Residents of Winston-Salem opt for wood fences and other fence types to protect their property and improve privacy. As the season transits from fall into winter, temperature changes and weather conditions can deteriorate the condition of the fence if you don’t take proper precautions and conduct routine maintenance. You should regularly check your fence’s condition, make repairs, and effect changes that improve its weather adaptability.

In anticipation of winter, homeowners can take advantage of favorable weather in the fall to make preparatory fencing repairs. Below are some fall and winter maintenance tips you can use with your residential fence.

Fall Maintenance Tips

Trim Surrounding Trees

Fall is sometimes associated with rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds. Nearby tree limbs may break from wind gusts. As a precaution, it’s advisable to trim any loose branches or cut down overgrown trees.

Declutter the Base of the Fence

You should also remove leaves, soil, debris, and other foreign objects at the base of the fence. The accumulation of such particles creates a conducive environment for the formation of mold and mildew. Fences exposed to mildew and mold are more likely to rot and eventually lose their structural integrity.

When it rains, grass at the base of the fence retains water, which eventually damages a fence. You should therefore trim such grass to reduce the water that penetrates back into the fence.

Conduct a Thorough Perimeter Scan

Part of the measures to maintain a fence involves checking its physical condition and suitability to hold winter weather. Check whether there are loose poles, splitting signs, decayed parts, and holes within the fence.

The findings will help you plan and make repairs in time before the first snowfall. Continued neglect of loose poles or decays may force you to replace the entire fence, which can be expensive. Additionally, a weak fence is least suited to withstand the snow weight making it easy to crumble under such pressure.

Make the Needed Repairs During Fall

After conducting a complete scan on the wood fence; you’ll identify areas that need intervention before weather changes. Replace weak poles, decayed parts, and fasten any joints that may be weak.

Apply Wood Stain on Your Fence

Different weather conditions from rain, snow, and freezing temperatures make wood fences lose their strength. You can apply wood stain to protect the fence from excess moisture due to its waterproof qualities.

Adding a fresh layer of stain improves the fence’s aesthetic value and increases pest repellent qualities.

Winter Maintenance Tips

Rake or Shovel Snow

After a snowfall period, check for any snow sediments along the fence. Use a rake or a shovel to remove snow lodged at the base of the fence. The idea is to eliminate the accumulation of snow, which could potentially damage the fence. Typical winters in Winston-Salem are very wet, and therefore shoveling snow may be a masterstroke solution in maintaining your fence.

Detach Any Items from The Fence

The ease of pinning hocks in a wood fence encourages homeowners to hang items along the fence. You may therefore find ladders, toys, and other items latched on the fence. When snow falls, the extra items hold excess snow making it easy to damage the fence. Ensure you remove all unnecessary items lodged along or over the fence to protect it from bad snow effects.

Make Quick Repairs after a Damage

Due to storms and snowfalls, your wooden fence may bulge or break under such pressure. The damaged parts may worsen if another snowfall occurs before you conduct repairs. It’s, therefore, necessary to check any possible damages and schedule for repairs immediately. Other damages to look out for include sunk holes, landslides, and shifts, all of which affect the residential fence’s stability.

Clean After Snow Fall

Winter conditions are associated with excess rain, snowfall, winds, and storms. Fences situated in Greensboro areas will receive a lot of debris, huge snow, leaves, and other foreign items in your yard. As part of the measures to protect your fence, you should clear any snow sitting on the wood, base, and the yard. The exercise will also unearth any damage that it might have suffered in the season. For best results, it’s important to incorporate lots of water and soap in the exercise.

Make Your Fence Visible

During winter, snowfall hinders the driver’s visibility. To prevent accidents, attach reflector films along the edges of the fence. The films will alert drivers when approaching your fence, thereby preventing accidents and the associated loss.

Talk to a Wood Fencing Expert

When approaching winter, the fall’s maintenance actions reflect the fence’s ability to withstand winter conditions. As much as the above tips are useful, your evaluation is key to determining which course of action will prove effective.

Alternatively, you’d talk to experts like Fence Builders Inc., who has been in the fencing business since 1955. We have been dealing with residential fencing challenges in Greensboro and Winston-Salem, making us the ideal pick for you.