Shield Your Fence from Northwest Weather

The Pacific Northwest’s gorgeous scenery and surroundings make it a beautiful place to live. Yet there’s one caveat for all that natural beauty – the rain!

Whether it’s a drizzle or a downpour, rain is a constant concern on every Northwestern citizen’s mind. For cedar fence owners, the rain can be a real threat to the longevity of a newly installed fence.

To keep all that precipitation from raining on your parade, put these core maintenance tips into practice and preserve your fence for many seasons to come:

1. Protect Before You Build

Preserving your cedar fence begins before it’s even installed. Before you start any work, examine the building site for any tree roots, rocks, concrete, or other solid obstructions that could be obstacles for the planned fence path.

When you’re setting your fence posts with concrete, don’t use more than you need to fill the hole. When temperatures drop below freezing, the ground can push up any excess concrete, causing severe damage to the fence’s stability.

2. Look Out Above!

Airborne hazards are an often overlooked aspect of protecting your fence. Keep these tips in mind to guard your fence from attacks from above.

• Before winter sets in, remove any dangling tree branches hanging over your fence line. Frozen branches can scrape the fence boards, and heavier branches can fall and cause significant damage.
• Clear out any leaves, acorns, twigs or other material wedged between the rails and fence boards. Organic matter can speed up wood rot when in close contact with fencing materials.
• Take care to remove any debris covering up the concrete post supports. Any dirt or mud can increase the chances of decay setting into the concrete.

3. Inspect Regularly

Inspections at regular intervals are a great way to keep your wood fence free of potential trouble spots. Get in the habit of checking on your fence when the seasons change to catch any problems before they spread.

• Broken or cracking boards, crooked nails or splinters should be addressed as soon as possible.
• Trim any grass that borders the fence to keep it from spreading rot to the fence boards or posts.
• Check your fence at the end of winter for knotholes. Knotholes can fall out of the fence itself, giving the opportunity for insects, termites, or birds to move in.

4. Use a Fence Stain

Coating your cedar fence in a protective fence stain is paramount to keeping it around for a long time. Because of the heavy rainfall, consider using a stain formulated especially for the Pacific Northwest. Re-stain your fence if you notice the protective coloring is fading.

5. Post-Storm Care

As we know by now, rain causes the most widespread kinds of damage to Northwest wood fences. This is most evident immediately after strong storms.

To avoid any unwanted surprises, check your fence after major storms to make sure it’s in good condition. A helpful tip is to run a piece of string along the tops of the fence posts. If the string appears level, your posts are secure.

By keeping on top of your cedar fence’s condition, you can prevent the rain from wreaking havoc on your wood fence and keep it looking brand new—no matter what the weather throws at you.