When you choose to install a wooden fence around your home, it lends the property a very traditional look. This is most likely because the white picket fence is often mentioned when people are picturing the American ideal or the American dream home. Wood is by far one of the most popular types of fencing material but it comes with a major drawback. Wood is extremely susceptible to rot and decay. You can protect your wooden fence from the elements but it takes a little more maintenance than other types of fencing materials.
If you want to keep your fence looking great for years to come, the experts at Natural Enclosures recommend the following:
Use pressure treated lumber whenever you install a new fence or repair an old one. This type of lumber is one of the primary methods used to defend against wet rot. Some people avoid pressure treated lumber because they are worried about the chemicals used in the process. Pressure treated lumber is specifically designed to avoid causing any damage to the soil or the environment around it.- Don’t just rely on the pressure treated lumber. You will also need to use some type of preservative to give your fence an extra layer of protection. Or if you prefer, you can use an exterior stain instead. Many stains use a preservative as part of their makeup and they will give your fence a more attractive look than preservative alone.
- Keep your landscaping and debris far away from your fence. Your fence line needs a clear space about a foot wide on either side of it. When you have bushes or dead leaves packed up right against your fence, it traps moisture against the wood. Over time this constant contact will break through and cause the wood to decay.
- Check your fence periodically to make sure nothing has fallen onto it. If your fence gets broken, it will leave open places for the water to seep into the wood.
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