Regular patio roof cleaning and carport maintenance are some of the simplest ways to keep your Ausdeck structure looking its best and lasting longer.
Pre-painted steel used across Ausdeck’s Roofing & Walling and Rainwater Products ranges, including but not limited to gutters, flashings and downpipes, is a durable, low-maintenance material designed to withstand Australia’s harsh climate. Whether it’s your patio, carport, pergola or another outdoor structure, it’s backed by a factory-applied finish that resists corrosion. But like any outdoor product exposed to sun, salt, dust and rain, it performs best in the long-term when it’s looked after.
The good news is that maintenance is straightforward. Think of it the way you think of washing your car: a regular rinse and clean keeps the finish sharp, protects what is underneath, and saves you from bigger problems down the track.
Steps & Processes
It’s easy to assume rain does the cleaning for you. In most cases, regular cleaning of patio or carport structures, including roof, gutters, flashings and downpipes from rainfall, does the job, but not everywhere.
Any part of your structure that is protected from direct rainfall does not get that natural wash. These areas still collect dust, salt and airborne pollutants; they simply have no way of shedding them on their own. Left unchecked, this build-up can sit against the surface for months, or years, without ever being rinsed away.
These areas need manual cleaning, on the schedule set out above, regardless of how much rain your area receives. A structure that looks clean on top can still be building up grime underneath.
Cleaning your Ausdeck steel structure is a simple job with the right approach and a few basic supplies. The same method applies whether you are doing carport cleaning or patio roof cleaning, only the frequency changes.
Rinse the surface with clean water to loosen surface dirt and dust.
Wash using your chosen solution and a soft cloth, sponge or brush, working gently to lift dirt and grime without scrubbing hard enough to damage or mark the coating. Ensure any build-up of salt, grime or debris is removed, particularly from laps, edges, fixings and other areas where contaminants may accumulate.
Rinse thoroughly with fresh water, making sure no detergent residue is left behind.
Allow the surface to dry naturally, or wipe dry with a soft cloth.
This option works well for most steel surfaces:
Warning: never mix cleansers or detergents with bleach.
Cleaning is only half the job. Good carport maintenance and patio upkeep also means checking your structure over each time you wash it. Catching small issues early is the easiest way to avoid bigger repairs later.
It is also worth inspecting your structure after severe weather. Storms and high winds can loosen fixings or shift components even when there is no visible damage from ground level.
If your structure is near trees, check more regularly for leaves and debris settling on the roof or in gutters. Trapped organic matter holds moisture against the steel and can accelerate wear if left in place.
Swarf is the small metal filings left behind after drilling or cutting during installation, or any later modifications. Left in place, these tiny fragments can rust quickly, even though the steel structure itself is not corroding. That rust can transfer onto the surface below, creating stains or spots that look like premature corrosion. The fix is simple, and it is one of the most effective rust prevention steps for any steel structure: remove all swarf, drilling debris and offcuts as soon as installation or modification work is finished, rather than leaving it to be washed away over time.
Leaves are the obvious one, but they are not the only culprit. Soil, mulch, vegetation, bird droppings and general organic matter can all settle on and around your structure over time. Left in place, this material traps moisture directly against the steel. That trapped moisture is what causes damage, not the debris itself, so regular removal matters more than how the debris got there in the first place. This is especially worth watching if your structure is near trees or garden beds.
The wrong cleaning products or methods can undo good patio and carport care in a single wash, damaging the factory-applied coating faster than the weather ever will.
These can strip, scratch or otherwise compromise the coating that protects your steel, leaving it more exposed to corrosion, not less.
It can be tempting to reach for touch-up paint as part of routine maintenance, but this is worth avoiding. Factory-baked finishes weather differently to air-drying paints, so a touch-up applied over time can leave a visible patch that stands out rather than blends in. Save touch-up paint for genuine repairs, not general upkeep.
When you do use touch-up paint, our recommendation is to use the touch-up paint spray cans, but:
Using cotton buds is also effective if using the pre-mixed Dulux paints that are now available in the standard ColorBond colours – again more accurate than a brush and more precise to keep the job tidy and less obvious.
To get the longest life from your steel, avoid siting it near ongoing sources of pollution or excess moisture, such as clothes dryer vents, water softeners, pool or spa enclosures, air-conditioning units, industrial equipment, fire pits or diesel generators. Constant exposure to these can accelerate wear on the coating over time. It is also important to keep steel clear of ongoing moisture from sources like garden sprinklers, leaking outdoor taps or poor drainage that allows water to pool around posts and footings.
Regular cleaning and maintenance protect your investment, but they can’t make up for a structure that wasn’t built correctly in the first place. Getting the installation right from the start is just as important to the service life of your patio or carport.
Your patio or carport should be built to the engineering requirements for its specific design and location, using components recommended for the environment it’s in and fit for that purpose. This includes screws, flashings, sealants, accessories and any other installation items, all of which need to suit the environment and application.
Installation should always be completed in accordance with the National Construction Code, relevant engineering requirements, and the manufacturer’s specifications.
Regular cleaning and inspection do more than keep your structure looking sharp. Following the maintenance recommendations in this guide helps preserve the performance of your steel over the long term, and may form part of the requirements under your product warranty.
Warranty terms vary by product, so always contact your installer if you have a warranty question or claim.
