Outdoor Equipment Maintenance Guide

keep your MyXorbars equipment looking its best, performing safely and lasting as long as possible, we recommend carrying out a routine maintenance inspection twice a year, ideally at the beginning of spring and again at the beginning of autumn.

Outdoor timber structures and metal equipment are exposed to weather, moisture, temperature changes and regular use. Some movement, surface cracking, weathering and coating wear are normal over time.

Regular inspection and straightforward maintenance will help maximise the appearance, safety and service life of your equipment.

Powder-Coated Steel Bars

The steel bars supplied by MyXorbars are powder-coated for long-lasting protection.

However, like any painted metal surface exposed to outdoor conditions and regular use, the coating can become scratched, chipped, worn or damaged over time.

Regularly inspecting the bars and dealing with coating damage promptly will help protect the underlying steel.

The bars are designed to be maintained and refurbished rather than treated as a disposable component.

Minor Damage and Touch-Up

Small scratches, chips and localised areas of coating damage can normally be repaired with touch-up paint.

The recommended colour is:

Colour: Moss Green
RAL Code: 6005
Finish: Full Gloss

Before applying touch-up paint:

Clean the affected area.
Remove any dirt, grease or loose coating.
Lightly rub down the damaged area if necessary.
Ensure the surface is completely dry.
Apply suitable touch-up paint to the affected area.

Touching up small areas promptly helps prevent the damage from developing further.

Suitable touch-up paint is widely available online from paint and decorating suppliers.

More Extensive Coating Damage

If the coating has deteriorated further, or a larger area of bare steel has become exposed, the affected area should be properly prepared before repainting.

Remove any loose or poorly adhered coating and rub down the affected area until a sound surface is obtained.

Where bare steel has been exposed:

Remove loose coating and surface contamination.
Rub down the affected area.
Clean and dry the surface.
Apply a suitable metal primer spray.
Allow the primer to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Apply the final Moss Green RAL 6005 Full Gloss topcoat.

For localised damage, it is not normally necessary to strip and repaint the entire bar.

The damaged section can be prepared, primed and recoated as part of normal maintenance.

Full Bar Refurbishment

If the powder coating has deteriorated extensively after many years of outdoor use, the bars can also be fully refurbished.

This can normally be carried out by a local professional powder-coating company.

The refurbishment process is straightforward:

Remove the bars from the timber structure.
Take the bars to a suitable powder-coating company.
Have the existing coating professionally removed, typically by blasting.
The exposed steel can then be inspected and prepared.
Have the bars re-powder-coated in Moss Green RAL 6005, Full Gloss.
Reinstall the refurbished bars.

Professional powder-coating refurbishment can restore the bars to a near-new appearance and provide a new protective coating.

This provides a straightforward way of extending the service life of the steel bars even after many years of outdoor use.

Routine Safety Inspection

During your routine maintenance inspection, check the complete structure and confirm that:

All bars remain firm and secure.
There is no excessive movement in any part of the structure.
All fixings remain secure.
There are no loose or missing fixings.
There are no signs of corrosion or deterioration on metal fixings.
Protective plastic bolt covers, where supplied, remain correctly fitted.
The timber remains sound around all fixing points.
Posts remain secure and show no signs of movement in the ground.
Postsaver sleeves, where fitted, remain correctly positioned.

Do not continue using the equipment if any component is loose, damaged or otherwise appears unsafe.

Do not overtighten fixings, as excessive tightening can damage the timber.

Timber Movement

Timber is a natural material and will continue to expand, contract and season throughout its life.

Changes in temperature and moisture can cause timber to move naturally.

During periods of warm, dry weather, it is completely normal for timber to develop surface cracks, commonly known as checks.

These cracks can sometimes appear quickly and may initially look alarming.

In most cases, surface checking is a natural characteristic of structural timber and does not affect the strength or performance of the timber.

Because timber checks can develop through the centre of a post, they can sometimes appear close to fixings.

This does not necessarily mean that the fixing has caused the timber to split.

Timber checking should nevertheless be included in your routine inspection.

If a check becomes exposed to the weather, keeping the timber properly treated will help reduce moisture ingress and weathering.

Timber Protection

Timber supplied by MyXorbars for outdoor structures is treated for external use.

However, pressure treatment is not a substitute for ongoing maintenance.

To maximise the appearance and service life of the timber, we recommend applying a suitable exterior wood preservative, decking oil or protective timber treatment.

A suitable product is:

Barrettine Wood Preserver – Pine

Other quality exterior timber treatments designed for outdoor use may also be used.

Applying Timber Treatment

Before treating the timber:

Ensure the timber is reasonably clean.
Remove dirt, leaves and other debris.
Allow the timber to dry.
Follow the instructions supplied with the treatment product.

Pay particular attention to areas where timber is exposed to prolonged moisture.

Treatment should be reapplied in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and before the timber becomes excessively weathered.

Regular treatment will help maintain the appearance of the timber and provide additional protection against weathering.

Maintaining the Fixings

All fixings should be checked as part of your twice-yearly maintenance inspection.

Timber naturally moves and seasons over time, so it is possible for a fixing to require adjustment or replacement during the life of the equipment.

Check that:

Fixings remain tight and secure.
There is no excessive movement around the fixing.
The timber around the fixing remains sound.
Fixings are not damaged or excessively corroded.
No fixing has pulled away from the timber.

If a fixing has become loose, it should be investigated rather than simply tightened repeatedly.

Do not overtighten fixings. Excessive tightening can crush the timber and may reduce the effectiveness of the fixing.

If a fixing no longer provides a secure connection, it should be replaced with a suitable fixing appropriate for the timber, equipment and application.

If you are unsure whether a fixing remains suitable, the equipment should not be used until its condition has been checked by a competent person.

Postsaver Sleeves

If your MyXorbars installation includes Postsaver sleeves, these should also be inspected during your routine maintenance checks.

Postsaver sleeves are designed to provide a protective barrier around the vulnerable ground-line area of the timber post.

As timber naturally expands, contracts and seasons, the sleeve can occasionally move or lift slightly away from the timber.

Check that:

The sleeve remains securely positioned around the post.
The upper edge remains in contact with the timber where possible.
Leaves, soil and other debris are not collecting around the top of the sleeve.
Water is not being trapped around the upper edge.
The sleeve has not become damaged.

Sleeve Has Lifted Away From the Timber

If the upper edge of the sleeve has lifted away from the timber, it may be possible to restore the seal.

Option 1 – Re-seal Using Gentle Heat

The sleeve can sometimes be re-formed against the timber using gentle heat.

Before carrying this out:

Ensure the sleeve and timber are clean and dry.
Use a heat gun carefully to warm the upper section of the sleeve.
Do not apply excessive heat.
Once softened, carefully press the sleeve back against the timber.
Allow the sleeve to cool and reform around the post.

Take care not to overheat the sleeve or damage the timber.

Option 2 – Flexible External Sealant

If the sleeve does not remain against the timber after heating, a suitable flexible external sealant can be used to provide additional support.

Suitable products include:

Everbuild Weather Mate (Clear)
CT1
Soudal Fix ALL
Eco-Stick Strong Stuff

Before applying sealant:

Ensure the timber and sleeve are clean and dry.
Apply a small amount of flexible sealant behind the lifted section.
Press the sleeve firmly back against the timber.
Allow the sealant to cure fully according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Only a small amount of sealant should be required.

The purpose is to support the sleeve edge and maintain contact with the timber while allowing for normal seasonal movement.

General Cleaning

The equipment can be cleaned as part of routine maintenance.

Remove dirt, mud, leaves and other debris from the timber and metal components.

For the powder-coated bars, use water and a mild detergent where necessary.

Avoid aggressive abrasive cleaners or methods that could damage the powder coating.

After cleaning, allow the equipment to dry before carrying out any inspection or applying paint or timber treatment.

Particular attention should be paid to areas where dirt or organic material can remain trapped against timber or metal components.

What to Look For During Your Inspection

As part of your twice-yearly inspection, look for:

Steel Bars

Scratches or chips in the powder coating.
Areas where bare steel has become exposed.
Signs of corrosion.
Excessive wear.
Movement or looseness.

Timber

Surface checking and cracks.
Excessive deterioration.
Areas remaining permanently wet.
Damage around fixings.
Movement of posts.
Signs of rot or significant decay.

Fixings

Loose fixings.
Missing fixings.
Damaged fixings.
Corrosion.
Movement around fixing points.

Postsaver Sleeves

Lifted edges.
Damage to the sleeve.
Debris collecting around the sleeve.
Water being trapped around the upper edge.

Any issue identified during an inspection should be dealt with before the equipment is returned to normal use.

When Maintenance Is Required

Outdoor equipment will naturally require maintenance throughout its service life.

This does not necessarily indicate a defect.

Examples of normal maintenance include:

Touching up damaged paint.
Repainting areas of exposed steel.
Re-powder-coating bars after many years of use.
Applying timber preservative.
Cleaning the equipment.
Checking and maintaining fixings.
Maintaining Postsaver sleeves.
Replacing worn or damaged components.

Prompt attention to minor issues will generally prevent them from becoming more significant problems later.

Owner’s Maintenance Responsibility

MyXorbars equipment is designed for outdoor use and, like any outdoor timber and metal structure, requires ongoing maintenance.

The equipment owner is responsible for carrying out routine inspections and maintenance following installation.

This includes monitoring the condition of the timber, bars, fixings and Postsaver sleeves where fitted.

Installation is the responsibility of the customer when purchasing DIY equipment, and the customer should ensure that the equipment has been correctly installed and remains suitable for use.

If any part of the equipment becomes loose, damaged or unsafe, stop using the equipment until the issue has been rectified.

Important Safety Notice

The equipment should not be used if any component is damaged, loose or requires attention.

Regularly inspect the complete structure and ensure that it remains secure and suitable for use.

If you are unsure about the condition of any part of the equipment or how to carry out a particular maintenance procedure, seek advice from a suitably competent person before continuing to use the equipment.

Routine maintenance is an important part of owning outdoor exercise equipment and will help maximise the safety, appearance and service life of your MyXorbars equipment.