Winter Fence Care For PA Residents

Winter can be especially hard on wooden fences, between the frigid temperatures and the excessive moisture from snow, sleet, and ice. However, there are several things that homeowners can do before the start of the season to prevent any damage before it occurs. Here are just some of the things that you can do right now to ensure your fence’s survival until spring:

1. Provide Drainage Channels

Obviously, a surplus of dampness can be a severe issue for many reasons in the winter. Specifically, heavy snow and other precipitation can pose a significant risk to your fence posts. Deposits of groundwater can infiltrate them from their bases and they can later develop a pervasive rot.

Since water is a looming threat to the overall health of your fence, you need to take the time to create effective, efficient drainage channels that lead water away from your fence’s base. As long as the extraneous water has a specific place to go, your posts should remain strong.

2. Seal the Wood

Most wooden fences will require treatment throughout their lifetimes in order to stay durable and weatherproof. Of course, newer fences may come pretreated but older fences are more than likely to need attention annually.

So, how do you preserve your timber fence best? It’s actually quite simple. Stain your fence with deck stain and coat it with both a preservative and a water sealant. This treatment will certainly keep your slats and posts safe from the harsh, wet, and cold weather to come.

3. Inspect Structural Integrity

In addition to the drastic temperature dips above and below freezing, which work to expand and contract your vulnerable wood, your timber will also be subjected to numerous high-speed gusts of wind. Both of these winter weather issues can lead to knotting, splitting, and cracking of both posts and slats.

That is why it is always best to conduct a thorough inspection of your fence prior to the change in seasons to make sure your posts are far from loose, swaying, or leaning. Also, repair any broken planks or boards before they have to face winter in the compromised shape they are in.

4. Trim Overhanging Branches

When winter hits, earth-shattering storms can easily rip your low-lying branches down and into your adjacent fence, possibly destroying it in the process.

Fortunately, there is an easy fix for this. Simply look for any intrusive branches and prune them back or cut them from the offending tree as necessary. Your fence is built to be durable, but falling branches have also been known to destroy entire houses.

Contact A Professional

A little effort in preparing your fence for the winter will actually save you from costly repairs in the future. If you have any questions about winterizing your fence, or you are interested in new fencing in Montgomeryville, PA before the winter begins, give us a call. Hilltop Farm and Fence is proud to serve as your reliable Horsham fence contractors. Contact us today!