Do you have a wood fence? A wood fence keeps your kids and pets safe and it also changes the look of your home from drab to fab. However, wooden fences will eventually fall apart from being exposed to outside elements such as rain, snow, heat and wind. Fortunately, there are ways on how you can make your wood fence last longer.

Generally, wood fences are made from wood that are resistant to rot and decay such as cedar and redwood. Maintaining a wood fence throughout the changing seasons is possible and can be easy. What should you do to enjoy your wood fence all year round? Here’s what you can do:

• General cleaning

Wood fence are built to withstand any weather but you need to clean it regularly to remove dirt and other debris. When cleaning, make sure you do it when the sun is shining so the water will dry quicker – especially if you are planning to do pressure washing. You should consider trimming out the nearby trees so that no leaves and branches will fall on your fence during strong winds or heavy snow. The moisture from the debris can cause rot to build up on the wood fence. 

 

• Basic damage repair

When your wood fence is damaged, make sure to repair it to prevent the damage from getting serious. Simple fence issues such as broken boards can be resolved with a simple DIY repair. The knots on the fence react with the changing of the season; they expand when the climate is hot and they contract on colder temperature. So make sure to spend time to check on them as they might fall out with this repetitive expansion and contraction. If you notice a section of your fence that has started rotting, do not panic. Instead of tearing down the whole fence, just remove the rotten section and replace it with a new one. You can also call a professional to do the job for you.

 

• Stain your fence

Staining your fence whenever necessary will help protect your fence against rot-causing moisture. It extends the life of your wood fence and maintains its durability. You should know that wood absorbs moisture so you wouldn’t want to stain your fence early in the spring or summer as the hot temperature makes the stain evaporates even before the wood absorbs it.  

 

Wood fences are sturdy and durable. But it isn’t built to last forever. If you want your wood fence to last for a long period of time, then you need to take good care of it too. Maintaining it doesn’t have to be hard – you just have to exert a little effort and time; and your wood fence will look great for many years to come.