Protect
Time consuming but will massively extend the life of any fence. Stains deeply penetrate the wood and protect it from rot. You could also paint the fence to protect it. Both these methods can also alter the colour of your fence to give it a new lease of life. Different types and wood require different fence maintenance, some are dipped, some are pressure treated. Ask one of our experts for more information about specifics.
Clean
Keeping a fence clean isn’t only about the aesthetics. A clean fence will last years longer than a dirty, neglected one. Dirt splattered up a fence will retain and trap moisture. The wood will weaken and mold could get a foothold. You can just use a sponge and soapy water for small areas. Alternatively, a powerful hose or power washer.
Repair
Any loose boards will reduce the integrity of the fence. Areas of disrepair may change how well water clears. Deal with loose nails and screws as water could get behind the protection and into the wood. If there is damage to the posts it might be a good idea to give us a call for some professional fence maintenance before it gets out of hand.
Careful Aim
Try to be wary of constant flows of water that might be hitting the fence. Keep that hose from soaking the fence regularly and try to place sprinklers such that they don’t sprinkle the fence as much as the vegetable patch. Try to prevent garden run-off from drenching the fence too.
Wildlife Watch
Depending on how you feel about nature you may want to keep an eye on how it’s interacting with your fencing. Moles burrowing up under and around the fence posts could be a problem. Birds may nest on or in the fence too. Beware, loose panels might get exploited by local wildlife too so keep everything ship-shape if you can.
Jungle Prevention
Unless you have planned for and are letting vines and creepers traverse your fence you should keep them at bay. Climbing plant-life can pull and weigh down the shape of the fence. Of course a fence is designed to support itself, not extra passengers. Stalks, leaves and flowers also retain moisture and will transfer it to the fence.
Beware The Mold
For a few of the above reasons plus some other ones you should keep an eye out for mold patches. You can buy spray specifically to rid yourself of it. It looks unsightly and will create a weak spot in the wood.
Check Your Metal
As a fence ages you should keep an eye on the metal fixings used. If it was installed by someone other than Hol-Tech Fencing the metal could be poor quality and be susceptible to rust. It could weaken and snap leading to likely a broken or loose panel or two.
Watch The Weatherman
Keep abreast of incoming bad weather and act accordingly if you can. If there’s an autumn storm brewing up take the opportunity to get a quick look at your fence and garden. Any loose panels might provide the wind with the chance to tear of a chunk of fence. Additionally check the fence posts for strength as a rotten base can easily escape attention. Some extra care taken at this point can save you big in the long run. The BBC forecast always seems to be a good effort.
Stay Vigilant
This is applied to all of the above really. In the same way that most house and garden maintenance is, keep aware of how things are doing. A quick once-over of the fence every couple of weeks ( even when the weather is bad ) will reward you with a fence that lasts longer than your neighbours! Check it over and act fast to really get your moneys worth out of your new or refurbished fence. Keeping on top of your fence maintenance is really the key take-away from this article.