At The Fencing Bloke we use premium quality, treated materials so your fence or gate can withstand the test of time. However, even the best quality fences benefit from light care and maintenance. With that in mind, here are five ways you can prolong the lifespan of your new installation.
1. Keep It Clean
The easiest way to extend the life of your fence is regularly cleaning it. Allowing moisture and debris to sit against the timber for too long can increase the risk of rotting. The most effective method of cleaning is to use a soft brush to remove any dirt and occasionally washing down the fence with water.
2. Microporous Treatment
Timber is a natural product and will react accordingly to changes in the weather. For this reason you may notice small cracks appearing in the timber, colour changes or slight movement in the months following its installation. This is all completely normal, there is no need to add any further protection to your fence immediately. However, we do recommend re-treating your fence every year to maintain it’s protection against the weather. For this, choose a Microporous timber treatment as this allows the timber to breathe while repelling moisture and reducing rot and decay.
3. Keep Plants Under Control
Excessive plant growth around your fence can cause moisture to be trapped against the timber, increasing the risk of rot and decay. To prevent this, it is best to keep hedges trimmed back from the panels, prevent climbing plants from overwhelming the posts and avoid allowing soil or compost to build up too much.
4. Ensure Proper Drainage
Water is one of the biggest causes of early decay, so make sure water can drain freely around the posts and doesn’t pool up against the fence. It is also important to keep gravel boards visible and not buried by soil.
5. Gate-specific Maintenance
Timber gates and their moving parts require slightly more attention than fencing. It is important to ensure the hinges remain tight and the catches and locks operate smoothly. As gates react to temperature changes it is not uncommon for them to move and flex, sometimes causing sliding bolts or latches to misalign. We’ve got you covered for that though, as for the first 12 months we’re happy to come and adjust the hinges or bolts as needed, completely free of charge.
By taking these quick and simple steps you will make sure your fence or gate continues to be a strong and attractive feature in your garden for many years to come.
If you’ve got a residential garden fence or gate project in mind, give us a call for your free estimate.
Tel: 01244726516
email: info@thefencingbloke.co.uk
