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In five to eight years, the fence may start to lean, but it should last 10 to 15 years overall. To keep the wood from rotting, apply a wood preservative to seal it. “It’s like wax on a car,” Holt says. “It helps protect it from the elements, from water, from sprinklers.”.
What is the best way to treat a wood fence?
Bare or untreated wood should be pre-treated with an appropriate wood preserver to prevent rot and decay. Surfaces should be dry and free from dirt. Remove any algae, lichen, fungi or moss using an appropriate fungicidal wash. Wood previously stained, painted, or varnished should be stripped back to bare wood.
Do I need to seal my wood fence?
Wood fences are traditionally beautiful, and they can be a significant financial investment in the value of your home and property. They do, however, require staining or sealing in order to enhance their beauty and to ensure their life span. Further, the wood can become subject to mold, rot, and decay.
How do I keep my wood fence looking new?
The best way to protect your new wooden fencing is to paint or stain it every few years. This may seem like a lot of work but will save you thousands of dollars in fence replacement later on. While using a sprayer may seem faster, it is not the most efficient way of covering fencing.
How do you prolong the life of a wooden fence?
How to Extend the Life of Your Wood Fence Build Your Fence With Metal Fence Posts. Add a Rot Board to the Bottom of Your Fence. Stain & Seal Your Fence. Inspect & Repair Your Fence Every Year. Minimize Contact With Water, Soil & Vegetation. Clean Your Fence Every 2-4 Years.
Should I oil my fence?
How to give the best protection to Garden Fence Panels? To get the best level of protection, it is recommended to use both a wood preservative, usually 2 coats, followed by 2 coats of decking oil or other exterior wood oil.
Is it better to stain or paint a fence?
Paint creates a thicker barrier initially, but it also chips and peels, obvious defects that make the fence appear worn, thus requiring immediate attention. Stain, on the other hand, simply fades over time and doesn’t have to be replaced as often, meaning you will likely have to buy less of it over the years.
Do you need to seal both sides of a fence?
A question that customers sometimes ask is whether both sides of the fence should be sealed. In reality, if one side of the fence faces a neighbor and they choose not to stain or seal their side will discolor and yours won’t, without this affecting the structural integrity of the structure.
Does pressure-treated wood fence need to be sealed?
However, most pressure-treated wood should have periodic sealing against moisture, preferably every year or so. Although the wood is resistant to rot and insect attacks because of the pressure treatment, it can warp, split and develop mildew if not protected from the effects of water.
What is the best sealer for a wood fence?
Best Overall: Ready-Seal Natural Cedar Exterior Wood Stain and Sealer, 5 Gallon. Protect your fence from natural elements like rain and UV rays with this semi-transparent stain from Ready-Seal. This oil-based formula can be applied to all hard and softwoods.
Why do fences turn GREY?
One of the biggest reasons for your fence turning gray is the sun. The sun’s UV rays erode the outer layer of the wood, which gives it its lovely color. Once the outer layer of the wood has started to decay, it makes it difficult for the wood to produce its natural oils, so it will begin to dry out and lose color.
When should I treat my wood fence?
A wood fence should be treated every two to three years with paint or stain. The experts at Five Star Painting recommend stain due to its durability on wood exposed to the elements.
Should you pressure wash your fence before staining?
More often than not, it is not a good idea to power wash a fence before staining it. Power washers can force the mold and mildew (the greying color of the fence) deeper into the wood pickets. This causes the wood to deteriorate quicker. Power washing a stained fence can create divots on the surface of the wood.
What do you treat fence with?
When treating a new fence or a bare wood one that hasn’t been treated for a number of years, we highly recommend treating the fence panels with 2 coats of an exterior wood preservative prior to oiling. This helps to protect the timber from biological threats such as mould, algae and wood boring insects.
How do you seal a wood fence?
Follow these tips for fence waterproofing to extend its life. Clean and Prepare the Wooden Fence. This is the most important step before you can apply a fence water seal or stain. Strip off any Fence Water Seal or Stain. Neutralize the pH. It’s Time to Apply Wood Fence Waterproofing. Maintaining Your Wooden Fence.
Does painting a fence make it last longer?
Painting or staining a wood fence can help your fence last longer and look better. Either one will extend the lifespan of your fence by giving it some protection against rot, insects, wear, and tear. Paint doesn’t allow the cedar to breathe, which means you’ll actually reduce the lifespan of the fence.
What is the best oil for a fence?
Decking oils are perfect for fence panels and posts as they are designed to be durable and weather resistant. As with decking, they will keep fence panels nourished and water repellent, therefore preventing cracking, warping, and splitting.
Can you put decking oil on fences?
Decking oil makes for an excellent fence treatment as it helps to keep the timber water-resistant, supple, and often contains UV filters which help to protect the panels from the bleaching affect of the sun. Fence stain delivers a hint of colour while keeping a natural wood look.
