With the appropriate care, a quality-built fence can last for years, especially wooden fences. However, the fencing LifeSpan for wood fences can be significantly shortened when they are not adequately maintained. In order to extend the fencing LifeSpan of a wood fence, there are some steps you can take.
Quality Fencing Materials
The importance of using quality materials to expand the fencing LifeSpan cannot be stressed enough. The posts of any fence are the most important part. Posts anchor and hold a fence and because they are directly placed into the ground, posts require special protection from rotting and moisture. Therefore, only purchase wood posts that are pressure treated. The rails are important too; however, they do not require pressure treating. Actually, wood rails that are pressure treated tend to twist, reducing the fencing LifeSpan.
Staining the Wood Fence
After you install a wood fence, it needs to sit the sun for several days; doing so allows the sun to evaporate all the moisture contained within the wood. Dry wood will let the stain penetrate thoroughly. On the chance that you build a fence during the winter, you can wait to apply the stain until the spring. When you use a waterproof stain, you can get more years from the fencing LifeSpan.
Regularly Inspect the Fence
Being proactive is by far the best way to increase a fencing LifeSpan to the maximum. If there are any repairs needing to be made or problems that should be addressed, do so as soon as possible. One rule of thumb to follow is inspecting the fence with each season change, or quarterly. It also helps to glance over the fence after long, heavy rains and major thunderstorms.
When it comes to inspections points, there are may. If you see any popped nails, rotting wood, splinters, cracks or broken boards, fix them immediately before they turn into a big problem. Check the state of the wood posts too. If the posts wobble in any direction, chances are it is suffering from wood rot. It is also advised to fill in knotholes in order to prevent pest infestation. And do not forget to check for termites.
During the fall, leaves and debris can quickly accumulate between the fence boards. This accumulation can accelerate rot and decrease fencing LifeSpan. Also, periodically scrub, hose or pressure wash your fence to remove mildew, dirt and mold. Trim back any tree limbs that hang over the fence in order to prevent damage from branch breakage. Finally, plants and grass that grow around the fence or on concrete post supports can cause the wood to rot and weaken. So trim the grass and keep the area clear of overgrown plants.
Fencing Stain Reapplication
Every several years, you need to reapply the waterproof stain to the fence. The specific amount of time between each reapplication will depend on the environmental conditions, wood condition and stain quality. Of course, reapply the stain if you see the color fading or the wood cracking.