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Maintaining your decorative fences can be such a chore for homeowners. But you need to keep your decorative fences looking shiny and new by performing regular maintenance! Homeowners who splurge for decorative fences value the extra beauty added to their front yards. However, over time, an ornate fence that once provided the perfect accent to your yard can become an eyesore if not properly maintained.
Let’s go over some of the things you can do to increase the lifespan and enhance the appearance of your decorative fence.
What Are Decorative Fences?
Decorative fences go beyond the utilitarian purpose of creating property boundaries by adding an aesthetically pleasing element to front and back yards. The iconic white picket fence lines millions of suburban streets across the country. As a close second, wrought iron fences offer both style and protection suitable for urban homes.
Other types of decorative fences include:
Composite
Vinyl
Steel
Wood
Aluminum
Steps in Maintaining Your Decorative Fences?
Proper maintenance for a decorative fence depends on the type of material used in its construction. Modern vinyl and composite fences represent fence ideas that have changed the entire landscape of fencing. They’re durable, easy to clean, and add extended curb appeal to your home. But, for several reasons, some homeowners still love wood and metal fences.
Below are the steps to maintaining wood, vinyl, and metal fences.
Wood
Wood fences can last for over two decades if properly maintained. To keep your wooden fence looking its best:
Check the wood at least once a year for termites, fungi, dry rot, warping, or splitting
Reapply a wood stain every year or paint it every several years
Clean mold, mildew, dirt, and grime with a wooden fence cleaning solution
Fix cracks and splits with wood glue
Tighten loose boards with a screwdriver, wrench, or ratchet
Apply a wood stabilizer or preservative to the bottom of your fence posts
Exterminate any wood-boring pests
Vinyl
Vinyl fences will survive for up to 50 years if owners take care of them throughout their lifespans. Proper maintenance of vinyl fences includes:
Regular inspections for dirt, pollen, or other substances
Clean any dirty spots by hosing down the fence
Use a sponge and soapy water to clean hard-to-reach places
Apply mineral turpentine with a cotton cloth to remove tough stains
For mold, mildew, and algae, use a water-based solution of soap and bleach
Use a power sprayer with an all-in-one cleaning solution for large vinyl fences
Metal
Metal fences look fantastic but often require the most maintenance. To maintain your metal fence’s original aesthetic, make sure you:
Inspect your fence once a year for rust, chipped paint, bent hardware, etc.
Remove rust with a wire brush or sandpaper before priming and repainting
Wash your fence with soap and water before applying a layer of wax protectant
Cut any plants, vines, or trees making contact with your fence
Keep your fence as dry as possible to avoid rust
Repair or replace damaged ornaments and other hardware
Repair or Replace Your Fence?
Could your decorative fence last another year or two? Maybe. Should you put off repairing or replacing it? No. Neglecting to perform regular maintenance and procrastinating about repairs can mean the difference between a quick fix and a total fence replacement. The only secret to long-lasting fences is maintaining your decorative fences. If you’ve noticed something wrong with your fence, here are some signs that you should either repair or replace it.
Reasons to Repair
Depending on the material used in the construction of your decorative fence, certain telltale signs indicate an immediate need for repairs. Let’s break down these signs into three categories: wood, vinyl, and metal.
Wood
Signs that it’s time to repair a wooden fence include:
Warping, bending, and splitting of the wood
Mold, mildew, and fungus growth
Evidence of termite activity
Loose or leaning fence posts
Take immediate action if you encounter any of the above signs before your fence deteriorates further and requires an expensive replacement.
Vinyl
Vinyl fences require fewer repairs than wood or metal fences. But, if you see any of the following issues, you may want to consider a quick repair:
Discoloration
Cracks, chips, and breaks
Damage caused by the impact of falling tree branches or other heavy objects
Metal
For all of their beauty, metal fences require frequent repairs. Some of the signs that your metal fence could use a repair include:
Rust or corrosion
Chipped paint
Bent hardware
Warped rods
Homeowners should often check their fences for the burnt orange discoloration that signifies the onset of rust.
Reasons to Replace
Sometimes a fence deteriorates beyond the point of repair. In such an unfortunate case, a complete fence replacement may serve as the only solution. But, how can a person tell if they need to replace a fence? Keep a lookout for the following reasons to replace your wooden, vinyl, or metal fence.
Wood
Wood picket fences may need replacing for a variety of reasons. If your fence leans or appears unsafe during a visual inspection, those would constitute reasons for an immediate replacement. Also, anytime you need to repair 25% or more of your entire fence, you might as well replace it.
Vinyl
Because vinyl fences do not rot or harbor pests that can damage them, replacements become necessary only in rare cases. Your vinyl fence may need a replacement if it suffers significant structural damage caused by:
Fallen tree limbs
Severe weather events like blizzards, tornados, or earthquakes
Automobile accidents
Metal
Metal fences may need replacing if they experience a significant amount of rust that threatens their structural integrity. You should also consider replacing your metal fence if it:
Fails to provide adequate privacy
Isn’t tall enough to keep your dog in the yard
No longer fits the style of your home after a renovation
Becomes a hazard or nuisance due to sharp edges caused by breakages
Hi there! Do you have a tip for maintaining a wood, vinyl, or metal fence? Let us know in the comments and we’ll add your idea during our next update.