Wall-mounted attachments – rusting of fixings
Wall-mounted attachments (washing lines, satellite dishes) – rusting of fixings
Causes
Insufficient original corrosion protection to steel
Very corrosive environment – near the sea or a geothermal area
Listed under: Exterior, fixtures and fittings, metal, stainless steel, steel, telecommunication systems, walls, durability, corrosion, rust
Cause
Lack of cleaning
Repair
- remove the attachment(s) and repair/repaint the wall cladding if necessary
- wherever possible, avoid fixing attachments to exterior walls
- many wall cladding manufacturers recommend that their products be cleaned and checked at least once every 6 to 12 months to remove dirt and any organic growths. Wall cladding product warranties typically only apply where this is carried out. Fixing anything hard against the wall may make regular checking/cleaning difficult or impossible to achieve
- anything to be fixed to a wall (a garden hose etc.) should be on a framework so it sits away from the wall, or can be swivelled away from the wall to allow water to drain off the wall properly and the wall to be visible and accessible for cleaning
- fasteners should be appropriate for the environment. As this is likely to be an exposed setting, they should ideally be stainless steel, and 316 stainless steel in locations close to the coast or geothermal areas. Fixings could be bedded in a perimeter bead of sealant to support weathertightness
- check and clean the wall at least once a year
Cause
Insufficient original corrosion protection to steel
Repair
- as for the first repair above, using stainless steel fixings and 316 stainless steel in locations close to the coast or geothermal areas
Cause
Very corrosive environment – near the sea or a geothermal area
Repair
- as for the first repair above, using stainless steel fixings and 316 stainless steel in locations close to the coast or geothermal areas
- clean the wall and the attachments regularly as required for the environment
Cause
Fixings are through CCA treated timber
Repair
- as for the first repair above, using stainless steel fixings and 316 stainless steel in locations close to the coast or geothermal areas