How should you look after your aluminium pergola?
You're wondering how you should look after your aluminium pergola on your terrace or by your pool to create a friendly, welcoming outdoor space. One of the advantages of an aluminium pergola is that it's ever-so easy to look after. Discover our tips to clean it correctly.
What you need to look after an aluminium pergola
An aluminium structure has the advantage of not needing any special products or material to be well looked after.
Material
Aluminium pergolas can be easily cleaned with just standard household items. You'll basically just need:
- a soft sponge;
- a micro-fibre cloth;
- and a garden hose or water jet.
Products
When it comes to cleaning products, you'll find exactly what you need in your home cleaning cupboard:
- water;
- black soap;
- and household vinegar.
How should you clean your pergola?
Structure, slats, glazing, etc. How should you look after the various parts of your aluminium pergola?
Aluminium structure
use a soft sponge and warm, soapy water to clean the aluminium structure to remove dust and dirt that have accumulated on your pergola.
Once you've done this, rinse with clean water (you can use a hose or water jet, as long as it's not a high-pressure one). Don't forget to rinse the base of the structure well to make sure no dirt remains.
You can finish off by rubbing down the structure with a micro-fibre cloth to dry it and make it shine like new.
Adjustable slats
You should clean the adjustable slats of an aluminium bioclimatic pergola in the same way as the structure, i.e. with a soft sponge and soapy water.
You need to remove all the dirt that may have become stuck on the slats with care. Check each slat to make sure they're perfectly clean.
Glazing
If your installation has glazing, you can also clean it with a soft sponge and soapy water. And, if your roof is made of glass, just rinse it down with a hose or water jet to get rid of any dirt.
Gutters
Gutters ensure that rainwater runs off and is evacuated. You should clean them regularly, by removing any dead leaves and debris that has accumulated.
Mechanism
If your pergola is motorized, you'll also need to clean the motor. Remember to lubricate the mechanical parts regularly and make sure the everything works correctly, especially if you haven't used the motor for a long time.
If your installation is equipped with sliding glazed panels, you'll also need to clean the guide-rails to remove any dirt or debris that may have accumulated and that prevent it from working correctly.
How can you get rid of stubborn stains?
It may take more than just soapy water and a sponge to get rid of some stains. In this case, you can clean your aluminium bioclimatic pergola with household vinegar and then rinse down with clean water.
When should you clean an aluminium pergola?
One of the advantages of aluminium is that it doesn't need to be looked after as much as wrought iron or a wooden arbour. This material is highly-resistant to bad weather and doesn't get dirty as quickly.
Clean twice a year
It's important to look after your installation well to ensure it remains in good condition and is always a pleasure to use. It's therefore advisable to clean an aluminium pergola twice a year:
– When the fine weather returns, to be ready to be able to use this space again. Before you install your garden furniture inside, you can give it a thorough cleaning and make sure that its motorized system is working properly.
– In autumn, especially to remove any dead leaves that may have accumulated on the roof and in the gutters.
Special situation: by the coast
If you live by the coast, your pergola may need a little more looking after. Sea air can be abrasive and may damage the material. So, rinse down the structure regularly with clean water.
Winter cleaning
You'll also need to be a little more attentive if there's heavy snowfall or if lots of dead leaves accumulate on the roof. The weight of the snow or leaves may damage the roof.
Give it a quick clean
You need to clean your pergola thoroughly twice a year, but you can also give it a quick clean from time to time. To do this, just use a hose or water jet to rinse off dust and dirt.
Last but not least, don't forget to check the state of your gutters regularly and remove anything that could block them and prevent rainwater from running.
Looking after your pergola: key tips
A few key tips to take into account when looking after your aluminium pergola:
- Don't use any abrasive or detergent product (bleach, acetone, etc.) that may damage the aluminium.
- Don't use a stiff bristle brush that could also damage the structure.
- Be careful if using a stepladder. Make sure it's stable and, if need be, get another person to help you.
- Don't use a high-pressure jet.
- When you use a water jet, make sure you don't spray on the motor, if your pergola is equipped with one.
- Last but not least, activate the pergola mechanism regularly, except when it's freezing or snowing.
Tips for looking after bioclimatic pergolas with slats
Bioclimatic pergolas with slats.
The best thing to do is to set the slats of your bioclimatic pergola to the open position just before autumn. As such, you'll prevent dead leaves from accumulating as well as snow in the winter season. If you don't use your pergola for a long time, this open position will also clean the slats naturally with rainwater.
And, because your aluminium pergola is outdoors, it will obviously require a little more looking after to make sure it's always as good as new. Wash it with care to keep the space you've created with this installation clean and pleasant to use. Choosing aluminium will make cleaning easier, especially if you opt for a bioclimatic pergola with slats. Get in touch with us for more information on this type of installation.
