How to Preserve a Wooden Fence
- 1). Examine the fence for popped nails, rotten boards, missing screws or any other repairs. Make these repairs first. Use a hammer and galvanized nails if your fence is constructed with nails. Use a power screw driver and exterior screws if your fence is constructed with screws.
- 2). Power wash the fence to remove dirt, mildew, growths and the grayness that occurs as the wood ages. Add soap to the mixture to remove difficult stains. Be careful not to hold the wand too close as it could gouge the wood. Allow the fence to dry thoroughly. This may take more than a day depending on how wet the wood is and the outside temperature.
- 3). Tape off any areas where the fence is adjacent to walls or hardware that you don't want to stain. Position plastic sheeting over areas like sidewalks or driveways that you want to protect from staining.
- 4). Paint the fence starting at the top. You might need to use a ladder depending on the height of the fence. Be prepared for the fence to absorb the stain/sealer. Often the wood of fences is very dried out, and it might take a lot of stain/sealer to preserve the wood. Usually the stain and sealer are combined as one product. If your selection has the stain in one coat and the sealer in another, then you will need to coat the fence twice.
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