Care Tips for Your Wooden Fence

A wooden fence is an attractive way to mark your property’s border. In fact, wood is one of the most popular materials used for fencing and fence construction. Some other popular options include vinyl and concrete. Unlike vinyl and concrete, however, wood is a lot more susceptible to damage inflicted by the weather and the elements. Especially in Utah, where we experience such drastically different temperatures and weather, depending on the season. If you’ve selected wood fencing for your Utah home, there are a few easy precautionary steps you should take to ensure the integrity of your fence and that it continues to look beautiful the way you want it to.

 

Pressure treated wood

 

The first thing you’ll want to make sure of when selecting wood for your fence, is that the wood is pressure treated. This is especially important for the wood that will be used as posts. This wood will be going into the ground, where it’s susceptible to rotting and decay from moisture and insects. Pressure treated wood is chemically treated when it goes through the mill to resist bugs and water damage. Your fence pickets don’t need to be pressure treated, as they will be above ground.

 

Water repellant sealants

 

Within the first year of installing your wood fence, you may notice some of the wood splitting and warping, as it dries. This is normal, and shouldn’t affect the effectiveness of your fence. After about five to eight years, you may notice your fence starting to sag and lean a little bit. Again, this is absolutely normal with a wooden fence. This just means that you’re surrounded by natural elements. Your wooden fence should last ten to fifteen years before needing replaced or rejuvenated.

 

To help maintain your fence and keep it looking great, you’ll want to apply a water repellant sealant to it when it’s installed. You can purchase these sealants at any home improvement store. They act as a barrier between your fence and the elements, meaning they won’t be affected by rain, sprinklers, or any other mild form of water damage. This isn’t necessary for wood that has been pressure treated.

 

Limiting extra moisture

 

Try to keep your sprinklers away from your fence, as this will speed up the rotting process of you wood. It’s also a good idea to keep vines and bushes off of your fence, because these will prevent the wood from drying out and retain moisture, shortening the overall life of your fence.