Thursday 29 August 2013

Care of Wooden Fences

Care of Wooden Fences

A wood fence is a lovely, defining piece in a yard. A fence serves more than the obvious practical use of containing pets and children, and defining your property lines. It is an important part of the decor of your back yard habitat. Outdoor woods always take a bit of work to maintain, but can last for decades with proper upkeep.

Construction

    A wooden fence constructed with the right materials is easiest to maintain. Posts should be made of pressure treated lumber, which makes them more resistant to the elements and pests. The board or picket material is best made of cedar or redwood. These two species are known for being able to withstand rot, making them an excellent choice for a structure that will be continually outdoors. It is not as important for the boards to be pressure treated, since they are not below ground.

Cleaning

    If you have an older fence that has discolored, it should be cleaned before being sealed. Scrub the fence with a deck cleaning product. Use a pressure washer to remove all of the excess green residue that tends to builds up on an outdoor structures. Scrape off any old paint, being careful to contain the dust in case of lead contamination.

Sealing or Painting

    The process of pressure treating preserves the wood, so it is not necessary to seal any of these pieces. Any pieces of the fence that are not pressure treated should be sealed. Water-repellent sealants that do not alter the appearance of the wood are a good option if you like the look of natural wood. Outdoor stains are also available, and these products act as both a stain and a sealant. If you like the look of the traditional white picket fence, it is possible to paint a fence. This is a very tedious process, but can yield some lovely results. Most homeowners do not want to repeat the painting process more than necessary, so be sure to choose a high quality outdoor paint that will last as long as possible.

Tips

    There are a few simple things you can do to protect you fence from early decay. First, keep garden sprinklers away from the fence. Any direct moisture hitting the wood can cause it to rot faster. As pretty as they may seem, try to keep climbing vines away from the fence and don't plant trees or shrubs right up against it. Plants will contribute to moisture by holding onto rain water and by their natural life processes.

No comments:

Post a Comment