So you’ve decided to add value to your home buy putting up a fence. You’ve looked into all the different types of fences available and have finally chosen a fence to suit you and your property needs.
One of the most popular fence choices is wooden fencing as they tend to be ascetically pleasing and can also lure in potential future buyers. Fence building can be both time consuming and expensive, therefore people are more willing to rent or buy a home that has a fence preinstalled.
Once the building work is over, it is highly recommended you get someone out to check the build quality and whether it is installed correctly. Especially if you do not have any professional building experience. A poorly built fence will cost a lot of money to put right and basic maintenance won’t help.
Once you are satisfied with the build and are confident that the fence will last, the work is not over yet. You need to consider maintenance. The downside to wooden fences is that even the best made ones require regular care and maintenance. Wood is prone to fungus and rot, so you will have to use a good quality wood treatment at least once a year.
Also consider the climate you live in, wood is very easy to warp due to hot and cold weather and occasionally you may find yourself having to replace some of the panels to prevent further damage. You will need to have a good quality wood to start off with but it’s easy to find a timber merchant in North Wales, who will help you select the right wood to suit your needs.
Here we set out a brief guide on how to care for your wooden fence.
Sealing
The three most importantthings to follow when caring for your fence are sealing, cleaning and staining. If you do these regularly (withstaining and sealing being an annual job), your fence will last a life time. Cleaning can be done more a more regular basis, as often as you like. But before you clean it’s highly recommended that you seal the fence as you don’t want the wood to absorb moisture. One job of sealing is not enough. You will have to check regularly to see if you need to add another coat. You can tell if it needs doing by performing a simple test. Splash some water on any part of the fence. If the water is absorbed quickly and turns the wood darker, it’s time for some sealant. If the water beads up on top of the wood then your sealant is still doing its job effectively.
Before you seal, you will have to prepare the fence, it’s no good just throwing on sealant if the fence is dirty or damaged. You will need to give the fence a good clean, and make sure that everything is in good working order. Otherwise the sealant won’t stick to the wood properly.
It is vital that whatever sealant you use you follow the instructions included to make sure you do it properly. It’s a good idea to wear protective clothing too. When sealing always work from top to bottom. This prevents marks caused by running. A great technique is to try and treat 3 boards at a time. Make sure to get the entire fence, even the hard to reach places. Have a variety of different brush sizes to do this.
Cleaning
Along with treating the wood, you will also need to clean the fence regularly. It is recommended that you do this at the same time that you are sealing the wood to prevent moisture damage, rot and fungus.
Sealing will also protect the wood from cracking from the suns UV rays, or from extreme weather changes.
To clean the fence it is a good idea to use a specially made fence cleaner which can be picked up from the same place you bought your North Wales Fencing Supplies from.If you are unsure what to use, it doesn’t hurt to ask for help or advice. Use the cleaner as directed, which will vary from product to product. Allow the cleaner to remain on the fence for a good 15 to 20 minutesand then scrub off with a long handled scrub brush.
You can also use a jet wash to wash off any excess cleaner. Although be warned, if not used properly you can strip off any protective coating and cause damage.
Using a Jet Wash
If you do decide to rinse the fence off with a jet wash stick to these guidelines in order to protect your fence;
- It is important that you use a jet wash with a power rating of 2,700 psi or less.
- Use a wide angled tip to spread the water across a larger surface area. The recommended angle is 40 degrees.
- Do not put the hose too close to the surface; keep a distance of about 1.5-2 feet away.
- Do not keep the hose in the same place for longer than necessary. It’s best to move the hose around consistently so you cover all areas and don’t overdo some.
You must also stain your fence regularly. Not only does it look good, but it also helps protect the fence from the sun.