Wood Fence Maintenance

Over time, wood material needs to be cleaned and maintained. Throughout the year, fences take a beating from mother nature. They are susceptible to temperature change, rain, severe weather, and even bug infestations. Infestations that spread to trees can cause the tree to become diseased or die. Diseased and dying trees will fall much more frequently in storms with the potential to cause catastrophic property damage or personal injury. Replacing parts or the whole fence can get very expensive quickly—not to mention the time involved.

Well-maintained fences add value to your property. Keep leaves, debris, and grass away from posts, kick boards, and the bottom of your fence. Ensure that the fence is properly stained, sealed, or painted from top to bottom. A home’s curb appeal will also be affected by the appearance of a surrounding fence. The better kept the fence is, the more heightened the curb appeal will be along with your home’s value.

Moisture is a Problem for Fences All Year Long

Charleston Creative Fences + removes built up leaves, brush, debris, or litter along its base and around the posts. Accumulating debris against the wood traps moisture and leads to the penetration of the wood, eventually causing decay and weakening the fence structure.

Prune Trees Back

As trees age, there are two components which will threaten the integrity of your fence.
The Roots – Below ground, the root system of a tree is designed to seek out water. As the roots travel, they can buckle concrete, invade pipe systems, and push a fence up or out of their way. Plant trees or build fences leaving enough space for their growth and safety.
Everything Else – Above ground, the trunk and branches (if they fall) will destroy sections of a fence, if not the fence in its entirety.

Fence Stain, Paint, and Sealant Protect the Wood

Untreated wood left to the elements will decay and deteriorate very quickly. While there are several types of heat or pressure treated wood, it ends up running the cost of the wood up dramatically. Using a waterproof stain like Thomson’s WaterSeal sealant, or paint will help to prevent splitting, knotting, and splintering while considerably extending the life of your wooden fence. It will also protect the metal components (brackets, rails, screws, and nails) from rust and bleeding.

Wind, Heat, and Severe Weather May Weaken Fence Structure

At times, the fury of mother nature is turned loose on us. After severe weather events, especially those with sustained high winds in the greater Charleston area, it is important to inspect your fence for damages and weakened components. Pay special attention to gates, because they are a moving part, and can be shaken loose or broken more easily. Ask about our Charleston Creative “no sag” gates to replace your current sagging/dragging gates. We build them tough and warranty the installation for life.

Charleston has extreme temperature fluctuations and will, over time, cause a wooden fence to weaken and eventually fail. This is due to the expansion in the heat and the shrinking in the cold. Wood that has been treated or properly sealed will resist this type of damage for a much longer period. Ask us about our 1” think “deckwood” structures that are twice the thickness of typically fences installed. This Premier structure will outlast any standard fence.

Inspect for Damage and Signs of Weakness

It is important to inspect your wooden fencing from time to time. Charleston Creative Fences + will walk the fence (in a literal sense), physically inspecting and taking action if we see the following:

• Loose Boards
  Charleston Creative Fences will refasten them or replace them if damaged and use screws to get a tight fit.
• Splintering
  Sand the affected area and apply a waterproof stain, paint, or sealant. When the damage is too severe, replace the affected area.
• Knotting
  This occurs with the expansion and contraction of the wood in severe temperature swings. Literally, the wood expands and allows the knot to fall out, leaving a hole behind. Proper sealing or painting will help to prevent knotting. In the event the damage already occurred, replacing the area is best and Charleston Creative Fences will provide this service for you.
• Protruding Nails and Screws
  Scrapes, puncture wounds, and severe cuts are just a few of the dangers of leaving protruding nails and screws on your fence. Instead of driving the nails back in Charleston Creative Fences + will replace these nails and tighten these boards with screws flush to the wood. Refinishing the area with waterproof stain, paint, or sealant will reinforce and help keep them in their place.
• Bleeding
  As Nails and screws age, while being exposed to the elements they may begin to oxidize or rust. As this occurs, rain or moisture will carry the rust or oxidation in a downward direction, leaving dark stains in streaks known as “bleeding”. If this begins to happen, Charleston Creative Fences + can provide a deeper inspection of the fence which may reveal the necessity to replace the nails or screws throughout a section of the fence, ending with the proper application of waterproof stain, paint, or sealant to prevent a recurrence.
• Infestations
  If a bug infestation is detected, especially ones that bore into the wood, that section of the fence should be treated or replaced immediately. Charleston Creative Fences + will work together with an arborist / tree professional and have all surrounding trees inspected for infestations.
• Moisture
  Mold, mildew, and bacteria causing decay all require constant moisture to perpetuate. If left unchecked, portions or sections of your fence may begin to rot, fall away, and cause the fence to fail.

Call Charleston Creative Fences + at (843) 418-6500 or contact us online. Whether your job is big or small, we have the expertise to handle it all!