If your summer projects include installing a new fence, you'll need to be prepared for the upkeep. Routine care and maintenance of your new plywood fence will extend its life, and keep it looking brand new. One of the most important things you can do is have your fence professionally installed. A good professional installation will give your fence the foundation it needs to provide you with security for years to come. Once you have your fence installed, here are three steps that will help you provide it with the care it will need.
Apply a Sealant
When it comes to your new wood fence, waterproof sealants are the most important element of proper maintenance and care. Waterproof sealants will seal in the natural wood oils that will keep the wood supple. They also prevent water damage such as warping and rotting, due to seasonal rains, or even the sprinkler system in your yard. For maximum benefit of your waterproof sealant, you should apply the first coat shortly after your fence has been installed. A repeat application should be applied about once a year after that.
Give it a Good Cleaning
Your wood fence will collect a lot of dirt. Mud can splash on it during torrential rain storms. Grass from your yard can cause serious stains along the lower edge. Unfortunately, dirt can undermine the integrity of your wood fence. To remove the dirt, and help extend the life of your wood fence, you should give it a good cleaning at least twice a year. The best way to do that is with a pressure washer. The first thing you'll want to do is pre-treat the areas that are excessively dirty. Fill a garden sprayer with water. Add about 2-cups of liquid bleach, and ¼ cup of grease-cutting dish detergent. Spray the solution onto the dirty areas of your fence and allow it to soak in for about 30 minutes. Wash the area with your pressure washer. If you don't have access to a pressure washer, you can attach a high-pressure nozzle to your garden hose, and use that to clean your fence.
Create a Windbreak
High winds can destroy your fence, especially if they occur on a regular basis. The constant wind beating up against your fence can weaken the posts and loosen the boards. You can protect your fence from wind damage by creating a windbreak. The easiest way to do that is by planting large shrubbery in front of your fence, especially the areas that receive the most wind. The shrubbery will help reduce the amount of wind pressure that your fence receives.
If you're in the process of having a new wood fence installed in your yard, use the simple tips provided here to prevent damage, and keep it looking brand new.
Share27 May 2017
Eleven years ago, I met the man of my dreams. Unfortunately, he lived seventy-five miles away from my hometown. After dating for nearly a year, we became engaged. Six months after celebrating our engagement, my minister father married us in a beautiful church ceremony. After the wedding, I moved to the home my husband had purchased a few years earlier. Because I was raised in the country, I didn’t immediately feel safe in my new, crowded neighborhood. Have you recently moved into a new neighborhood? Perhaps, you feel uneasy staying at your new home alone. If you’re frightened living in a new place, consider hiring a fence contractor. On this blog, you will discover the best types of fences to install in a residential neighborhood.