Are you the proud owner of a wooden fence? While most of these fences are pretty hardy as they are, there are a few care tips that can keep them looking like new even through the harshest weather! Here are some tips from our experts!
Firstly, choose a wood that's right for you!
The best way to ensure a long life for your wooden fence is to choose the right wood for the job. At Palisade Fence Company, we offer Redwood and Cedar fences because they are two of the best hardwoods for outdoor use. Both types of wood are naturally resistant to mold, mildew, rot, and insects making them ideal for fences. Other types of wood cannot hold up against the wind, rain, harsh sun, snow, and other weather conditions. By getting the best wooden fence from the get-go, you'll save yourself a lot of time and hassle later!
Check the fence regularly for loose nails, pickets, or panels.
The second thing you should do to maintain your wooden fence is to frequently check for anything that's coming loose. Loose nails or screws can usually be put back in place easily; just be careful to not split the wood! If you notice a loose picket, board, or panel, you may even be able to replace those yourself. One of the best things about wooden fences is that they can be repaired piece by piece. Rather than replace a whole section of the fence, you can just replace a board or two. If you aren't confident doing it yourself, call your fencing company and ask them for help. The Palisade Fence team has repaired thousands of fence posts and boards over the years, so we can be in and out in minutes!
Avoid leaning things on the fence, and watch out for overgrowth!
One tip that property owners often forget about is keeping weight off the fence when possible. Avoid leaning things against the fence, especially for long periods of time. Even the weight of bushes, nearby trees, and plants can put a strain on your fence. It's best to give it space to breathe to avoid any breakage caused by stress. It's also wise to be aware of tree branches that can push posts around and mess up the stability of the fence. In addition to access weight, overgrown gardens and bushes can invite insects to live near the fence. While they won't be in the fence, they can cause destruction nonetheless. Foliage also holds water which can really put your wooden fence to the test, even if it's Redwood or Cedar.
Water the grass, not the fence.
When you water the grass, try to set up the sprinkler so that it doesn't soak your wood fence! This is crucial for maintenance. Fences have to withstand enough water in the form of rain, snow, ice, and dew; they don't need any help from the sprinkler! You can power wash your fence when needed, but avoid prolonged exposure to water. Even the toughest hardwood can rot when it's constantly soaking up moisture. To prevent issues, water the lawn, not the fence! A good way to do this is to move the sprinkler further away from the fence, reduce the water pressure, or get another style of sprinkler that doesn't shoot the water so far/high.
When in doubt, call in the experts.
If you see problems with your wooden fence, or if you want some more pro tips for keeping it looking new, call up your local fencing company! At Palisade Fence, we are happy to help where we can. Reach out over the phone, email us, or find us on social media and shoot us a message. Our experts love to share their knowledge with customers! If the fence is in bad shape, we'll even come out to repair it! There's no project too big or too small for us. Call us at 916.384.0309!
We hope this article has helped! There are many maintenance tips that we did not cover here. The truth is, each fence is different and a lot of factors affect how they need to be cared for. We offer only Redwood and Cedar because they are the longest-lasting. Different climates require different care, and even different fence styles differ. Talk to your installers to find out what you can do to keep your fence looking spotless!
