Whether your fence has fallen into disrepair or is in great condition, here are some tips on how to restore a wooden fence with some simple DIY repairs. You can learn how to repair rotten posts, paint or stain the wood, and brace the fence. After restoring the wood, you can replace hardware and paint.
Repairing rotted posts
If the posts in your wooden fence are rotted, you can easily replace them with new ones. However, you should be aware of some dangers. For instance, if the post is damaged by a tree branch, you should be careful to avoid cutting through the wood. If you can’t get to the post, you may have to dig it out.
Wooden fence posts rot at the intersection of concrete or dirt. To prevent this from happening, you should use metal posts in new fences. Before replacing your post, you should remove the surrounding pickets and rails. You can then pull out the rotted post from the ground. If the post is not encased in concrete, you can use E-Z Mender to repair it.
Painting or staining
When painting or staining a wooden fence, you need to choose the color carefully. There are a number of colors and stains to choose from. The stain will absorb into the wood and may take a couple of days to dry. Some wood types absorb stain more easily than others. Maple and birch are two of these types. You also need to take into consideration the wood grain pattern.
A stain is a good choice for a wooden fence because it will absorb into the wood and protect it from the weather. While paint requires reapplication regularly, stain requires only one coat every three years. You can also apply a stain to a fence that is already stained. However, if the fence has gray or dingy wood, you will need to clean it first and treat it with a wood brightener before applying the stain.
Bracing
If you want to install a strong and sturdy fence, you will need to use fence posts that are braced. This is a simple process and will give your fence more strength, as well as protection against the wind. Traditionally, braced fences use “H-braces,” which consist of two vertical posts and one horizontal one, with diagonal strainer wire between them. But with the advent of floating braces, you can use just one post at each end of your fence, and it will still last for years.
The first step in securing the brace is to set the post into place. You should be sure to put it at a depth of three-and-a-half feet into the ground. Next, secure the wood piece between the wires. Be sure to use tacks to fasten it into place.
Choosing between replacing and restoring a wooden fence
If your fence is in poor shape, it might be time to consider replacing it. The reason for this is that old wood tends to split or crack over time. The sun, rain, and freeze-thaw cycles can cause the wood to warp and crack. Even boards that are in great shape can lose their integrity if the wood is continually exposed to these extremes. Fortunately, there are a number of effective methods for replacing boards without replacing the entire fence.
Wooden fences should be treated to protect them from damage caused by the sun, heavy snow, wind, and rain. Similarly, extreme temperatures and UV rays can also harm wooden fences. However, these types of damages can be repaired with oil-based stain or wood filler.