Learn how to prevent pot in your wooden fence.
Installing a fence around your property is a great investment, and increases your curb appeal and home value. Many people opt for the classic look of a wooden fence, for good reason, since they are beautiful, strong, and sturdy. However, rot can impact the strength, durability, and beauty of your wooden fence, and sometimes it feels almost inevitable. However, there is plenty you can do to prevent it from becoming an issue for your wooden fence.
Types of Rot
Most people don’t know that there are actually two types of rot, and the way you prevent or deal with them will be different. The most well known is wet rot, which is rot that occurs because of prolonged exposure to moisture. This is most often seen at the base of the fence because that is where the wood fence sits in contact with the damp soil. Wet rot results in a softening of the wood, and sometimes cracks or mold growth will appear. The other type of rot is dry rot, which is the result of exposure to sun or drying winds. Dry rot results in brittle, crumbling wood.
Material Choice
If you’re installing a new fence, the biggest thing you can do to prevent rot is to choose a less susceptible material. This doesn’t mean that you can’t choose wood. Cedar, Juniper, Cyprus, and Redwood are all hardy woods that are less susceptible to rot over time. There are also a lot of treated wood options available that are going to be less susceptible to rot.
Maintenance
The biggest maintenance task for a wooden fence is staining. Typically, this should be done once a year, but environmental factors in your area may cause you to need to stain more often. Perform the water test to check your stain: spray some water on the fence, and if it beads up, your stain is fine; if it soaks in it is time to stain again. Staining your fence regularly is the best way to prevent either type of rot.
Cleaning and Repair
If wet rot is your issue, you need to make sure that you keep damp debris off of your fence. This includes branches, bushes, and vines, as well as build up of soil around the base. You should also be cleaning your fence regularly so that there is no build up of dirt on the surface, as this increases the possibility of rot as well. If you do find that rot has taken hold, remove those sections as soon as possible so that it doesn’t spread.
Residential Fences for Your Home from Hercules Fence DC
Hercules Fence DC has been providing homeowners with quality fences for over 50 years. We are well equipped to meet your needs, whether they are residential or commercial. We have extensive experience working with families and pet owners to keep the most important members of their home safe, so call us today about installing a new pet fence for your family. Contact us by giving us a call at 301-441-1600 or visiting us online. To see examples of our work, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Flickr.
