In all fairness, a wood fence looks nice, but you need to take care of it to expand its lifespan. Maintaining a wood fence is a lot cheaper than you think and you should do it daily so that you avoid any significant problems in the long run.
Does the type of wood counts for durability?
Most of the wood fences are made of cedar or redwood that are naturally rot-resistant, but you should know a thing or two about installing and maintaining the wood fence nevertheless.
The very first thing to do when planning to install a wood fence is to decide which type of wood you’re going to use. The rule of thumb is to go with cedar or redwood as they’re the most resistant to rotting and decaying. Even if they present the same structural strength of Douglas fir, the two types of wood are capable of handling the elements a lot more efficiently.
You should also use wood that has been pressure-treated so that it’s going to withstand the moisture and insects after installation in the ground. Don’t stress about the effects of chemicals for treating wood as they’re a lot less harmful than you may think.
When you’re installing a wooden fence made from picket, you don’t need to stress about the pressure treatment as they’re going to stay above ground.
Always use high-quality materials when installing the wood fence and don’t skip any necessary steps. The last thing you want is to establish a wood fence and realize that it’s all broken on the first big storm. Do due diligence when selecting your wood fence contractor as there are so many reliable options out there. Take a look at Fence Repair GJ as they’re great for both installing and fixing your fences. No matter the type of fence you want for your house, the people at www.fencerepairgj.com are going to make your plans come true. They provide all-year-round fencing services, which is always good news.
Where to begin with
You may not realize, but you need to take care of your wood fence even before installing it. The variety of fencing is impressive, so you need to select the right type for your property, both practically and visually.
Here are some types of checking:
- Barricade/privacy fencing- it jeeps the pets on the property and doesn’t allow strangers to have a peek
- Picket-style- it’s an excellent option for the cottage homes
- Split-rail style- it works fantastic with the ranch homes
- You want the posts to be made of pressure-treated wood as it takes the moisture and insects a lot better.
The installation phase
There are some essential aspects to keep in mind when installing the wood fence:
- Don’t place the fence near the sprinklers as the water may pool by the fence right on the bottom, rotting the wood way sooner
- You want to reduce the risk for water pooling so you should add sloping metal caps to the flat-topped posts. You can also cut them off at an angle for preventing pooling and rotting
- If you’re not using pressure-treated wood, it’s best that you apply an exterior stain for keeping decay at bay
- You want the plants to be away from the fences as they may damage the fence on the long run
- Apply a layer of paint/wood preservative for protecting the fence from bugs, termites or the elements. The paint can be visually appealing as well.
What should you do for maintaining the wood fence?
The looks and warmth of wood fences are amazing, but you do need to take good care of it to enjoy it for a very long time.
Needless to say, it’s not difficult to address the wood fence maintenance, but you should always do it, nevertheless:
Cleaning
You should clean all debris and leaves from your fence every time you notice them. You don’t want the moisture and dirt to build up, as it’s only going to lead to mold, rot, and mildew. Use a pressure washer for cleaning your fence daily. You can add some white vinegar for clearing the hard dirt and stains. Add one cup of vinegar to a gallon of water and apply it with a sprayer on the fence. Let it sit for 10 minutes or so. Use the power washer for rinsing.
Staining
It’s a good thing to stain the wood fence right after the installation as you’re going to protect it from dry and wet rot. When wood is losing the protective oils, it gets dry and brittle pretty fast, which causes dry rot. Constant exposure to moisture causes damp decay.
Go with the linseed based oil stain for best results. It’s going to help the wood restore the natural protective oils. You should stain the wood fence once a year.
Painting
A well-painted wood fence is going to last for many years. You can repaint it every three or 4 years for protecting it and improving its appearance. It’s normal for paint to peel and chip after some time. A bit of touch up for the affected areas is going to be enough. Get rid of the old paint by scraping it away. Sand the area and apply a new coat of paint. Paint containing a primer is going to be a perfect choice.
You should also reseal the wood fence once or twice a year, right after painting. A paint spraying unit is excellent for resealing the fence.
Take care of mold and mildew
No matter how good care you take for your fence, it’s still going to develop mildew and mold after some time. You need to check the fence regularly. It’s a lot easier to solve the mildew and mold problem when you spot it in the beginning. Wash your wood fence with soapy water and follow with some mildew cleaner. Don’t forget to rinse it very thoroughly.
Look for the pests as well
No matter how much you love animals, you should make sure that your wood fence doesn’t have any bird nests. Should you find any termites, you need to use borax for getting rid of them. Borax is a very effective natural insecticide. When the problem is severe, you should get in touch with professional services. It’s easier to solve the problem at its beginning. The more serious the issue is, the more expensive it’s going to be for you to solve it.
Don’t forget to clean the fence from leaves and debris any now and then as you also keep termites at a distance too.
What about repairing the wood fence?
It’s only a matter of time until the nails and fasteners become loose. The constant expansion and contraction are the leading cause, but that’s not something that you can avoid in any way. You need to drive the loose nails so that nobody gets injured. Replace the missing nails and other sections of the fence that are warped, rotted or split. It’s constant work, we know|!