Besides delineating a boundary and keeping pets and children in and varmints out, a well-kept wooden fence adds beauty to the property. However, a fence that’s sagging or whose wood is warping or rotting is an eyesore. Fortunately, there are easy and simple things you can do to make sure your wooden fence always looks its best. Take a look at some of these tips from one of the top fence companies in Bucks County!
Make Sure the Wood is Pressure Treated
Even before the fence is put up, you should make sure that the wood is pressure treated. Pressure treatment protects wood that comes into contact with the ground from insects and moisture. Wood that doesn’t come into contact with the ground such as pickets, don’t need to be pressure treated.
Don’t Paint or Stain For a Year
Once the fence is installed it shouldn’t be stained or painted for about a year, especially if it’s been pressure treated. Over the year the wood acclimates, and the chemicals dry out. To paint or stain while the wood is still damp locks the dampness in and can cause the wood to rot.
You can tell if the fence needs to be resealed or repainted if water sinks into the wood instead of beading up.
Use the Right Hardware
If there is hardware on the wooden fence such as a metal hasp, it should be made of stainless steel or galvanized metal. These types of metals are rustproof and don’t warp.
Inspect the Fence Yearly
Once a year, you should walk the length of the fence to check it. Replace loose nails or hammer them back in, replace damaged pickets, check for insect damage, and remove unwanted vines and climbers. These plants put a surprising amount of weight on the fence, add moisture to the wood and attract pests.
Make sure that the posts are sturdy and that the soil around them has not eroded.
Clean the Fence Every Three to Five Years
Cleaning the fence every three to five years means taking away moss, lichens, mildew and peeling paint, then using a pressure washer rated from 1500 to 2000 pounds per square inch, or psi. Wash all the exposed areas of the fence.
After the fence has been pressure washed, paint it with a sealant that resists ultraviolet light and moisture. Mold can be gotten rid of by spraying the wood with a solution of 80 percent dishwashing detergent and 20 percent bleach. You should make sure that the place where the fence goes into the ground is also clean.
Leave the wood to dry for about a week before painting, staining or sealing it. The best type of paint to use on wood is latex paint while the best stain is oil-based and made for exteriors.
Visit our website for more information or contact us today with any questions to get answers from one of the best fence contractors in Bucks County, PA!
