Winter is coming and with it the potential for snow and other unique hazards to your fence that come with it. Winter is a beautiful season, but that doesn’t mean that a winter wonderland is a wonderful thing for fences— particularly wooden ones. Here are a few things to keep in mind about your fence when it comes to snow, sleet, and rain-proofing it.
Snow Hazards
Snow can make for a rotten time— if you’re a fence, that is. Water is a huge threat to wooden fences, particularly, as it can result in rot and the need to replace parts of your fence. In some circumstances, it may even be necessary to replace the fence as a whole. Fortunately, there are a number of paints and stainers which come prepared with water-proofing materials. If you’re not sure whether or not your fence is water-resistant, trickle some water on top of it. If it slides off, or pools atop the wood, the fence has been waterproofed— or at least that part has, at least! If it is soaked into the wood, you will want to treat it accordingly with the right paints and/or stainers. Remember to do the proper prep work if you’re applying a stainer on top of a coat of paint.
Environmental Damage
Even if the wet part of snow doesn’t get to your fence, snow still poses a serious threat to the safety of your fence. Tree branches store all the snow that falls on them, and while that might be a pretty sight to behold, it’s also a pretty hazardous one if your fence is underneath one of the limbs. With enough snow, a tree branch can collapse under the added weight, fall. and crush whatever’s beneath it. That poses risk to not only your fence, but whoever or whatever else is nearby. It might be a good idea to call a lumber service to trim any tree branches that hang over your property, in such case.
Unsteady Foundations
Snow is a universally unstable foundation for anything to be placed on. (Or around, in this case.) The hot and cold effect from snow thawing and freezing makes the same expand/contract problem for your soil that destabilizes its foundations. Soil can displace itself, thus displacing your fence. And nobody wants a wobbly fence. The best way to prevent this is to use a reliable fence installation service, and ask them to cement the fence posts in place. Cement is a much more reliable foundation than dirt.
On the fence as to which fence installation service is best to secure your yard? Feel free to call us on our telephone number (1-800-221-6425) or visit us at one of our convenient locations in Swainsboro, Vidalia, Statesboro, or Sandersville. We’ll be happy to assist you in any way we can!
