Protecting Your New Wood Fence

You have finally taken the big plunge and paid a fence contractor in Winter Springs, Florida, to install a new wooden fence on your property. If you have not chosen pressure-treated lumber for all parts of your fence, then it is necessary to protect it from the sun’s harmful rays and the weather. While it looks great now, it is vital that you take steps to protect it or it can look dirty and tired very soon. Follow these tips to protect your new wood fence.

Seal Your Fence

The first step to keeping your new fence looking great is to seal it. You have a variety of choices available. If you want to keep the fence’s natural look, then choose a water-resistant sealant. While these sealants will still allow the fence to develop a natural-weathered look, it still provides a necessary level of protection. Your second choice is to apply a stain to the wood. Choose those that also have a sealant built into them. Regardless of the choice that you make, it is best to brush the sealant or stain on, unless you are an expert, because it allows you to cover all the small crevices.

Keep Moisture Away

It is vital to keep moisture away from a fence. Make sure that your fence does not stand in water repeatedly when it rains, or the supports will eventually give way. Keep plants and debris away from the bottom of the fence, or you will set up conditions for the bottom of the fence to begin to rot. Finally, you should put a thin row of caulk around the bottom of the support posts to seal out moisture.

Be Vigilant About Pest Control

While many types of insects love to eat wood, redwood, cedar, pine, and fir are especially vulnerable. It is essential to control weeds and debris along the bottom of the fence, but there are other natural steps that you can take to keep pests away from your wood fence. You can spread a thin layer of diatomaceous earth near the fence’s base. Then, they will eat it and get dehydrated. You can also dilute 12 to 15 drops of orange essential oil in 0.25 cups vinegar as insects do not like the smell. You can also spread boric acid along the base of the fence.

Clean Your Fence

You should pressure wash your fence when it gets dirty but be careful that you do not set the pressure too high. You should keep the pressure under 100 pounds per square inch. Use large sweeping movements starting from the top of the fence and working your way down.

If you notice problems with your fence, then you need to contact a fence contractor in Winter Springs. Give Byers Fence a call today because the sooner the problem is diagnosed, the sooner it can be fixed.