Protecting your new wood fence requires maintenance

Here at Gifford Fence Company LLC we install hundreds of wood fences every year. One of our wood fences will last 10-15 years with little maintenance. Just adjust your irrigation and don’t use mulch along the fence and deal with any standing water. But, if you really want to get the full 20 year life expectancy out of a wood fence you need to seal or stain it. As an experienced fence contractor Kent Washington residents turn to, we offer both clear sealing and colored stain services for wood fences and suggest one or the other be performed within 6 months after installation. This will help protect the wood by blocking moisture absorption. Think of it like what wax does for your car. No wax and the water just sits on your paint. But if you keep it waxed it forces the water to bead together and run off your car. Sealer and oil based stains work in the same way.

Clear sealers and oil based stains have different characteristics. The clear sealer soaks into the surface layers of the wood and develops a film, like wax, that helps protect the wood. Clear sealers also allow the wood to age normally meaning eventually it will turn gray. Oil based stains soak in much deeper and because they are oil based it repels water on a deeper level. Oil based stains can even help prevent the soaking up of water from ground contact because it does soak in deeper. Stain also gives you the options of some beautiful colors that can completely change the look of the fence and prevent graying.

But, both options require maintenance coats to be reapplied every few years. Clear sealer is usually recommended every 3-5 years and stain can be every 2-4 years depending on the color you use. Darker colors are going to require more frequent touch ups to keep them looking good and protecting the fence.

Lastly, the type of wood your fence is constructed of can have an impact on your maintenance schedule. Pressure treated pine can go longer between reapplication because the wood grain is tighter which helps reduce moisture absorption where cedar has a much looser grain and is more water absorbent. So if you are planning on installing a new wood fence at your forever home also plan on some maintenance like a regular sealer or stain application to keep it lasting longer and looking better.