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.

The drying process could leave your fence defenseless against bugs and rot. 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. Fence pickets cost between 1 70 and 3. What if you ve waited too long.

This will allow it to weather enough but not too much. Pressure treating involves treating the wood with preservative in a vacuum. Most new fences start out darker in colour with a distinctive green tinge due the chemicals that have been infused with the timber. 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.

Learn how to choose a new fence just right for your space. Whether you need to apply treatment will depend on whether the wood used for your fence panels has already been pressure treated or not. This process forces the preservative into the wood ensuring a deeper level of protection against rot decay and insects. New fence installations generally do not need to be treated for several months after they have been erected.

Pickets don t need to be pressure treated because they are above ground say holt and elaison. Many home owners prefer to keep the fresh wood color of their fence as long as possible. A good rule of thumb is to wait a month or two if the fence is made with dry materials. Treating the fence with a waterproofing agent adds to its life and preserves the beauty of the wood grain.

A variety of treatments are available. 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.