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It’s a no-brainer that maintaining your fences will ensure they last longer. Ignoring any form of deterioration is a sure way to minimize the lifespan of any fence. So, if you haven’t thought about it yet, now is the time to tackle summer fence maintenance tasks.

Why Summer Fence Maintenance is Important

Many people tend to think that fences are only like to deteriorate due to lousy weather, but this isn’t true. As temperatures soar and humidity increases during typical Georgia summers, fences of all kinds are affected. Wood tends to swell, and metal can rust. Even if it is not a metal fence, wood and vinyl fences are often installed using metal hinges, and these can rust too if not properly maintained.

It is especially important to perform summer fence maintenance if you realize the fence is deteriorating in any way. If you ignore damage this could cost you in the long run. Rather be proactive now and save yourself a lot more effort later. Alternatively, you could call in a professional Atlanta fence company like FenceWorks of Georgia that can fix all your issues affordably and quickly.

Ideas for Successful Summer Fence Maintenance

If you’re going to go the DIY route, here are some useful suggestions:

• First, start by doing a proper cleanup. Remove any earth that might have built up at the base of your fence, or any mud that has stuck to the surface. You might be able to scrub with soapy water or hose it down. If it is filthy, you might consider using a pressure washer. (But never on a wood fence!)
• Once it is clean, pull out weeds and cut back any overgrown plants that could compromise the structure.
• If there are branches of trees looming over your fence, consider removing these before they cause any damage. You will want to avoid any possibility of them being blown off during strong winds or in a storm. Just be sure that if the tree itself is on your neighbor’s property that you ask permission first, and explain what and how you plan to cut the branches.
• Check for mildew, rot, or invasive insects that could cause irreversible damage long term. The latter could include termites, carpenter ants, various beetle species, as well as carpenter bees, and horntail wasps.
• Once you have cleaned up the fence and the area adjacent to it, you can look a little closer. Examine upright posts and poles as well as horizontal rails. Of course, it will depend on the material used for the fence, but check for warping and breaks, or if the fence is wrought iron or steel, check for rust, particularly around welded joints. Also check all nails, screws, bolts, hinges, and latches. If there is a gate in the fence, check its structural integrity as well.

If you haven’t been good about maintaining your fence, there might repairs that are too major for you to handle. In this case, call the friendly professionals at FenceWorks to take care of your summer fence maintenance and repairs for you. We can also quote for a brand new fence that will give your home a beautiful fresh face and improved curb appeal!