Installing a privacy fence is an investment in your home, and like other long-term investments, it is necessary to maintain them to ensure that their value remains unscathed. Your wood fence is undoubtedly expensive and provides exceptional security for your home. Wood fences require routine maintenance to ensure that they stay sturdy and visually pleasing. One preventative method you can use to ensure your wood fence is not damaged from inclement weather conditions and extreme temperatures is to weatherproof it. The following article will detail how to correctly weatherproof your fence for longstanding results.

 

Familiarize Yourself with Your Fence Material

 

It’s essential for you to know the kind of wood your wood fence is comprised of so you can treat it in the best possible way. Most wood fences found at residential homes are made from redwood, spruce, pine and cedar; identifying the exact kind of wood your fence is made up of will help you proficiently condition your fence. If your fence is made from cedar or redwood, the natural oils in these materials help prevent mould or rotting from becoming an issue. Fences made from wood materials like cypress or spruce may survive considerably longer if it is covered with a water-impermeable substance.

 

Cover All Visible Cracks

 

If your wood fence is full of visibly deep, profound, cracks there is no way to efficiently prevent mould, mildew and moss from formulating on the surface, essentially ruining its aesthetically pleasing qualities. The need to fill the cracks in your fence cannot be understated, here are some tips to keep in mind

 

  • Before filling cracks, sanitize the blemishes with a cleaner that is wood-safe.
  • Follow the instructions listed on the wood cleaning epoxy, and then apply it to the cracks on your fence.
  • Allow the epoxy to settle on the cracks based on recommendations on the product label
  • Apply epoxy on a dry day to ensure the epoxy settles completely.

 

 

Choose a Stain That Compliments Your Fence

 

Not only will staining your fence help protect it from the elements, but it will also help ensure its visually pleasing qualities remain intact. Applying a stain to your wood fence will ensure that water is kept from seeping into the material and that it doesn’t dry out over time. As a friendly reminder, you may wish to stain your fence lightly at first to gauge how dark you want your fence to appear. For a darker shade, apply thin layers of stain on top of each other until you reach the intended darkness.

 

Polish with Wax

 

If you decide to polish your wood fence with wax, you are reinforcing the already element damage-preventative qualities of wood stain, but that’s not the main reason you’d polish a wood fence. Wax polish helps keep the colour of your fence vibrant and compelling, preventing it from fading from sunlight and extreme weather conditions.

 

For more information on properly weatherproofing your fence, contact Fence All today!