Wood Fences and decks are a natural and commonly used part of Southern landscapes.  They provide beauty while giving privacy to outdoor living.  Unfortunately, improperly protected or unprotected wood fences quickly become unsightly.

Weathering, caused by rain and sunlight, turns all kids of wood gray.  Mildew, a common hazard in southern climates, adds black discoloration to the graying.

Unless the boards are CCA-treated pine, or all redwood or cedar heartwood, decay quickly attacks at ground contact and spreads upward.  

Boards wetted by ground contact also are more susceptible to termite attack.  The best practice is to keep fence boards at least one - two inches off the ground.

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Cleaning is Necessary

The first step to restoring a weathered fence or deck is proper cleaning.  The wood needs to be a clean, uniform color before an applied pigmented wood preservative will look natural.  Cleaning is achieved by applying a chlorine solution or by power washing.  Chlorine solutions are corrosive and should not be applied with commercial sprayers unless internal parts are designed for such chemicals. 

Wear protective clothing, rubber clothes and eye protection.  

Plants, flowers and grass can be protected by wetting them thoroughly with water before, during and after applying the solution.  The solution should be left on the wood for 15 to 30 minutes and rinsed thoroughly.

The cleaning process will show the result immediately.  The weathered, mildewed wood will be restored to almost the original color.  Chlorine solutions bleach the wood to a uniform white color.  The chlorine solution is preferable in most cases; however, if your fence has algae, moss or lichen growth, it usually requires power washing to clean those areas. 

New fences and decks do not need to be cleaned prior to treatment.  You should apply the preservative immediately after construction, allowing 4 to 6 weeks for the wood to season.

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All Finishes Are NOT Equal

Weathering tests show that most natural wood stains and water repellents last only 7 to 18 months before mildew and weathering become problems.  Most home owners report they are refinishing their fences every year to maintain the original wood color.

Two major rules apply to selecting a natural wood finish.  You should use a wood preservative rather than just a water repellent, penetrating stain or a combination stain and water repellent.  It should also be pigmented.  The pigment must be high quality so that it compliments the wood, rather than masks fungi.

A wood penetrating water repellent and ultraviolet light absorber will help the finish to maintain a good appearance.  The finish should penetrate into the wood rather than form a surface film.  An outdoor finish should not contain linseed oil, vegetable oil or other natural oil because they are a food source for algae, fungus and mildew.

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Continued Maintenance

The natural wood look demands continual maintenance.  Once you have cleaned your fence and applied a wood preservative, your fence should remain attractive for around 5 years.  If you fail to re-apply the wood preservative when weathering and mildew begin to show, cleaning may once again become necessary.  You can eliminate this added chore by periodically inspecting your fence.

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