North Texas has enjoyed a milder, rainier start to the summer but, with the heat cranking up, it’s time to take action and protect your property! We’re kicking off a summer series taking a look at steps you can take to protect your investment and your home from the weather ahead. As your friendly, local fence contractor, we’ll be looking at preventing fading, warp, rust, and rot to keep your fence looking its best and staying sturdy all summer long!

Wooden Fencing

When it comes to wooden fencing, the key to preserving its longevity is having it stained and finished before it has to stand against the elements. 

Start by removing any ivy or vines from your fence. As lovely as vines and ivy may look, they’re invasive and thus destructive to most structures. On a wooden fence, they can attract insects and rodents that can chew or nest in the structure. Climbing plants can also hold moisture against the surface of the wood and increase the chances of rot in your wooden fencing panels. 

After you’ve trimmed back other grasses and landscaping, give your fence a good pressure-washing to clean off any mold, mildew, or algae buildup. This will perfectly prepare the wood for a new stain or finish. 

There are endless wooden fencing designs to choose from. Staining your fence is all about aesthetics. Choose a tone that matches well with the hardscaping in your yard and with the colors of the exterior of your home. 

For North Texas fencing, sealing it is the key to defending a wooden fence against the elements. Coating it with a sealant will increase its resistance to sunlight, heat, and water. This will prevent the sun’s heat and UV rays from washing out the color of your stain and prevent the summer rains from causing rot or warping. 

If you have recently stained and sealed your wooden fence, summer prep for you will simply be some light pressure washing, taking care not to wash off the sealing coating. Summer is the season for mold, mildew, and algae to bloom. Removing any growth from your fence at the beginning of the season will keep it bright, clean, and beautiful all summer long. 

Metal Fencing

Metal fences are less maintenance on the whole, but there are still steps any fencing contractor would recommend you take to keep their structure uncompromised. 

One of the best ways to avoid having to repair a fence is simply to wash it. Removing any debris that has collected on the fence through the winter is the goal. If you’re using a pressure washer and your fence is painted, make sure you stand back to the recommended distance for your pressure washer to avoid blasting off your paint in the process. 

Typically the first place to rust on a metal fence is the hinges. Walk the length of your fence and check for any damage. North Texas fence repair is most often necessary because of our high humidity and baking-hot sun. Replacing hinges and other moving parts at the first sign of rust will help you avoid more serious long term problems that could result in expensive repairs to your fence. 

Taking the time to properly prepare your property to withstand the coming weather can have a positive impact for seasons to come. Protecting your investment is what we’re all about here at Ahlers, we hope you’re ready to have the best fencing in North Texas! 

In our next blog post, we’ll be covering summer care best practices for your lawn. In the meantime, enjoy the sunshine!