HOW TO AVOID COSTLY FENCE REPAIRS AND FENCE REPLACEMENT
Fences are a funny thing, we see them every day, we drive by them, we drive through them yet when it comes to maintaining them they become invisible until it is too late and they become unsightly and or damaged and need repair. That’s when we get the phone calls from customers wanting a quote for a new fence and also when we get the same reaction – it costs how much for a new fence?!? With the rising costs of lumber and labor, when it comes to fences, “an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure”. Why not stain your fence periodically to preserve it, keep it looking new and avoid the thousands of dollars of a new fence and the aggravation?
OK, now that you want to maintain your fence, PLEASE, don’t paint it or just seal it. Let me explain. Fence staining does two very important things to protect your fence; 1) fence stain contains pigments which block out the harmful U.V rays to keep the wood from degrading and 2) fence stain contains sealants which protect the wood from moisture which can cause algae, mold and mildew growth.
Fence stains penetrate the wood instead of sitting on the wood surface like paint. This is very important because with the seasons and weather the wood will expand and contract and when this happens the paint will chip and guess what – there goes the wood’s protection and a chipped fence starts looking unsightly. Then you need to get it fixed and it is more costly because the paint has to be stripped. Another problem, when they strip the fence they use a power washer and that is bad for the wood as it damages the wood. Bottom line – don’t paint your fence.
While sealers penetrate the wood which helps repel water, they do not contain the U.V inhibitors so over time your wood will grey and warp. Again, this becomes more costly to repair.
Staining your fence best preserves the wood and beautifies your home. Stain your fence periodically to avoid costly fence repairs and my advice – don’t paint your fence.
To learn more about fence staining click here.
