No matter how beautiful your wooden fence may be, it is still subject to factors that can make it lose its attractive glow over time. Constant exposure to sunlight, wind, and rain can cause discoloration that can make your once good-looking fence look old and dull. Fortunately, it is very possible to restore the beauty of your fence especially if most of the damage it acquires is only superficial. With some simple repairs, you can definitely make your wooden fence glow once again and even prolong its life.
1. Wash the Fence
Washing your wooden fence with a power washer is the first step into restoring it’s beauty. If you don’t have a power washer available at home, you can either borrow from a friend who has one or you can rent one. The key to using a power washer is choosing the right sprayer. Since a power washer is strong enough to ruin your wooden fence, you have to come up with a sprayer that would get rid of the dirt from the wood’s surface without eroding it. Pick a power washer with 1,500-2000 PSI and 15 and 25 sprayer tips. With the tip of the sprayer 20 inches away from the fence, start spraying it until you see the color of the wood brighten a little. This indicates that the surface of the wood is effectively getting stripped away. Do not point your sprayer in a single area to avoid gouging it, instead, keep moving the spray through the entire fence. Observe the wood carefully and stop spraying once you see that the color has stopped changing.
2. Fix Damaged Pieces
Simple repairs are enough to extend to the life of your old wooden fence. After you’ve washed the fence clean, let it dry for 24 hours and check if there are any boards that need to be replaced or tightened. Check for splits and cracks as well. To repair splits, apply waterproof glue to the damaged area. You should also get rid of protruding nails if there are any use screws to pull loose board pieces together. You might also want to apply some wood preservative on the base of the fence posts to prevent it from rotting quickly.
3. Apply Stain
Finally, stain the wooden fence to make it look good as new. A transparent oil stain is ideal if you want to preserve the natural color of your wood. Make sure you have allowed the fence to dry completely before painting it. Using a paint roller, apply the sealer into the wood, making sure the wood absorbs the sealer completely. When you’re done covering the large surfaces of the fence, take a 2” brush and stain the smaller areas next. The oil stain should keep your wooden fence looking good and protected for up to five years, but you would want to recoat it every two to three years to make sure that its beauty is well-maintained.
Filed under Restoring an Old Wooden Fence, Wooden Fencing by on Jun 10th, 2011. 
Most gardens cannot do without trellis fences. Made either of wood or metal, trellis fences are usually used to provide not just a climbing post for some garden plants but also to add beauty to the garden or the yard itself. Trellis fences can serve several different purposes but before you decide to set up one in your own home, you might want to consider the pros and cons of having them.
Pros of Trellis Fences
1. Trellis Fence Can Add Beauty To Your Garden.
One of the most common reasons why people put up trellis fences is because they want to add value to their garden. Trellis fences are very easy to install and are a very effective way to make a dull garden appear more attractive. The open-weave trellis fence, for instance, is what most people opt for when it comes to trellis fence style because it can provide privacy but allows air to pass through at the same time. Not only does a trellis fence add beauty and privacy to a home, it can also provide shelter and support for most climbing plants and flowers.
2. Trellis Fences Can Provide Privacy.
Again, a well-designed trellis fence can add privacy to an open area in your house like the yard or the garden. Trellis fences are an inexpensive way to add partition to the garden as well. What’s more, it can help hide areas of the garden or yard that you wouldn’t want to be too visible like the trash area.
3. Trellis Fences Can Provide Shade.
The garden is one of the best places to go to when you need to unwind or relax. With the help of a tall trellis fence, you can enjoy sitting down or strolling in your garden in the afternoon without having to worry about the sun getting too hot on your skin. A trellis fence can also help throw a play of light, which can make your garden look more beautiful and relaxing.
Cons of Trellis Fences
1. Trellis Fences Cannot Withstand Strong Impact.
Since most trellis fences are made of wood, it can easily go down when the wind blows too hard especially during a storm. This can cause you to worry about spending money on repairs each time there’s a bad weather condition, which leads us to the next disadvantage of trellis fences.
2. Trellis Fences Need High Maintenance.
Just as you need to spend some money on repairs when your wooden trellis fence goes down, you will have to spend some money as well on metal trellis fences when their appearance get spoiled by rust. Furthermore, wooden fences are susceptible to mold and mildew when constantly exposed to moisture, and you would have to repaint it on a regular basis if you want to maintain its natural glow.
Trellis fences are really good addition to a garden or a lawn, and by considering both the pros and cons of having one, you can eliminate the risk of having to regret ever having or not having one in the end.
Filed under Pros and Cons of Trellis Fences, Trellis Fences by on Jun 18th, 2011.