Why Wood Fences Deteriorate!

       Wood doesn't last as long as it used to. Today's wood comes from younger growth stock than it did just fifty years ago. Environmental and Commercial pressures have driven the market to use younger/newer growth stock. Older growth wood has a higher natural built-in resistance to the climatic elements and wood damaging insects, this is generally called tannin resin. Younger growth has lower amounts of this natural protectant. Therefore to get as much life out of your 6' Wood Fence as possible, over time - it must have additional protection. Today's Lumber industry is more environmentally friendly, or "Greener" than ever before. Every major wooded area being timbered in the United States is now required by federal law to be replanted. However it is imperative for each individual to do their part to take care of our natural resources.  

Mold on a Wood Fence!

    
The common causes of wood deterioration:
        Several factors affect the appearance of your Wood structure. With the proper protection, these elements can be greatly reduced, resulting in a much longer life for your fence. Detrimental effects are listed below:

           
           * Ultraviolet Light - The suns UV rays causes the wood to degradate and turn grey. In addition the sun's heat cause's the wood to check, split, crack, and warp because it causes water to evaporate. Boards tend to warp toward the sun because the side toward the heat is shrinking due to the decrease in moisture. Basically the top side of a deck board becomes shorter thus forcing the board to compensate by by bowing, warping, cupping, and twisting. The suns heat in addition to the rain and even the moisture of the morning dew combines to cause the wood to swell and shrink, and eventually leach out it's natural, or man made protectants, causing it to be susceptible to mildew, mold,  rot and insect damage over a period of time.
           * Water Absorption - Daily expansion and contraction from the uptake and release of moisture, takes it's toll. Resulting in end checking, warping, and cracking. If your Fence or Deck is located in the shade, the Wood may be continually damp or wet causing  mildew, mold, punking, and then rot to set in.
          * Fungus, Mold & Mildew - As woods natural protectants leach out, or lose their effective ability to protect over time, wood inhabiting fungi such as Mildew and then Mold, will develop and take hold, resulting in a softening and general degradation of the wood.
          * Pollution - Dirt, car exhaust, and other unnatural impurities in the air, come to rest on your new fence causing premature aging, staining, and deterioration of any applied coating. 

What to do about it:  

Applying Stain By Spray!

The best way to prolong the life of wood, is to limit the above causes of wood failures. A 6' Wood privacy Fence that has been maintained and protected will never have that warped/cracked/bent/broke look, that a neglected Fence or Deck has. No matter the age. Everyone has noticed the neighborhood Fence that has never been taken care of, and is in a material condition of bad disrepair. Your Pressure Treated Wood Fence can normally be sealed from 2 weeks to 30 days from building it. Basically as soon as it dries out. Coastal Cypress and Western Red Cedar can be sealed upon completion of the Fence being built. Never go more than a few weeks prior to sealing your new fence. Especially not in hot weather. A well maintained Pressure Treated Wood Fence should last for approximately 25 years or more. If your current wooden Fence or Deck is not in the best of condition, and you need to turn it around, we can do the job. Just give us a call at 812-604-3651.