Many people love the classic look and beauty of a traditional wooden fence, but have concerns about its ability to last, especially in humid, moist weather like we have in Florida. Now, we have wooden fencing that stands up better than ever to the elements, with new, longer lasting pressure treating and durable staining products.
But how can you tell when your old fence has served its purpose and it is time to replace it? Read on
for our tips on when to replace your wooden fence.
1. Rot
In Florida, wooden fences are really stressed by our extremely moist, humid climate that is so conducive to rot, so if wood is your first choice, be sure to choose the most rot resistant wood for your fencing you can choose. Our consultants at Florida Fence can help you make the right choice.
Whenever possible, avoid positioning your fence where standing water is likely to gather.
A bit of local rot on a board can be replaced. But if you notice rotting across the fence posts and boards, it’s worth looking into a wooden fence replacement.
2. Leaning Boards On Old Fence
Many elements can cause your old fence to lean. Wind, rain, and erosion all play a part.
If you see some slight leaning in one section, you can usually adjust a few posts to fix the issue. It’s best to repair those sections as soon as you notice any leaning. Severe wind can cause a larger section to lean or even rip the fence down.
When your fence is leaning significantly, the structure and strength are compromised. Then it is time to replace the fence.
3. Holes, Splits & Missing Boards
Even the best wood begins to crack and split after years of being exposed to the elements. Sun, rain, freezing and thawing will take a toll on even the best fence.
Again, if you have a missing board or two, you can replace those sections. Same if you have a split board. However, if a large part of your fence is warped and split, consider a wooden fence replacement.
Holes in wooden fences often indicate the presence of insects or animals eating or scratching the fence. If you live in the country, you’ll likely see more damage to your fence than someone in an urban area.
Holes can compromise the strength of the fence. Large holes will also not allow the fence to do its job of keeping kids and animals in the fence and other critters out.
4. Loose & Missing Fasteners
Your fence is not entirely protected from the elements. We recommend great products like Wood Defender to help combat the elements, but nothing is completely fail safe. As a result, over time the hardware used in the fence will become loose or fall out.
Yes, you can replace these nails and screws many times. But, once the wood has reached a certain age, it is not strong enough to handle new hardware.
If that happens, you guessed it, it’s time to replace your old fence. Did you know that there are many different styles of wood fences you can choose from, or we can design a unique fence just for you?
5. Wobbly Fence
One of the telltale signs that it’s time to replace a fence is when the structural integrity of the fence is questionable.
A wobbly fence can be a result of loose or missing hardware, rot or holes.
If you push on a fence it should not wobble. Well, due to the fact that they are not attached at the top, it is entirely normal for some wobble at the top. However, if you find that your fence can be pushed or pulled in areas, this is a sign that it’s time for a wooden fence replacement.
Final Words
Natural beauty and a wide variety of styles make a wood fence a solid choice for many yards. If your fence is no longer a sturdy, beautiful addition to your home, it’s time to get rid of that old fence.
Wood fences can be stained any color to coordinate with their surroundings or you can choose to display the wood’s natural beauty.
Check out our free online fence design tool. Simply click and drag to design a fence on your property via satellite image for an instant estimate.
