You have invested money into a new fence and now you just want to protect it from the harsher weather of the winter. A little preparation before the winter comes a long way and can help you save and protect your fence from what is to come. Here are a few important tips.
First, trim any branches or trees that may be around the fence. The cold weather and wind leads to much more branches breaking and falling. You want to make sure any potential branches that could fall on the fence are removed before the winter months.
If you have a wooden fence, you need to check over it to see if there are cracks forming. If this is the case, you will need to reseal the wood before the winter. The cracks and pores of the wood will constantly expand and contrast under the freezing and thawing, leading to larger cracks and serious damage. If you have stained and sealed your fence before, you may be okay. You can check by pouring water over the wood and seeing if it runs off or if it stays on the wood. If it stays on or soaks in, you will need to re-seal your wood before the summer.
Take the time to check your posts. If they are wobbling or leaning before the winter, you will need to replace that post. The post is the complete support system for your fence. If they give out, the fence panels are going with it. You will need to make sure that the post is below the frost line, which is 5-10 inches in Georgia, so it’s best to put it at least a foot deep and fill concrete around it. If the post is only slightly moving, it may not need replacing. You just want to try to pack the dirt tighter around the post until it barely moves. You can also dig around the post and add concrete around it for extra security without having to replace the entire post.
Keeping your fence protected is very important for its longevity especially in the winter. It doesn’t require too much work. The 3 tips listed above will only take a little bit of time and money to complete and will make sure your fence not only survives the winter, but thrives in it.
