Fences can provide homes fantastic amounts of privacy, aesthetic value – and most importantly, security. But, sometimes fences degrade over time – and in these situations, they will require some repairs. Fortunately there are many ways to reduce the degree that fences degrade over time – here are some of our tips to project them.
Durable Wood
The best kinds of wood fencing are cedar and redwood, as they resist moisture and rot, so if you’re getting a wooden fence make sure to get one made of one of these two trees. While they are technically more expensive than fir or pine, they have natural oils that deter insects – as opposed to fir or pine trees that need to be sprayed or coated with a insecticide. Redwood is even resistant against any sort of cracking or warping – so these fences can last for generations if maintained properly.
Make sure that all wood is pressure treated to protect it against bugs, insects, and fungus. This will especially protect sections of the fence that are buried underground – and thus exposed to moisture. All pressure treated wood is labeled with a specific stamp. Another method of protecting fences is by treating them with wood preservative – which prevents warping, splitting, or leaning. Wood preservative acts like car wax to protect your car from the elements, so that they last much longer.
Exterior Staining
Exterior stains – made of a collection of resins and oils – help transfer color pigments to the surface of the wood, while protecting it from ultraviolet rays from the sun. These stains also contain a number of chemical additives that increase the longevity of the coating, and make it slide on, and penetrate the wood much more easily.
If you’re using pressure treated wood, the application of sealants might be unnecessary, since the wood has already been filled with the preservative chemicals.