Traditionally, the white picket fence has been an effective way to define character in a home and make an architectural statement. However, a wooden fence takes some maintenance.
Generally, cleaning can be done with a power washer or a wire brush. A wooden picket fence that’s been stained or painted fades over time and needs a touch-up with another coat.
You will need to check for timber rot and decay periodically.
You’ll notice these signs of decay through the fasteners, usually nails, that hold the picket to the back rail are starting to pull out and the wood itself will shrink in time so they become loose. With an older wooden picket fence, you’ll see pickets are starting to fall off sometimes because the fasteners haven’t failed.
You can re-drive nails into new holes, but you’re probably better off at that point replacing the boards.
The bottom of the fence is especially susceptible to decay from moisture. Remember that the pickets should be a minimum of 5cm off the ground.
Without a concrete mower strip, grass will touch the picket and will cause the wood to wick in moisture from dew or rain. Sometimes you can see across the bottom of a picket fence actual water marks or obvious stain.
The tops of the pickets, the horizontal rails, and the tops of the posts, are also susceptible to moisture. If you’ve done all you can to preserve the fence and it’s still falling apart, it might be time to consider contacting South Burnett Fencing for a FREE QUOTE to replace it with PVC picket fencing and a concrete mower strip. Look at the maintenance you’ll save, while the PVC picket fence still retains the character of your home.