Discovering that your fence has damage is something that nobody wants to experience. Fence damage can be difficult to repair, expensive, and visually unappealing! Having a fence certainly adds value to your property, but maintaining your investment is important. Let’s take a look at some of the most common kinds of fence damage and how you can prevent them from happening in the future.
Corrosion
Corrosion is a natural occurrence for most fence materials after long years of exposure to the elements. Sunlight and moisture are the main offenders. For wood fences, corrosion appears in the form of rot while metal fences tend to rust.
If you wish to prevent corrosion, it is important to choose an appropriate fence material for your climate. For instance, if your climate is especially wet, consider choosing a water-resistant material such as aluminum or vinyl. Additionally, be sure seal your fence material properly. Wood fences must be routinely stained/sealed and metal fences (with the exception of aluminum) must be coated in rust protectant.
Another way to assist your fence against corrosion is to wipe off dirt and grime when you see it building up.
Holes/Gaps
This type of damage is mainly seen in wood fences. Often the damage is done from high winds or storms.
To prevent holes/gaps, we recommend having a professional build your fence and repair it when needed. This will ensure that your wood fence is properly constructed and strong in the right areas. Another tip is to keep up on sealing your wood fence which will prevent moisture from rotting holes and gaps into the wood.
Sagging Gates
Sagging can make your gate difficult to open, allow very small pets to escape, and overall be quite frustrating!
To prevent your gates from sagging, have a professional take a look at it during routine maintenance. Replace any defective hinges or parts before they become a bigger problem. Sometimes your gate may be sagging simply from weathering over time and needs a full replacement.
The last reason your gate may be sagging is because the gate post is tilting. More on that presently.
Stains
Stains can be ugly and difficult to get off. Although most stains will wipe off of a metal fence (rust is not considered a stain), stains on a wood fence can penetrate deeply and be hard to remove.
The biggest step in preventing unwanted stains is to keep your fence clean. Power wash before staining/sealing. Keep up on routine sealing to prevent stains from penetrating wood fibers. If you are trying out a new liquid product on your wood fence (new paint, finish, or solvents of any kind), be sure to try in a non-conspicuous place first.
Tilted Posts
Tilting posts could be caused by shifting ground, weathering of the post, or rot. A tilting post can cause damage and strain to more of your fence if left unrepaired.
To prevent posts from tilting, we recommend ensuring that they are correctly set in the ground (have a professional involved if necessary). If your ground is unstable, have your posts set in concrete (this is the generally accepted method used for wood fence posts).
Follow routine maintenance steps to keep your wood posts protected from rot and weathering.
Warping
Weathering causes fences to warp, twist, and bend. Warping occurs more often in low-quality materials and from lack of routine maintenance.
To prevent warping, choose high-quality moisture resistant materials. Follow routine maintenance care such as staining and sealing to protect from moisture. If you start to see warping, have the damaged portion of your fence replaced to protect from further strain.
To learn more about warping, take a look at our article “Why Are My Fence Boards Warping?”.
With a little TLC, your fence will remain beautiful for many years to come!
