A wooden fence is a great detail, that can make the outskirts of your house inviting and charming. It adds instant curb appeal to the property, making it unique and attractive. It can keep your home safe, but for its look to be long-lasting, you need to take care of it.
If you have a wood fence in your yard, you probably know that it requires a lot of maintenance. That’s the only way to preserve its charm and beautiful look.
Wood is a natural material. If you don’t take enough care of it, it can easily rot, lean, and crack in a couple of years.
Maintenance of wooden fences
As said, maintenance of your wooden fence is really important. The usual lifespan of a wooden fence goes anywhere from 5 up to 20+ years. You can only achieve to preserve it for that long if you do all the necessary maintenance steps.
There’s no need to call professionals, as you can do everything by yourself. These are the most important things for taking care of your wooden fence:
- Know what kind of wood is the fence made from
- Washing has to be a routine
- Know how to seal and fill
- Know how to stain and wax
- Prevent damage as much as possible
Know what kind of wood is the fence made from
Different types of wood require different methods when it comes to maintenance. Some types of wood are more durable and long-lasting than others. You need to know what kind of wood is your fence made of. That way, you can make sure you are doing all the steps to preserve it properly.
These are the most common types of wood in fence making:
- Cedar
- Redwood
- Pine
- Spruce
- Fir
- Cypress
For example, woods like Cypress and Spruce are medium resistant, whereas Cedar and Redwood are long-lasting and more enduring. On the other hand, if your fence is in contact with soil, Pine is a better choice than Cedar.
Washing has to be a routine
Yes, you read it properly! Washing your wooden fence has to be a routine, to keep it in its glorious state. Washing will help with removing any excess dirt and grime, making the wood look fresh and new.
Make sure that you don’t wash it with powerful chemicals, or anything that could create potential damage. Water is the best choice when cleaning a wooden fence.
The water should be mild, not to hoot, nor too cold. If it’s not the proper temperature, it can damage the external layers of the wooden fence.
Know how to seal and fill
Another important step when you need to know how to preserve your wood fence is knowing how to seal and fill. When it comes to filling, you need to fill out any visible cracks. That will help the fence keep its original charm, but at the same time stop mold and rotting.
The easiest way for filling any cracks in your wood fence is using epoxy. It has to be applied on dry wood because it won’t be able to set and cure if the fence is wet. The epoxy is applied on cracks that have been cleaned, and after the process is done, you need to seal them.
When it comes to wood sealers, there are different types that you can use. Most people don’t recommend using a clear sealer. It can “suffocate” the wood, and make it lose its natural essence. Instead, you can try using shellac, varnishes, oils, or even a waterproof dye.
Once everything is filled and sealed, you can go to the next wood fence preserving step which is staining and waxing.
Know how to stain and wax
Staining your wooden fence will help fight off things that have a negative effect on it while giving it a retouch and making it look as good as when you first bought it. Stain is great at repelling water and it helps the wood from rotting and falling apart.
When staining, stain in lighter shades, since you can always add a new coat if needed. That way you will make sure that it doesn’t turn out darker than you originally planned.
The last step in doing maintenance on your wood fence is waxing. Waxing will repent mold, dirt, dust, and even pests. You can also waterproof the fence to keep it long-lasting and prevent degradation.
If you have any questions about any type of fencing, you can contact specialists from True Built Fencing, and you will get all the answers and all the help you need.
Prevent damage as much as possible
As said, a wood fence can endure a lot and it can be a centerpiece of your yard for decades if treated properly. Another crucial thing at preserving its charm and looks is preventing damage. The two biggest damage causes are pests and rotting.
Both of these issues can be prevented by doing regular maintenance and following the process we provided. That way, you will have a glorious fence that will be enduring and lasting.
