Of all the fencing materials, wood typically needs to be replaced the soonest. However, many home and business owners really enjoy the classic look that cedar fences give. And, because wood fences last anywhere from 10-15 years with proper care, it doesn’t create a large inconvenience.
If you have a cedar fence or are considering having one built for your home or business, we can give you the tips you need to help your wood fence last for as long as possible. When you follow our advice, your cedar fence will be affected less by moisture and will be well-preserved.
Pressure-treating Fence Posts
If you are still in the planning stages of building your fence, you can benefit from this tip. Before you or your contractor start constructing the fence, make sure that at least the fence posts have been pressure-treated, since they go into the ground. When they are pressure-treated, the posts will be less susceptible to moisture and insects.
Pressure treatment is a chemical treatment that is applied to the wood at the mill where it was cut. Usually, there will be some sort of a label on the wood to let you know whether or not it has been pressure-treated. This will help you in your wood selection process.
Applying Wood Preservatives
If the wood hasn’t been pressure-treated and your fence has already been built, there is another option: applying wood preservatives. These can be found at most home improvements stores.
By applying wood preservatives to your fence, it can slow the decaying process. However, it might not be as effective as using wood that has already been pressure-treated.
Keep Sprinklers Away from the Fence
Another tip to slow wood decay is to make sure that your sprinklers aren’t constantly getting your fence wet. Not only will the moisture encourage decay, but it can discolor the fence and cause it to lean or warp.
If you are looking for someone to build your fence so it lasts, call Bronco Fence at (801)-820-0419!