Does A New Fence Need Treating

The drying process could leave your fence defenseless against bugs and rot.

Does a new fence need treating.

A well built wooden fence can last for more than a decade without needing major repairs or maintenance. Most new fences start out darker in colour with a distinctive green tinge due the chemicals that have been infused with the timber. Pickets don t need to be pressure treated because they are above ground say holt and elaison. Whether you need to apply treatment will depend on whether the wood used for your fence panels has already been pressure treated or not.

A variety of treatments are available. Fence pickets cost between 1 70 and 3. By contrast staining your fence locks in the oils ensuring that your fence lasts far longer than it would last without treatment of any kind. Many home owners prefer to keep the fresh wood color of their fence as long as possible.

You will notice over the following months that your new fence will change colour as it drys out. Previously stained fences should be sanded or pressure washed to provide a clean surface for the new coat of stain to soak into the wood. Pressure treating involves treating the wood with preservative in a vacuum. Learn how to choose a new fence just right for your space.

This will allow it to weather enough but not too much. A good rule of thumb is to wait a month or two if the fence is made with dry materials. Treating the fence with a waterproofing agent adds to its life and preserves the beauty of the wood grain. What if you ve waited too long.

If the fence is made with pressure treated materials it may be 3 4 months for the posts to dry enough and can be checked with a moisture meter. This process forces the preservative into the wood ensuring a deeper level of protection against rot decay and insects.