Dean, DH Painter & Decorator.
