Wooden fences look great but they do need a considerable amount of routine maintenance to ensure they’re always looking that way. But for those homeowners who haven’t done the sufficient amount of regular cleaning or they’ve just bought a property where the fence has been neglected for far too long, it may be time to clean and revive that old wooden fence.
So how would go about doing something like that? It’s actually a lot easier to do than you might think. Here are some helpful tips on how you can give that old wood a new lease on life.
Look for Damage
Take a good look at the condition of the fence first. If you find any signs of damage or substantial wear and tear, you’ll want to repair or replace these items before you get started. Explore and observe any signs you might find of broken boards, rot, pest infestation, even rusty old nails that have come up.
Push along various parts of the fence to test the surface of your boards and see if you can find any soft spots where you can push your finger or a tool into the wood. If you come across any such soft areas, you will need to replace those boards.
Cleaning Wooden Fences
You will need to start by cleaning your wood. A great way to do this is by hiring a pressure washer to help you remove those thick top layers of dirt and grime that have caked up over time. Fence power washing arlington tx isn’t difficult to do, but you must be cognizant of the sheer volume of water that these types of unit expel in short periods of time.
So just be careful of the nozzle you plan to use on the business end of the washer in order to avoid causing any damage to the wood. You won’t just be clearing away weeks, months, perhaps even years of dust and grime but you’re also peeling away the top layer of faded and damaged wood cells that are seriously degrading the aesthetics as well.
Apply Oil Stain
Now that you’ve made any repairs or replaced any wood that needed attention and you’ve cleaned away that dull and drab top layer of the fence, it’s now time to revive your wood. You’re going to want to apply a good oil stain to give it a whole new look and feel.
Hopefully, your power washer was effective enough in clearing out the old dead layer so that your wood has been left with a rough surface texture. You may even be worried that you damaged the wood somehow seeing this texture but this is actually good. A rough grain will help the stain soak into the wood and effectively bond to the surface of your fencing.
But be careful about applying the stain so soon after you washed the fence. Allow it dry thoroughly before you start the staining process, otherwise it won’t apply evenly. You should give it a full 24 hours to give the wood time to dry.