Keeping Your Fence Looking New for Years to Come
Your fence is the forefront of your home, setting an impression of your property. It offers curb appeal while ensuring boundary, privacy, and security. With its valuable role in your property, it is crucial to preserve its beauty and functionality. Keeping a fence in its pristine condition over the years is a challenging task for homeowners. It requires specific maintenance tasks and practical methods to ensure your fence's longevity and beauty. Here are some essential tips for you to consider in keeping your fence looking new for years to come:
Seasonal cleaning and inspections
Tennessee National describes the state as a climatic roller coaster. With its diverse mix of mountains, valleys, and geological regions, Tennessee’s climate remains unique. The fences in every Tennessee region are exposed to seasonal changes, making regular cleaning and inspections crucial.
A. Spring
Spring is a season of rebirth after the harsh winter. It is the perfect time to do the necessary inspections for any potential damage, such as cracks, warping, rust, or loose boards on your fence, due to the cold season. It is also the best time to clean your fence with gentle pressure washing and remove any remaining leaves, dirt, and debris left by winter.
B. Summer
Tennessee is known for its notorious heat and humidity, especially in summer. Protect your fence, especially wooden fences, from the sun's extreme heat by applying UV-resistant stain to prevent warping and cracking. Inspect for any signs of termite damage or burrowing insects, and treat your fence immediately for pest control to avoid further damage. It is also the best season to trim bushes, vines, and tree branches to keep them away from your fence. Overgrown vegetation that leans against your fence can trap moisture that can cause damage to your fence.
C. Fall
During the fall, Tennessee weather starts to be cozy. To prepare for winter, homeowners should inspect their fences. It’s time to rake away leaves and debris from your fence to avoid trapping moisture, which might cause rust or wood rot. Apply a water-repellent finish to your fence to prevent water absorption and damage from rain, snow, and ice. Check and tighten loose screws to ensure your fence withstands the harsh winter season.
D. Winter
During the winter months, Tennessee generally has a wet, mild season, but it can experience unpredictable weather. During snowfall, regularly clear the snow from your fence to prevent moisture buildup and reduce damage from its added weight and pressure. Check and remove any accumulated ice on your fence parts, such as screws, joints, and hardware, especially on wood and metal fences. After heavy snow or ice storms, inspect your fence, including its connections and supports, to ensure that your fence remains structurally safe and stable.
Because the seasons in Tennessee are unpredictable, it is essential to be proactive in maintaining your fence’s pristine condition to keep it looking great and functioning well for years to come.
Repairing common issues early
Our fence can sustain damage and other issues over time due to factors such as harsh weather or wear and tear. While these standard fence issues are repairable, detecting them early can save you time and money. Here are some of the standard fence issues and how we can immediately fix them to prevent further damage:
A. Broken or missing fence board
As your fence ages, the boards tend to weaken and crack from wear and tear or extreme temperatures. Replace broken or missing boards that match your existing fence to keep it safe and looking good.
Fig. 1. Broken fence board replaced by Modern Handymen & Remodel in Franklin, TN
B. Rusty metal fence
As your fence is constantly exposed to moisture, metal fencing or any metal parts of your fence can corrode. Rust can weaken your fence over time. Remove the rusty parts by sanding, then apply a protective coating to prevent further rusting.
C. Warped fence panel
Investigate the cause of your fence panels' warping so you can understand how to mitigate it. Professional fence experts can determine whether your fence material warps or swells due to heat, moisture, or natural aging. Replacing the warped panels with a more durable material can be the best solution to ensure that your fence remains visually appealing and strong.
D. Loose or broken hardware
Fence movements or vibrations due to strong winds or man-made causes can loosen or break the attached hardware. Tighten the screws, brackets, and hinges, or replace them immediately if broken, to maintain its stability and appearance.
E. Leaning or Misaligned fence
A misaligned or leaning fence can be unsafe and visually bothersome. If you observe that your fence has misaligned or sagged, check if the supports are stable or if the soil where your fence stands has shifted. Adjust its fixed supports to realign your fence, or add bracing to provide extra support.
Fig. 2. Severely misaligned/leaning fence in Brentwood, TN repaired by Modern Handymen & Remodel
F. Rotted fence section
Moisture can cause wood rot over time, weakening your fence parts. Replace the rotted portions of your fence to ensure its structural integrity and visual appeal.
G. Pest-infested fence
Pest infestations, especially on wood, can quickly deteriorate your fence. Get rid of these pests immediately through pest control services or by replacing the affected parts to avoid widespread damage to your fence.
H. Discolored fence panels
Molds and mildew can cause discoloration on your fence. Refresh your fence by regularly pressure-washing and reapplying paint or stain to keep it looking new.
I. Loose fence panels
Strong winds or poor assembly can cause your fence panels to loosen, compromising your security and safety. Inspect the loose or moving parts and reinforce them with brackets or additional bracing to keep them tight and secure.
Best stains, paints, and sealants
Fence stains, paints, and sealants, whether water-based or oil-based, can significantly help preserve your fence’s natural beauty and functionality over the years. Oil-based stains, sealants, and paints generally last longer than water-based ones as they penetrate deeper into your fence material. However, both need proper preparation and application to achieve the best results. For wooden fences, here are the types of fence stains you can choose from:
A. Transparent
Transparent stains highlight the natural grains of your wooden fence. This type of stain is popular among homeowners as the most cost-effective option for fence stain.
B. Semi-transparent
Semi-transparent stains can balance the benefits of a transparent and a solid stain. Two coats of semi-transparent stain can change the color of your wooden fence while adding coverage and preserving its natural grain.
Fig. 3. A semi-transparent wood stain applied on a fence on Franklin, TN by Modern Handymen & Remodel
C. Solid
Solid stains completely cover the original appearance of your wooden fence. It hides away some imperfections while protecting your wooden fence from moisture and UV rays.
Preventing pest damage
Pest damage can easily deteriorate your fence, not just visually, but also weaken its components, especially wood. Prevent pest damage by knowing the common wood fence pests and the early signs of their infestation on your fence:
A. Termites
Some of the signs that your fence is termite-infested are hollow wood, visible holes, sawdust, or discarded wings. To control further infestation, you can use termiticide and seal the damaged areas, gaps, or holes with wood hardener. Consider professional pest control to address the widespread termite infestation. To avoid termite infestation, keep your fence as far away from plants and infested soil as possible.
B. Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees drill round holes into your wood to create nests with sawdust beneath, weakening your fence over time because of the hollow, long tunnels they create. Fill in the holes with caulk or wood filler to treat affected areas. You can use natural bee repellents such as lavender or tea tree oil, or insecticides to stop the severe infestation.
C. Carpenter Ants
Like carpenter bees, carpenter ants tunnel inside decaying wood, causing potential structural damage to your fence. You can seal their entry points to wood or replace the rotten wood. Avoid wood-to-ground contact of your fence to prevent access of these carpenter ants to your fence.
D. Wood Wasps
Wood wasps are attracted to places in your home where they can protect themselves from the hot sun and build their nests, such as inside your wooden fence parts. Wasps use wood fibers as building materials for their nests. Get rid of wood wasps before they chew on your wooden fence by sealing entry points and painting your fence to make it less attractive to wasps. Entomologist Ian Williams also recommends spraying the affected area with wasp spray on a cool morning, when wasps are less active.
E. Beetles
It's easy to spot beetles flying around your fence. Soon you’ll observe tiny holes in your wooden fence up to two millimeters in size. They consume wood until they reduce it to power, a strong sign that your wooden fence is already infested. You need to replace the damaged parts and apply the necessary coating to protect your fence from these insects.
When it’s better to replace than repair
Repairing your fence can be the less expensive option when the damage you find is isolated or localized. If the damage appears only in certain parts of your fence, it can still be repaired. However, suppose you observe excessive rotting, cracking, or warping on your fence. In that case, it may be structurally unsafe and require replacement. Replacing your fence can be costly, but it can be a wise investment for homeowners who want to maintain its natural beauty and functionality.
Save money on repairs by keeping your fence looking new with regular care. Modern Handymen & Remodel helps Tennessee homeowners evaluate their needs to keep their fence in its pristine condition. Call us at 615-200-8071 to book a consultation with our team of fence experts, who value clear communication and deliver quality workmanship. Keep your fence looking flawless for the years to come. Let’s begin today!
