If you’re a Colorado native, you know first-hand how extreme our weather can get. Especially considering these crazy wind storms were just this week! Insane heat in the fall and winter? No big deal. Heavy snow in spring? That’s nothing new. This craziness we get from Mother Nature means one thing for your fence: it’s vulnerable like cake at a 5 year old’s birthday party. This vulnerability to wind, sun, water and snow can severely damage and warp your fence; losing your money and possibly your sanity. If you want to avoid the potential headaches, here are five quick tips to maintaining your fence:
Fence Maintenance Tips
Regular check ups
Every few months or so, check to see if there has been any damage from mold, rot, termites, or other insects. These are the most common issues seen in fence maintenance, so be on the lookout. The sooner you catch an imperfection, like mold, the sooner your fence can be back to tip-top shape. You can easily tell if a fence post is starting to lose its integrity by doing a routine maintenance check a few times a year.
Board Replacement
Replace any boards that may have holes, water damage, or that are just plain broken, immediately. Having boards that aren’t in the right condition will not only affect your fence’s visual appeal, but also hinder the structural integrity. When you notice one or two boards are in need of replacement, do so ASAP. The longer you wait, the more likely it will be that your entire fence will need to be replaced, rather than just the few select pieces.
Remove those potential threats
Make sure that any potential threat to the fence’s structural integrity is removed. Things like overhanging tree branches or a sprinkler system can be extremely detrimental to your fence. If need be, contact your city about possibly cutting down those potential hazardous tree branches or anything else of that nature. So make sure your fence isn’t in range of anything like that to happen to ensure the longevity of your fence’s lifespan.
When should I restain my fence?
If you want to avoid any problems in regards to warping, splitting or cracking, then reseal on an annual basis. A quick test to see if your wood will need another seal is seeing if any water soaks into the wood. If it absorbs into the wood, rather than beading up, then it’s time to re-seal! Sealing your wood is critical to the longevity of your wood’s lifespan. Restaining your fence on a regular basis will help it retain its optimal condition and appearance.
Avoiding the ground
Woods are very vulnerable to water and moisture. If any seeps into the wood, then decay, warping and a general deformation of the wood is likely to occur. It’s critical that the lowest fence post should never be in contact with the ground so that no moisture will compromise the structure of your fence. If those lowest posts are very close to the ground, or even touching, be sure to do your regular checkups more often.
Maintaining your Fence
We hope this non-exhaustive list of fence maintenance tips has been helpful. If you have any questions, give us a call or browse the different fencing products that we offer!
