DIY Tips for Restoring Your Wood Fence

In case you want to revive your wood fence, there are certain DIY techniques you can use. In general, you may need water, a bleach solution, dish detergent, a pump up sprayer, protective gloves, paint brush, paint rollers and sealant.

First of all, you need to make a mixture of water, bleach and dish detergent. Water should represent about 70% of the mixture, whereas bleach should be about 25% and detergent, about 5%. The wood should lighten up immediately after application. In case you do not see this happening, you should add more bleach to the entire solution.

You should let the fence sit for about 20 minutes, and then rinse it off with a hose. Then you should let it dry completely, before applying any kind of sealant. You can apply the sealing product with the help of a paint brush, paint rollers or sprayer. Generally, you should not have to worry about spreading it evenly, as these products usually get absorbed easily into the wood fence. However, you must make sure you cover the entire surface of your wooden fence.

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There are certain areas you should look at while restoring your wood fence, namely the posts, the fence boards, and so on. If you need addition fence and gate repair tips, you can count on trusted fence repair Thornton CO professionals.

Should You do Some Spring Cleaning on Your Commercial Fence?

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Winter can be tough, and its effects may be felt for a long time, even after it is over. Therefore, spring is the season for cleaning and fixing any issues caused by extreme winter events.

During the cold season, the heavy winds and snow can cause trees to lose branches, which may fall down and make a lot of mess in your yard. The state of your fence may also be affected. As a consequence, it may be a good idea to prune the surrounding area and thus prevent any further damage to your commercial fence.

Of course, the exact cleaning method depends on the exact materials that your commercial fence is made of. Fences can be very different, each one is unique and that is part of the beauty of owning a business.

Chain link fences, for instance, are usually cleaned with the help of a garden hose or a pressure washer. At any rate, regardless of your exact type of fence, commercial fence repair Thornton CO pros say your fence should be cleaned once or twice a year. This includes the application of all the necessary conditioners and other maintenance-related solutions.

Having your fence inspected by a Thornton fence repair expert eye may be another good idea. Thus, you can find out about any broken or missing caps, signs of rust, chips or scratches.

How Often Should You Consider Repainting Your Wooden Fence?

One of the main ways that you can keep your fence from succumbing to the elements is by painting it. No matter what color you choose, a good coat of paint and an adequate repainting cycle can easily keep your fence from developing mold and mildew, or from being affected by the intense UV radiation of the sun.

Most fence repair Thornton CO professionals will tell you that you don’t necessarily have to repaint your fence too often once after it was painted for the first time. Of course, if you notice that the paint comes off more quickly (which can happen, if you used a cheaper paint in the first place), then it’s a good idea to repaint it early, as it can offer additional protection.

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However, in most cases, the period you can wait before you repaint your fence can be as long as two or three years. Repainting will increase the lifespan of your fence in most instances, but be careful of the type of paint you use and the material of the fence. Cedar, for instance, might not be able to breathe as easily, so regular paint might cause more harm than good.

If you have a cedar fence or an older fence made from another type of wood, and you’d like to make it last longer than your average fence, staining can also be a good idea. Unlike regular paint, stain is not only inexpensive, but also capable of acting as a protective coating layer that looks more natural and can also slow the growth of mildew and rot, as your fence continues to grow older.

What Fence Lasts the Longest

Because there are so many fencing options available nowadays, you may often feel overwhelmed, not knowing which one to choose. In case you need a fence around your property, you should make sure you opt out for a long-lasting type of fencing system.

Wooden fences are preferred by many people. A wooden fence can last for more than 30 years, depending on the exact type of wood and on the maintenance applied to it. Of course, a regularly stained fence will definitely last longer than one that is left as it is.

Vinyl fences can also last over 30 years, depending on how well it is taken care of. At the same time, vinyl is much easier to clean and maintain than wood, and can come in a variety of colors and textures, which makes it the favorite choice of many homeowners.

Metal fences can be both visually-appealing and highly resistant. They can be made out of aluminum, wrought iron or steel and can be solid enough to withstand harsh weather conditions. Nevertheless, they provide less privacy than other types of fences.

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Chain link fences can last for about 20 years. Chain link Thornton fence company professionals assert that the three main advantages of chain link fences is that they are affordable in price, easy to install, and need very few repairs.

Paint vs. Stain for Your Home Fence

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No matter whether you decide to stain or paint your fence, the idea is to offer it some protection before the cold season comes and wreaks havoc on your fencing system.

Plain wood may look beautiful, but it cannot withstand the damaging effects of snow, rainfalls, excessive heat or dirt. So it needs to be waterproofed in order to resist in the long run.

The main reason why most people prefer paint is the fact that it can come in a huge variety of options. Nonetheless, paint is prone to cracking and peeling, it takes longer to get applied uniformly, and so on.

As far as stain is concerned, it obviously is something else. First of all, it does not stand at the surface of the wood, but gets in, thus offering it protection from the inside out. At the same time, producers have increased the variety of products, so you can choose the exact hue you prefer for your fencing system.

No matter if your fence is painted or stained, it still needs regular maintenance, in order for it to have a long lifespan. In case you do not know which variant works best for your fence, you should not hesitate and ask for help and advice from fence repair Thornton CO experts.

 

What are the Top Stain Choices for Colorado Fences

Wood fences make a very good choice for those who want to improve the general appearance of their home, while also keeping their children and pets safe from roads and other potential dangers. However, this type of fences needs proper maintenance in order to last for a long time, preserving its appeal and functionality.

Stains may vary in terms of color, style and texture. Another thing is that the type of stain depends on the exact type of wood that your Colorado fence is made of. Fence repair Thornton CO authorities will tell you that it is the type of wood that determines the color, type and exact amount of stain necessary for your fence.

Fence repair Thornton CO authorities offer stain advice

Water-based stains are highly recommended for hard woods, because they dry quickly and are easy to clean up. They usually contain mildew and water-resistant formulas and are eco-friendly.

Oil-based stains, on the other hand, are recommended both for soft and hard wood fences. They dry slower than water-based stains, but have better penetration and offer more protection against the outside elements, including against the UV rays.

As far as the UV protection aspect is concerned, solid stains are the best solution available. At the same time, semi-solid stains cover most of the grain of the wood. Semi-transparent and transparent stains are recommended for water protection.

5 Tips to Improve Your Fence

First of all, you need to define what exactly you want to improve about your fence. It may be its general design, or its functional features. You need to observe local fence repair Thornton CO requirements and regulations, to get informed about the potential costs and perhaps get familiar with technological elements.

Secondly, you need to decide on the exact design you want for your fence. It may be the classic American fence, or a round rail fence. The basic principle here is to find something that works best for the design of your home and to fit the profile of your property.

Thirdly, you need to be informed about what the law permits you to do about your fence. Boundary maps also help you see how your fence can affect your neighbor’s property.

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A good estimate makes another great ingredient for improving your fence. In this respect, you need to know that the money you invest today will determine the maintenance works you will have to do in the future, as well as the general lifespan of your fence.

A fifth tip to improve your fence is finding the type of layout that is most convenient for you in terms of general maintenance.

 

 

What Causes a Leaning Fence and How Can You Prevent the Problem?

In many cases, leaning fences are among the most significant problems that are associated with newer fences. Although it’s common for a leaning fence to arise in the case of an older fence, this issue is also prevalent in the case of new, well-designed fences, since it doesn’t depend so much on the fence’s construction, as it does on external factors.

Typically, leaning fences are caused by sleet and extreme precipitation – including rain, hail and snow fall. It can also be caused by strong winds, especially if the fence is located on a hill or other sloped terrain, or at higher altitudes.

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The main thing to do when you discover that your fence might start to lean in a certain direction is to call a reputable fence repair Thornton CO contractor and talk to them about any reinforcing upgrades they can provide, that would help counter the force that periodically makes the fence lean.

They can often find out a lot about the general force that your fence is subjected to simply by examining the terrain, the trees and the geography surrounding your home. Then they can formulate a viable strategy and provide you with a detailed set of options that can range from installing reinforcing elements, to replacing your entire fence with one based on more robust materials.

Problems with DIY Fencing

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DIY fencing is not necessarily very complicated, but requires some skills and paying attention to avoid some common mistakes that may cost you quite a lot of money.

  1. Purchasing low quality fencing materials -When you shop for fencing materials, avoid choosing the cheapest, because they are also low quality. Even if you are on a budget, you should avoid compromising on quality. With a little research, you will surely be able to identify a good option in terms of costs and durability.
  1. Ignoring to treat the wood before installing the fence – Wood fences require special treatment to ensure their resistance in time, by avoiding problems caused by rot, insects attack and exposure to the elements.
  1. Installing the wrong type of fence – Fence repair Thornton CO contractors know how to identify the best type of fence for your property, but inexperienced homeowners can make mistakes. In many cases, people tend to opt for a tall privacy fence, even if it looks completely out of place, and a simple white picket fence would do just fine.
  1. Not anchoring the fence posts properly – Using enough fence posts and bury them deeply into the ground is essential in any fencing project. Unfortunately, sometimes DIYers want to finish the work sooner and use fewer posts, which can make the fence unstable.

Tips for Protecting Your Fence from Winter Weather

Winter is the season when it is most likely that we experience inclement weather, so taking extra care of your fence is important. If with a vinyl fence you will not worry about too many things except for verifying its stability and integrity and cleaning it, when it comes to a wood fence, things get more complicated.

Wood is a beautiful element and also resistant and durable, but only if it is treated and maintained properly. Otherwise, it will rot soon enough, or it will be infested by pests.

According to fence repair Thornton CO professionals, to prevent these problems, a wood fence has to be cleaned periodically and varnished or painted. This way, it will remain protected from moisture and the freeze-thaw cycles happening during the cold season. You should also consider trimming the trees close to your fence, to prevent snow accumulation or fallen branches that may damage your fence.

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Metal fences require almost the same type of treatment, as they are subject to rust because of the same reasons. However, people who have a metal fence will have to treat it rarely compared to wooden fence owners.

When you choose varnishes or paints for such a treatment, make sure you opt for adequate products, designed for being used outdoors and on the material your fence is made from.