You have invested both time and money into a wooden fence. It is for this reason that you will want to make sure it stands the test of time. It is easy to maintain your fence, allowing it to stay beautiful for decades. There is nothing quite like the natural beauty and warmth of real wood. However, it is a natural product, which also means it is exposed to natural elements. You particularly have to protect your wooden fence from the weather. Thankfully, once you understand what the problems that your fence can face are and why they are there, caring for your fence becomes reasonably easy. Let’s review the main issues that your fence will have to come into contact with and some of the best ways to provide protection.

Wood has two main enemies. Firstly, there is dry rot and, secondly, there is wet rot. Both these types of rot are capable of completely destroying your fence, and they are able to do so in no time whatsoever. Thankfully, it is very easy to ensure your fence is fully protected against both issues. Dry rot is the most common issue to attack fences. When water gets in the wood, it loosens up the oils, which is what dry rot is. This process causes the wood to completely dry out, which in turn means it is very easy to snap and break. Wet rot happens in those places where wood is constantly kept moist. The fence posts, where they are put into the ground, are most susceptible to wet rot.

In order to prevent your fence becoming affected by wet or dry rot, you must stain it. This should be done as soon as you have built your fence. You can choose either a semi-transparent or a solid stain. Since natural wood is protected by bark, you have to provide a new kind of protection, as the bark is removed during the lumbering process. The wood of a tree is full of soft natural fibers, and these have to be protected from the elements by stain or bark. The wood stain you decide to use is basically a new kind of bark. You have to stain the wood at least once a year to keep it protected. Last but not least, make sure that your fence is always clear of debris. You have to pay particular attention to leaves, as they have a tendency to trap moisture, thereby increasing the chances of dry or wet rot occurring. This is really all it takes to make sure your wood fence can withstand the elements.