Wondering how to make your stunning wooden fence look better, longer? Protect it from the elements with four important tips, tricks and hints.
We don’t like to pick favourites, but your friends at In-Line Fence love wooden fences. No matter if the fence is beautifying residential properties, protecting commercial spaces or keeping animals in place on farms, wood is the most glorious of fence materials.
But eventually, all good things must come to an end. Wooden fences eventually succumb to rot and damage from weather and animals, and must be replaced. Typically, a three-rail wood fence can last 15 years, and with some basic maintenance, you can end up with a fence that lasts 20 or even 30 years.
Here are our five essential recommendations to making your farm’s wood fence last longer
1. Use the Right Fence Materials
In-Line knows that for your wood fence to last, you must use the best locally sourced pressure-treated wood, soaked with preservatives that help to make your wood last and look better for much longer.
2. Professionally install your agricultural wood fencing.
In-Line Fence is one of Ontario’s leading farm fence suppliers, installers and contractors. Although you may be eager to install a long fence on your own, having In-Line Fence pound in the posts quickly and economically with our post-pounder is the best way to go. By relaxing while we do the hard manual labour, YOU will probably live longer as well.
3. Protect your livestock fencing with stain or paint
Staining or painting your fence not only adds a special “wow” factor, but it will add years to your farm fence’s life. Although you’re likely eager to give it a coat immediately after installation, it is always best to wait a few days. This allows any remaining moisture in the wood to evaporate.
Once it’s good and ready, we recommend either a coat of paint – white or black – or a protective stain.
4. Maintain your animal fencing with regular inspections
Whether your farm’s wood fence has been around for one year or 20, you should always do regular inspections. This helps to ensure that your animals don’t mysteriously escape, and it helps to reduce the risk of having to replace your entire fence too early. Occasionally you will need to replace boards or posts. Fortunately, wood is relatively cheap and easy to replace in small sections, unless some other fence types.
5. Pressure wash and protect your rural fence!
Your farm likely needs a lot of fence, which may dissuade you from pressure washing the entire thing. But if it’s surrounding your home, you may want to pressure wash it once it has aged a few years – to remove mold and dried wood fibers – and then recoat with paint or stain shortly after.
Following these four tips will certainly extend the life of your farm’s wood fence. To do it all right, make sure In-Line Fence is helping you every step of the way.
If you love new fences just as much as us, but can’t handle the maintenance, perhaps a wood fence isn’t for you. Chain link fences look great, are very affordable and last 20+ years. Learn more about them on our Chain-Link Fence page. We also offer vinyl fences, which offer you the beautiful look of a wood fence, without the hassle and cost of maintenance.
If you have questions about extending the life of your wood fence in Ontario, trust the pros at In-Line Fence – owner John Kardux is here to help. Reach out at 226-228-3757 or jkardux@in-linefence.ca.