It is a most likely occurrence that wooden fences are always exposed to the weather, which can lead to its deterioration, especially if the wood itself is not covered with protective paint. Besides termites, the rain and the sun are the two most well-known natural enemies of wood. Rainwater can cause the wood to swell over time which can lead to the inner fibers breaking down. On the other hand, the heat of the sun can cause the exterior part of the wood to deteriorate which can lead to it being brittle. The combined effects of rain and the heat of the sun can further lead to the discoloring and weakening of the wood, making it spongy, easy to collapse and dull looking.
Image by Goins via Flickr
There are some simple signs that will tell you if your fence is in big trouble. If the surface of the fence becomes grayed out, it means that it is damaged by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. If the surface of the fence becomes warped or is cracking, it means that it is damaged by getting wet in the rain.
It is very hard to find a cleaning solution if you would want to restore the quality of your wooden fence. If your fence gets to the point of extreme wear and tear, then it would take lots of time, money and effort on your part to get all this straightened out. As they always say, it is always better to prevent something than to find a cure. Like all things that are susceptible to wear and tear, preventive measures should be taken in the early stages to ensure that every piece of wood is okay. If you have a pressure washer, it will greatly help if you clean your wooden fence regularly. With a pressure washer, you do not have to exert lots of effort and spend a lot of time on cleaning your wooden fence.
When pressure washing your fence, just use light water pressure and make its setting to only about 500 to 800 PSI. If your unit does not have any pressure adjustments, then all you have to do is to maintain a certain distance first, then come nearer to your fence until the desired cleaning effect is achieved. Use pressure washer nozzles that have a wide fan spray. Keep in mind, you must never use hot water pressure washers on your wooden fence, as it will seriously and definitely damage the wood.
