It is said that all good things come to an end, sooner or later. With proper care and treatment, however, you can make sure that your fence needs to be replaced later. While it pays to apply quality paint and stain– two things which will greatly improve the lifespan of your fence– it also pays to know what could be a potential hazard to your fence so that you can take even more preventative measures. Stainer can only take you so far. But, with only a small amount of effort, you can keep your fence looking as vibrant as the day it was painted. Here are some of the things you should be looking out for to keep it that way:
Pets and Wildlife
As loveable as your neighbor’s dog is, you don’t want them hanging around your fence. Your fence is your business, not the neighborhood dog’s– you don’t want them doing their “business” on or around it. Signs addressing your need for a little privacy can often be ignored (especially in the case of illiterate animals) or taken the wrong way. If you want to avoid the possibility of making things awkward between the neighbors and their three rescue hounds, keeping a layer of plants in front of a fence could be just what you need. Most dogs prefer plants to planks anyhow, and what could have been a potential eyesore can be free fertilizer instead.
Weather
Mother Nature can be wild and unpredictable. A calm, sunny day can turn into a violent storm the next, complete with powerful gusts of wind, torrents of rain, and fence-frying lightning bolts. While you can’t protect your fence from everything, you can mitigate the worst of it. If you’re anticipating a violent storm, you can prop your fence up against something to prevent flying debris from plastering itself to its side, while also bolstering it against blasts of wind. Anything heavy will do, such as something from the rock garden. For a simpler fix, you could simply tie a tarp over the fence instead. Make sure the tarp is tied securely to something heavy, though– rocks would be a good choice here, as well!
The Human Element
Bits of rain, wind, mud, and fire flying about aren’t the only elements that can be violent and unpredictable. Unfortunately, not everyone shares the same sense of civic duty and responsibility that you do. It doesn’t take a ruffian to make a careless error with their driving or for someone to punt a soccer ball just a little too hard into the side of your fence. In such cases, a discrete camera could prove useful in figuring out whose kid made a goalie post out of your fence posts– and whose parents owe you a replacement. There are many different kinds of cameras made specifically for this sort of thing. A fence can go a long way toward protecting your home, but video surveillance can go a long way toward protecting it– and your home!
If you want even more tricks and tips about how to preserve the beauty and integrity of your wooden fence, feel free to stop by at one of our convenient locations in Swainsboro, Vidalia, Statesboro, or Sandersville. You can also give us a shout on our phone number (1-800-221-6425); we’d be happy to hear from you!
