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Tips for Winterizing Your Fence by FenceWorks of GA

Winter is fast approaching and you need to take steps to ensure that your property isn’t adversely affected during the long, cold winter months. The best way to do this is to winterize your home, including fences, swimming pools, ponds, and any structure that will be exposed to winter conditions.

Pools and ponds are relatively easy to winterize because you can simply cover them over after ensuring that the water is clean and stable. Fences cannot be protected in the same way and harsh winter conditions can impact negatively, causing deterioration or even damage, particularly if they have not been properly maintained during the rest of the year.

So how can you winterize your home and fence?

Essentially, the action you need to take now will depend on the materials used for your fencing as well as any elements of your home that can be protected.

While the key is constant year-round maintenance, there are some steps you can take now, before winter arrives.

Winterize Wood Fences

The first step is to check wooden fences for damage. The same applies to other wooden elements of your home, including sidings, bargeboard, and any wood that is exposed. If wood is damaged in any way, remove the affected sections and replace – or get a professional to do it for you. If you don’t fix these things now chances are any snow or ice, or winds and rain, will impact on the damage already evident and cost you a whole lot more money to fix them in the spring.

Once everything has been repaired make sure all home and fence wood is well sealed or painted.

Winterize Metal Fences

We use different types of metal to construct fencing, some of which wears better than others. Aluminum, for instance (particularly if it has been powder-coated), requires minimal maintenance, but if the surface coating is worn, you’re going to need to scrape and recoat to ensure there isn’t any further damage.

Wrought iron and steel fencing needs to be protected against rust. If it was well constructed and finished correctly when it was installed maintenance should be minimal. However, to winterize this type of fencing (and other metal elements of your home) it is essential to check for evidence of rust. If you find any, remove it, wash thoroughly, allow to dry and then treat with a rust inhibitor before priming and repainting.

Winterize Vinyl and PVC Fences

Vinyl and PVC fences generally require the least maintenance. The same applies to vinyl sidings and so on. But it is just as important (as with other materials) to ensure that everything is sound prior to the onset of winter. The most important factors are to ensure the material is clean and free from mold. If it isn’t, it’s much more likely to emerge out of winter with stains engrained in the vinyl.

Winterize Gate Hardware

The hardware used to fix and secure gates on fences is subject to a lot of wear and tear. For this reason, it is important to align gates and replace any hinges, latches, and so on that might have rusted over time.

Need Help Winterizing Your Georgia Fencing?

FenceWorks of Georgia not only undertakes fence installation of all types but will also repair and winterize your fencing structures. Call us before you get snowed in!