Minimizing damage to your wood fence over the winter can be tough since your fence is constantly exposed 24 hours a day to the sun, wind, rain and other natural forces. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to minimize the amount of work you may have to do on your wood fence once warmer weather arrives.
The main threat to your fence during the winter is of course water-related damage from rain or snow. If your fence is getting soaked repeatedly without having a chance to dry out, it can develop mold or mildew issues. It is possible to keep this to a minimum by painting or staining the fence so water can't soak into the fence as easily. Secondly, if your fence is in an area of the yard where standing water tends to collect, this can cause the base of the fence, especially the posts, to rot if exposed to standing water for a long period of time. Finally, any dead leaves in the yard can possibly get trapped in the cracks of the fence or build up against it if the wind blows them against the fence. If they get wet, this can hold moisture that seeps into the fence and causes damage over time.
If you have trees in your yard that are near the fence, it may be advisable to trim any overhanging branches back, as these can potentially break off in a high wind or storm and land square on your fence, damaging it if the branches are heavy enough.
Temperatures are constantly rising and falling over the winter which can cause the wood to shrink and result in the boards pulling away from the nails or even causing knots to pop out of the wood, leaving holes that can be a weak spot for rot or bugs to attack. If possible, inspect your fence and replace any loose boards or boards with holes in them promptly.
A common fence problem is leaning. This can be caused by a strong wind pushing on the fence and causing it to lean over time. Additionally, wet weather can soak the soil around the fence, causing soil expansion/contraction which can then cause the fence to develop a lean. This can be alleviated to an extent by ensuring that your fence posts are set in concrete.
The main threat to your fence during the winter is of course water-related damage from rain or snow. If your fence is getting soaked repeatedly without having a chance to dry out, it can develop mold or mildew issues. It is possible to keep this to a minimum by painting or staining the fence so water can't soak into the fence as easily. Secondly, if your fence is in an area of the yard where standing water tends to collect, this can cause the base of the fence, especially the posts, to rot if exposed to standing water for a long period of time. Finally, any dead leaves in the yard can possibly get trapped in the cracks of the fence or build up against it if the wind blows them against the fence. If they get wet, this can hold moisture that seeps into the fence and causes damage over time.
If you have trees in your yard that are near the fence, it may be advisable to trim any overhanging branches back, as these can potentially break off in a high wind or storm and land square on your fence, damaging it if the branches are heavy enough.
Temperatures are constantly rising and falling over the winter which can cause the wood to shrink and result in the boards pulling away from the nails or even causing knots to pop out of the wood, leaving holes that can be a weak spot for rot or bugs to attack. If possible, inspect your fence and replace any loose boards or boards with holes in them promptly.
A common fence problem is leaning. This can be caused by a strong wind pushing on the fence and causing it to lean over time. Additionally, wet weather can soak the soil around the fence, causing soil expansion/contraction which can then cause the fence to develop a lean. This can be alleviated to an extent by ensuring that your fence posts are set in concrete.
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Want to find out more about winter damges to your fence1, then visit Justin Krutz's site on how to choose the best fixture method to your fence for your needs.
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