Any sort of home fixture that’s going to be exposed to the elements needs to be weather-proofed. This will help to ensure that you don’t have to do costly repairs or replacements down the line. Fences are no exception to this– they need to be able to take a beating under severe weather conditions. In particular, wooden fences are susceptible to the elements, due to the fragile nature of wood. These kinds of fences will need special attention to get them as long-lasting as other fence options. Here are a few ways you can help your fence stand up to mother nature.
Apply Sealant
Wood sealants make wooden fences waterproof. This is extremely important if you want your fence to have a long life– warping and rot are two of the most common problems with wooden fences. Most of the time, it only takes one coat of sealant to do the job. When applying sealant, prepare your fence first by using a pressure washer to get rid of any dirt and debris. Once the product has dried, your fence will be protected from water for years to come.
Use Stain
The sun can be harsh on a fence. Over time, those strong rays beating down can make the panels look faded. You can help to cover this by painting your wooden fence with stain. Stain also lengthens the life of the wood, so you’re really doing yourself a service by using it. As with sealant, make sure that your fence is clean before you begin to apply the stain. It may take two coats to completely cover your fence, depending on how dark you want the finished product to be– in that case, make sure the first coat is completely dry before starting on the second.
Set Posts in Concrete
If you live in an area that sees powerful winds (like during hurricane season), you may have already seen the havoc that wind can wreak on a fence. Wooden and vinyl fences are both relatively easy for the wind to catch and blow away. You can help to stabilize your fence by setting the posts in concrete. When you’re having the fence installed, after the holes for your posts have been dug, ask your fence installer to pour concrete into the holes, then set the posts into the wet concrete. Once the concrete dries, your fence will be much stronger for it. This also helps to prevent post rot, which can become a problem in areas that have lots of rain and flooding.
