Wood privacy fences provide everything you can ask for in a fence: privacy, security and aesthetics. Cedar is by the far the best wood for fencing; it resists rot, warping and discoloration better than other woods. The rough texture also has a bit more of natural appearance to it that will mesh well with your landscaping.
But wood fences are a bit of an investment. Unlike chain link or wire fence, they won’t last indefinitely. To maximize the life of your cedar fence, and to keep it looking fresh as long as possible, there are a few things you can do.
There is a distinction between sealant and stain, and it’s important one. Stain is something you apply to change the appearance of the wood. Stain offers no protection. What it does is changes the hue of the wood and make the grain stand out more. You can use stain to alter the hue of your fence and make it blend a little better with your house and yard, but it’s not necessary. Typically, the natural color of cedar will gel with any landscaping.
Sealer, however, is absolutely necessary. It adds a protective finish to the wood. This finish will keep moisture from getting into the wood, preserve the color from fading, and make it easier to clean. For a guide to choosing the right sealer for your fence, you can see here.
The worst thing you can do is cut corners when sealing, and create the illusion that your fence is well protected. Sealer needs to go on in thin layers. You’ll need to coats; one is not enough. You’ll also need to be thorough when applying sealer. There’s a good article about sealing your fence that you can read here.
Do routine inspections of your fence when you happen to be close by. You’re primarily looking for dirt and other smudges. Once in a while, do a closer inspection for cracked boards, warping, and loose nails and boards.
Like any structure, the overall integrity is compromised by any defect. A few loose boards makes the whole fence more susceptible to shaking, and excessive shaking leads to more loose boards...which leads to more shaking, and so on.
Your fence should hold up well to an occasional firm shake. If you get a lot of play in the fence (as in more than when it was installed), there might be some components that need to be tightened up.
Keep dirt, pollen and other contaminants off your fence. Pay special attention to the bottom couple feet, where mud can splash up onto the fence when it’s raining. To maximize longevity, give your fence a thorough cleaning at least once per year. There are two approaches to doing this: scrubbing with a bleach solution, and pressure washing. There are things to be aware of with both methods. Be sure to do your research on each one, so that you’re getting maximum protection and not hurting your fence.
You can’t keep all the rain off, and it’s a waste of time to try. Luckily cedar holds up to the weather well. Still, keeping it dry as much as possible is important. Don’t let your sprinklers run on the fence. The only acceptable time for water (besides rain) to get on the fence is when you’re cleaning it.
Anything growing up against the fence will make it deteriorate faster. Worse, if something is covering the fence, you might not catch a significant defect. If you keep the vegetation trimmed back from the fence, this won’t be a problem. Also, keep an eye out along the bottom, where long grass or weeds might be growing into contact with the wood. You can keep this clear by running your weed eater underneath the fence line.
This is by no means necessary, but if planting grass or gravel is convenient for you, it will increase the life of your fence. There’ll be a lot less dirt splashing up onto the bottom of the fence when it rains.
Replace loose fasteners as you find them during your routine inspections. Be sure to use outdoor-approved fasteners, so they won’t corrode.
Replace any boards that are too split to be trusted, or excessively warped. Some warping is inevitable, especially as the boards get on in years, but egregious warping will compromise the structural integrity of your fence.
Sealer will last 3-5 years, then need another application. If you’re not sure whether you can do it right yourself, it’s best to hire it out. You are, after all, protecting an investment. Getting it done right will save you money in the long run.
-
When you’re ready to have a cedar fence installed in your yard, Trackwest will be here to put it there for you. To get an estimate or discuss your fence project, you can click here and fill out one of our contact forms.
To see some of the hardscapes, fences, and turf installations we've done, see our portfolio here.
Called up the company for an estimate and the owner came out promptly the next morning to get an estimate. He arrived early and appreciated his prompt and fast response…Thanks!!
Trackwest LLC installed new Turf in are front yard that turned out amazing! There crew is very reliable, trustworthy and hard workers. Definitely professionals at their craft! I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to have turf installed.
Trackwest LLC installed new Turf in are front yard that turned out amazing! There crew is very reliable, trustworthy and hard workers. Definitely professionals at their craft! I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to have turf installed.
