Once you’ve had your fence installed it can be easy to forget about maintaining it. However, the more you care for it, the longer it’ll last. Even though the weather is pretty good in San Diego, it’s still helpful to weatherproof your fence to protect it from the elements. Here are the top ways to weatherproof your fence.
1. Keep an eye out for weather damage
Fences can be affected by all kinds of weather, not just rain. Strong winds can damage any type of fence, and the sun will cause damage to wood and PVC fences. Make sure you keep an eye out for signs of warping, rot, mold, or any other damage, and get it repaired as soon as possible.
2. Keep your fence clean
One of the easiest ways to weatherproof your fence is to keep it clean. Even chain link and iron fences will need cleaning occasionally, and this is a good time to check for any weather damage. Brush away any dirt and built up grime, and wash it down with a scrubbing brush or pressure washer.
3. Trim surrounding plants regularly
Keeping the area around your fence neat and tidy will help you keep an eye out for signs of damage, and will stop plants from growing up your fence, which can cause unnecessary damage. Even in reasonably dry climates such as San Diego, plants still harbor moisture, and this can be very damaging to all fencing materials.
4. Complete repairs quickly
If you happen to spot damage while inspecting your fence, make sure it’s repaired as soon as possible. Exposed wood or untreated metalwork can quickly succumb to the effects of weathering, and so it’s best to get this fixed straight away. If you don’t think you’ll be able to make the repairs yourself, then consider calling a professional fence repair service.
5. Maintain a weatherproof coating
You might think you only need to weatherproof your fence if it’s made of wood, but it’s important to apply some sort of treatment regardless of what materials were used. Weatherproof paints or coatings are designed to keep moisture out of the fence, as this is the main reason for rot and warping. Most paints will be oil-based, and can be used on wood, iron, chain link, and many other materials.
Ideally, you should apply a weatherproof coating when the fence is first installed, and this should be reapplied at least once a year, but make sure you coat any sections that are repaired or replaced.
Perhaps reading this article has made you realize that your current fence is beyond the point of weatherproofing, and it might be time to install a new one. Legend Fence, a leading San Diego fence installation company, is your go-to business for all of your fence installation needs. Contact us today for an estimate, and to see how we can help. We’ll also give you all the top tips on how to keep your new fence in good working order.
