A wood fence split rail, or picket fence can add value to your home’s beauty and security. A wood fence usually lasts approximately 15 years. However, with the proper maintenance, you can extend the life of your wood fence to 20 years or more.

Woof Fencing Considerations

Wood fences are widely used due to them being able to resist decay and rot. Also, they come in a variety of other wood types as well. Fence posts should be pressure treated due to them having constant contact with the ground and being exposed to moisture and insects. The boards of the fence don’t need to be pressure treated since they are above the ground. Having your wood pressure treated contains chemicals that help keep away water and bugs from damaging the wood.

If you get a new fence installed, wait about a year before staining or painting it. This will allow the chemicals used on your wood to dry out. If your fence isn’t dry then, you will end up sealing moisture in when you paint. Sealing in moisture can lead to rotting and decay. Pressure-treating your wood ensures it’s protected from fungal decay and termites. However, your wood can be affected by swelling, shrinking, cracking, and warping. Therefore, it’s essential not to overlook the maintenance that will be needed for your fence.

Do Inspections Every Year

To ensure the longevity of your fence, walk around your fence and look for any damage or rot. If needed, replace any broken boards, hammer in nails, or tighten screws. Look at each section of your wood fence to make sure it’s properly attached to the next one. If any parts of the fence are leaning, make sure the posts are tightly in the ground. You may need to repair the posts if they are in bad condition. Also, look at your hinges and locks on your gates to make sure they’re secure and lined up correctly. You can use automotive grease if needed.

Pressure-treated wood isn’t entirely waterproof. So, any steps you take to avoid moisture will benefit the life span of your wood. You can also adjust your sprinklers, so they don’t get your fence wet and cause the wood to rot or lead to moss growing on your wood. Trim back your bushes and vines, so they don’t hang on the fence. Shrubs can add weight and hold on to moisture.

Clean Every 3-5 Years

Every two to three years, make sure to clean your wood fence to avoid dirt, moss, mildew, and graying. Then, use a UV inhibiting, water-repellant coating. After you make the proper repairs, scrape off any moss or peeling paint until you’re able to see your wood again. If you see any mold on your fence, you can mix 20% bleach with 80% mild detergent and spray it on the fence an hour before washing it. This will help kill any mold spores and help prevent them from growing back.

Reseal or Paint Once Your Fence Is Cleaned

Paint or stain should be reapplied approximately every 3-5 years. Use exterior oil-based stain or latex paint, which will help seal out your moisture, prevent wood rot, and limit the amount of weathering of your wood. It’s vital to decide on a stain or sealant with a UV inhibitor to help keep the wood from turning gray. Then, let the wood dry for about a week before applying a stain or sealant, which is thinner than paint.

If your fence does need to be repaired or replaced, call the professionals at All County Fence Contractors for your free estimate.

If you are looking for something that will last with less maintenance, you may want to consider vinyl fencing as an option.


Customer Reviews

All County Fence Contractors

Customer Reviews

Alyse Perfetto 09/05/2020

Google
From start to finish, working with this company was a pleasure. The salesman Tyler was very knowledgeable. From the time we had the consultation to the finished product was about a month which was faster than I anticipated. The installers were also very efficient and friendly. They didn’t even mind when I had to let my dogs out in the yard. Overall it was a great experience and my fence looks great. Thank you.

Jesse 06/22/2020

Google
Steve and company were great. Reasonable price was worth every penny. Answered all questions and went above and beyond to make the fence look great. Could not be happier with process and results.

Dan Sealock 07/20/2020

Google
Steve was very helpful thru the entire process, he stayed in contact with me and if he didn’t answer my phone call he quickly returned my call. The job was so well done several neighbor are now requesting estimates from Steve.

Daniel Healy 02/12/2020

Google
Everyone I dealt with is an expert in their job. This made the process very smooth and transparent. They answered all of my questions immediately and patiently. There were zero surprises. The whole thing went like clockwork.

I confidently recommend them to anyone who is interested in having a fence installed.

Alex potter 12/12/2019

Google
These guys are awesome from start to end. He was very professional with us and gave us exactly what we wanted from our modern style front fencing. He provided fast response and solid communication. The workers were polite and did an amazing job. We only had the fence for less than a week and plenty of compliments from neighbors and family. Will definitely go with them again for our backyard fence and other future needs. Highly Recommended!

Francis Brewer 09/12/2019

Google
Absolutely incredible experience. Everything from the initial sales call, the options they offered compared to their competition and all the way until paying the bill was absolutely perfect. Good people, very considerate of all our plants and very attentive to our needs. Hi integrity. They built a fence that will be here for more years then we will be in this house. But if we ever need another one we will certainly call them again.

Wilma Knight 09/12/2019

Google
Bart just completed a good neighbor fence for me and I am so pleased and impressed with his work. Instead of just putting up a straight fence, he staggered the height giving the fence just a little extra beauty and interest. That combined with his reasonable pricing has left me feeling very satisfied and confident that I have a great vendor to go to next time I need fence work done. He is very pleasant to deal with.