Deadwood: Signs Your Wooden Fence Needs Replacing

wooden fence

It’s easy for everyone to see if your fence is in bad shape, so it’s important to keep it in pristine condition. If you haven’t found the time to do some preventive maintenance, unsightly problems like leaning and rotting could occur.

If you’ve had your fence installed for more than 10 years, you might want to inspect it for complications to see if it needs to be replaced by a professional. Family Fence Company of Florida recommends getting help from reliable fencing services to ensure the quality of the replacement.

It’s Leaning

If you’ve found that your fence is leaning to one side, it could mean the wood has weakened and warped. You can stabilize a leaning fence using steel wire, but it’s more of a temporary solution. Check the horizontal rails if they’re sturdy enough to be refastened. If the horizontal rails have deteriorated to the point that they can’t be reattached, then it’s time to consider replacing your whole fence.

It’s Falling Apart

Aside from your roof, your wooden fence takes the brunt of the damage that harsh weather conditions bring. Rain, snow, and even your sprinkler can cause your fence to rot because of moisture. Exposure to the sun and wind can lead to“dry rot,” which happens when the wood loses its protective oils. This results in brittleness and cracking.

>When your fence cracks or splits, its fasteners may loosen and fall out. It’s hopeless to replace them because the worn-out wood may cause the fasteners to wobble and fall out again after some time. Cracks in the wood could also invite parasites like worms and termites that can eat into the wood and cause further damage. If you’ve found that most of your panels and posts are splitting and rotting, your fence might be beyond repair.

The Panels Have Detached

A section of brown, vertical, overlapped wooden garden fence
Strong winds from storms can cause your wooden panels to detach from its rails and leave your fence bare. The holes that detached panels leave also affect the structural integrity of your fence. They could cause horizontal rails to sag or break. If the detached panels are too damaged to reattach or they cause significant damage to the railing, it’s best to replace your fence.

It Doesn’t Fit the Look of Your Home

Your fence could be perfectly fine, but it might no longer fit the design of your home. Perhaps you’ve redesigned your house and want a more sophisticated-looking fence. Maybe you want a taller fence because you extended your home by one floor. If simple alterations like repainting or staining don’t fit your taste, consult a fencing service to design one according to your specifications.

Your wooden fence acts as a layer of security and privacy for your home. Problems such as leaning, cracks, and detached panels could compromise your property’s safety. Whether it’s for decorative or security reasons, consult a fencing professional to determine a design that’s best for your home. You can also opt for low-maintenance alternatives such as Vinyl or Aluminum fencing to keep repair costs low in the long run. Replacing your fence requires a lot of time and money, but you’ll sleep well knowing that your house is protected.

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