Does A New Fence Need Treating

You will notice over the following months that your new fence will change colour as it drys out.

Does a new fence need treating.

Treating the fence with a waterproofing agent adds to its life and preserves the beauty of the wood grain. Fence pickets cost between 1 70 and 3. A good rule of thumb is to wait a month or two if the fence is made with dry materials. The drying process could leave your fence defenseless against bugs and rot.

Pickets don t need to be pressure treated because they are above ground say holt and elaison. Within the first year of installation the wood may warp or split as it dries says john elaison co owner and founder of elaison lumber. Previously stained fences should be sanded or pressure washed to provide a clean surface for the new coat of stain to soak into the wood. New fence installations generally do not need to be treated for several months after they have been erected.

Whether you need to apply treatment will depend on whether the wood used for your fence panels has already been pressure treated or not. However if you are changing from paint to stain it s important you apply a coat of primer to the entire surface before you can safely stain your fence to ensure the stain will adhere. Most new fences start out darker in colour with a distinctive green tinge due the chemicals that have been infused with the timber. This process forces the preservative into the wood ensuring a deeper level of protection against rot decay and insects.

Learn how to choose a new fence just right for your space. This will allow it to weather enough but not too much. Many home owners prefer to keep the fresh wood color of their fence as long as possible. Pressure treating involves treating the wood with preservative in a vacuum.

What if you ve waited too long. By contrast staining your fence locks in the oils ensuring that your fence lasts far longer than it would last without treatment of any kind.