Care & longevity
Looking After a New Fence in Its First Few Years
A new fence needs very little, but the little it needs has timing attached. Treating too early on freshly treated timber is as unhelpful as leaving it too long.
The most common question after a fence goes in is when to put something on it, and the honest answer depends on what it is made of and what was done to it before it arrived. Pressure treated timber does not want a coat of stain the following weekend.
Here is a simple routine that keeps a fence looking right without turning into a hobby.
The first year
Pressure treated timber arrives with preservative already carried into the wood, and it needs time to weather and dry before a decorative treatment will take properly. Leave it through a season or so, and do not be alarmed by the colour changing or by fine surface cracks appearing as the timber settles.
- Let new pressure treated timber weather before applying a stain or paint
- Expect colour to shift and small surface splits to appear, both normal
- Check the fixings and the gate after the first properly windy spell
Treating: what and when
Once the timber has weathered, a decent exterior wood treatment or stain applied on a dry day protects the boarding and holds the colour. Re-treat before the fence starts looking grey rather than after, because a tired surface takes treatment less evenly. Choose your product for the finish you want, remembering that a solid colour hides grain while a translucent stain keeps it.
- Apply on dry timber on a dry day with no rain forecast
- Do the top edges and board ends, where water gets in first
- Re-treat the exposed faces more often than sheltered ones
- Composite and coated metal need washing down, not treating
Two seasonal habits worth having
In autumn, clear leaves and soil away from the base of the fence so the boarding is not sitting in wet debris through winter. In spring, walk the run and push each post, so a loosening post is found in March rather than during the first named storm of the season.
Gates need a little more attention
Gates move, so they wear. A drop of oil on the hinges twice a year, a check that the latch is still lining up, and tightening any fixing that has worked loose will keep a gate closing properly for years longer than one that is left alone until it catches.
Keeping the base of the fence clear
This is the highest value habit of the lot. Raised beds, bark, compost and soil banked against the bottom of the boarding keep timber permanently damp, and permanently damp timber has a short life whatever is painted on it.
Any doubts, ask
If you are not sure whether your fence is ready for treatment, ask us rather than guess. We would rather answer a two minute question than repair a fence that was sealed in while still damp. Contact us any time.
Frequently asked
When should I treat a new fence?
Not straight away on pressure treated timber. Let it weather for a season or so first, then apply a treatment on dry timber on a dry day.
Are cracks in new fence boards a problem?
Fine surface splits are normal as timber settles and dries. They are cosmetic rather than structural on properly treated boarding.
How often does a timber fence need re-treating?
Judge it by appearance rather than a fixed interval, and re-treat before it goes grey. Exposed faces need it sooner than sheltered ones.
Does composite fencing need any treatment?
No. Washing it down occasionally is the whole routine, which is the main practical reason people choose it.
What is the single best thing I can do for my fence?
Keep soil, bark and compost off the bottom of the boarding. Permanently damp timber at the base is what shortens a fence's life most.
Not sure if yours is ready for treatment?
Ask rather than guess. We would far rather answer a two minute question than repair a fence that was sealed in while still damp.