How to Keep Your Fence Beautiful in the Winter
Keeping a fence beautiful in the wintertime can be a challenge. Here are a few tips to ensure your fence — whether it’s a picket fence, aluminum fence, or something in between — stays in tip-top shape when the weather cools down.
Over time, mold, mildew, and rot can result if your fence is not ready for the cold months — but staining wood beforehand can prevent this. Whether or not your wood fence is stained, be sure to regularly check for rot, as well as tunnels of sawdust, which indicate the presence of termites or other wood-destroying insects. Putty can be used to patch up small holes or cracks; if there are any boards damaged beyond repair, they should be replaced with new wood fence panels.
Though vinyl fence panels do not require sealant or paint, they are still at risk for snow and ice damage. Try to keep snow away from your vinyl fence as much as possible, using a broom to clean the fence itself, then shoveling all snow toward the middle of the yard. Avoid hanging decorations on a vinyl fence, as the additional weight can cause cracking, sagging, and warping.
Rot and insect damage are also a non-issue with aluminum, but severe winter weather can shift soil and gravel, making your fence less stable. The back and forth of thawing and freezing winter precipitation causes soil to expand and contract, which may shift aluminum fence posts.
Remove leaves, snow, and ice from your fence immediately, and keep any greenery around the fence trimmed. Also, be sure to check the areas around your fence footings regularly; addressing shifting and damage early on will prevent more significant problems from arising later.
Have more questions about your current fence, or considering a new fence installation? Give Fence Consultants of West Michigan a call at 616-454-1911 in Grand Rapids or 616-392-3496 in Holland, or visit us online at fenceconsultants.com.
