The average weather patterns we have here in Southwest Florida include extreme heat and plenty of rain. These are also the conditions that can do the most damage to your fence. This month we at Under Pressure Cleaning and Sealing Services, your professional pressure washing company in Fort Myers and Estero want to explore the issue of fence damage due to weather and how we can make your fence look like new when you use our services. Fences are made of many different types of materials, so we want to look at a few of them to see how pressure washing can help.
Wooden fences are very common. That’s because wood fences are a strong source of protection and privacy and are naturally beautiful. However, wooden fences are not indestructible, you must maintain them for their beauty to last. Moisture is the biggest nemesis to any wooden surface, and this includes your wood fence. Once saturated with moisture, a wood fence can split, crack, rot, and warp. This saturation does not happen overnight. There has to be a build-up of moisture that leaves your fence looking dingy. This phenomenon occurs when grease, dirt, and other biological materials accumulate on your fence as time passes. They mix with moisture to form substances like the three biological threats—algae, mold, and mildew.
There are a number of things you should do to maintain the appearance of your wooden fence. First, make sure you keep bushes and vines away from your fence. They add weight and moisture to your fence, both of which will warp it over time. Make sure you check your fence regularly for insect damage and look for rotting or broken pickets that need to be changed out. Make sure all of your posts are firmly and securely in the ground and that none of the ground soil has washed away, leaving your fence vulnerable to leaning.
Don’t water your wood fence! Be sure your irrigation heads are faced away from the fence so they don’t add moisture to our already humid and rainy environment.
To keep your wooden fence looking great and prevent permanent damage, we recommend having it professionally pressure washed at least once a year to keep it free of mildew and mold. This helps protect your fence, maintain its appearance, prolong its effectiveness, and safeguard the overall investment a fence represents. Everyone hates it when their fence looks old and gray, and believe it or not, pressure washing can remove the old skin on the fence. It’s a good idea to seal or stain your fence regularly as well, and be sure to get it pressure washed first. After it is completely dry you can re-stain, paint or re-seal it.
