Advice on Protecting Your Wooden Garden Fence
Posted on: 4 May 2016
Wooden fencing is a popular choice for many homeowners. However, wood fencing has to be adequately protected from harsh weather elements and surroundings as well as wood-attacking insects in order to serve its owners as required. Before you can go ahead to invest in a wooden fence for your garden, you should be first aware of how to keep it in top condition.
Follow these tips to get acquainted with how you can provide the best protection for your wooden garden fencing so that you can enjoy full service from it.
Protective coating
Direct exposure to rain and sunlight can cause your wooden garden fence to age prematurely. Wood that is directly exposed to rainwater will suffer excessive buildup of moisture, which will eventually lead to rot. As the wood dries, it will shrink and warp, causing your fencing to become frail. A protective coating is required to protect your wood fence from the damaging effects of harsh weather elements, and there are two major options at your disposal: painting and staining.
Wood paints are designed to form a protective film on the surface of your wood fencing so as to prevent water from permeating through the underlying wood. Wood stains, on the other hand, are intended to be soaked into wood pores, so that water can't get a chance to infiltrate your wood fencing. Both wood finishes will also help prevent warping.
Wood treatment
Another way to protect your wood fencing from damage caused by fungal growth, rot, wood-destroying insects, and moisture is to treat the wood with preservative. Bear in mind that wood preservative should not be used to treat pre-painted or pre-stained wood. Just like is the case with stains, wood preservatives ought to seep into the wood pores in order to work effectively.
When wood is painted or stained prior to application of preservative, the latter won't seep into the interiors of the wood fencing as required for maximum effectiveness. Previously painted or stained wood fences should be sanded to provide a clean, more porous surface necessary for effective application of wood preservative.
Soil-wood contact protection
Allowing wood posts or panels to come into direct contact with the soil in the ground can lead to premature damage because the soil itself often retains some moisture, which can cause the wood to rot quickly. Provide a concrete base for the bottom part of your wood fencing and then apply high quality acrylic caulk to seal any gaps that may form between the concrete and your wooden posts due to freeze-thaw cycles. This way, you wood fence will be protected from moisture accumulation, which ultimately causes premature rot.
For assistance, talk to a fencing contractor.
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