A well-maintained wooden fence adds charm, curb appeal, and privacy to your home. By protecting your wooden fence from UV rays, water, insects, and other sources of damage, you can improve its longevity. Wood fence maintenance isn’t too complicated, and you’ll be able to tackle most of the maintenance yourself. This guide will teach you how:
As an organic material, wood is subject to several threats that metal or vinyl fences are not. Your wooden fence can be affected by:
All of these concerns can be addressed through proper maintenance—and by using the right types of wood. The maintenance plan we outline below will help you prevent moisture from warping or rotting your wood, keep insects and fungus away, and keep your wooden fence sturdy for years to come.
A visual inspection is the best way to diagnose any problems with your fence. We recommend visual inspections twice a year; fall and spring are best to ensure that your fence is in great condition both before and after winter. There are a few things you should check for in your visual inspection:
Cleaning your fence does more than just boost curb appeal—it removes and halts the growth of mould and mildew and helps prevent wear and tear. Grime and debris can wear away at the protective surface of your wood fence, so regular cleanings are a must.
You can clean your fence using a garden hose and a scrub brush; for an even faster approach, use a pressure washer. Your pressure washer should be set at a relatively low PSI, about 1300 PSI for the most common hardwoods used in wood fencing, but even lower (500-800 PSI) if you’re washing a painted fence.
We recommend using a wide-tipped nozzle; a 25-degree or 40-degree tip is best because it will distribute the pressure along the fence.
Test your pressure washer on a hidden part of your fence to ensure you’ve got the right pressure; start low and move up until you’re cleaning the fence without damaging the wood. By starting on a hidden part of your fence, you reduce the risk of doing visible damage if you accidentally use too high of a PSI.
Trimming vegetation near your fence accomplishes a number of different things:
By trimming grass, plants, and tree branches near your fence, you’ll get a better-looking, longer-lasting fence.
There are a few tests you can perform to check the stability and integrity of your fence. These tests include:
You can improve your fence’s longevity with a few protective measures. The routine maintenance checks we just covered are one step—the next section will cover minor repairs. Before that, let’s talk about sealant:
The best way to protect your fence from decay, insects, warping, and more is to apply a protective sealant. Sealants stop water from penetrating into wood—that stops your fence from getting soft, which can also stop bugs from burrowing into it. High-quality sealants will also protect against damage from UV rays.
Your fence must be dry before you seal it; you can test this by dripping water onto your fence. If the water is absorbed quickly, your fence needs to be sealed—if the water beads, you won’t need to seal it right away.
In many cases, your fence will be sealed when it’s installed—but if you’re using pressure-treated wood, the process is different. Sealing pressure-treated wood too early can actually trap moisture in your fence, causing rotting and warping. Most pressure-treated fences should be sealed 3 to 6 months after installation. Other wood fences should be sealed immediately.
You should reseal your fence every 2 to 3 years; it’s often a good idea to seal your fence after washing it. Be sure to stain your fence before sealing it.
When it comes to painted wooden fences, you don’t need sealant—the paint works to seal your fence. You should repaint every 5 to 10 years, spot-checking and painting when your paint starts to crack or peel.
When your fence has significant damage, including post damage, you’ll want a professional to help. Outside of major damage, you may be able to handle minor repairs yourself; doing these repairs can help you prevent further deterioration in your fence. Some of the repairs you may be able to handle include:
You may also be able to tackle more complex repairs, like fixing a sagging gate—it all depends on your skill level. If you don’t feel confident in your ability to handle repairs, call a professional fencing contractor.
In the spring, you’ll want to inspect your fence to ensure there’s no damage from the winter. As the season goes on and spring turns to summer, you can inspect for damage from insects, clean off mould and mildew, and trim vegetation around your fence. You’ll also want to check the stability of your posts after any storms.
In the fall, you want to take time to secure your fence before winter. Reseal your fence if it needs sealing. Rake away any leaves and debris near your fence, and make sure there’s no warping; you’ll also want to ensure that all fasteners, latches, and hinges are solid.
Winter is the worst season for fence maintenance, but there are still some tasks you can tackle—namely, keeping snow away from your fence. Shovel around your fence to stop moisture buildup!
We’ve already covered the best practices for fence maintenance—do a walk-around every month or two and follow the inspection checklist we covered at the beginning. You can also check for drainage issues around your fence. And always tackle fence repairs as soon as possible—repairing problems right away can help keep them from developing into something more serious.
Wooden fence maintenance is well worth the effort—it can extend the lifespan of your fence, boost curb appeal, and keep your home private and secure. All you need to do is regularly inspect your fence, clean it, tackle small repairs yourself, and call a professional fencing company for major repairs when you need them.
Contact Peg City Fence Pros Inc. for wood fence installation, repairs, and replacement. We handle everything from minor repairs to post replacement and more. We can help you extend the lifespan of your wood fence!
