Preparing Your Fence for the Winter Ahead: How to deal with Frost, Snow and Rain
With Winter just around the corner an influx of rain, frost and potentially snow is also incoming and these elements can heavily damage your fence if you do not take the correct measures to protect it. Below are a range of tips that can be used for any type of fence to help protect them from the upcoming elements that winter brings. From sealants to drainage we will cover a variety of methods so you can decide what would work best for you.
Frost Protection Tips For Your Winter Fencing
Frost is one of winter’s earliest and most consistent elements, capable of causing damage to fences by creating small cracks and surface damage that worsen over time. To prevent this here are some methods to shield your fence from frost.
- Apply Frost-Resistant Sealant or Paint
Frost-resistant sealant or Paint is one of the best preventive measures you can take to protect your fencing and is incredibly simple to use and apply. For wooden fences, you can use an appropriate stain or paint that prevents moisture from getting into the wood and freezing, which causes the cracking and warping mentioned earlier. While for metal fences, any appropriate frost-resistant paint can be used to stop rust from forming.
- Add Gravel or Mulch Around the Base
The base of the fence is usually something that is forgotten when it comes to protecting the fence from the elements, this is especially the case when it comes to frost, which can penetrate through the base by freezing the soil it is in. To combat this you can add a layer of gravel or mulch around the base of your fence. This stops frost from penetrating the base through the soil or any water from drainage near the base of your fence. - Keep an Eye on Plants Near the Fence
Frost can easily spread from frozen plants and grass to the fence, particularly if they’re in direct contact. Trim back any bushes or plants near the fence to avoid frost transfer and give your fence a bit more breathing space.
Snow Protection Tips For Your Winter Fencing
Snow is often a heavier concern in winter, especially for metal fencing, which is more susceptible to rust in snowy, wet conditions. The weight of snow can also weaken fence structures if left unaddressed. Here are a few ways you can put in preventive measures:
- Use Rust-Resistant Coating
This is for metal fences in particular as they as mentioned above are the most at threat from snowy conditions. The additional moisture that comes from snowy conditions causes rust to build faster in metal fencing and can not just damage the look of the fence but also the structural integrity. So, using a rust-resistant coating for your metal fence is necessary to deal with these conditions. In particular look for coatings made for outdoor metal surfaces or for metal fencing in particular as there are coatings for indoor metal surfaces and this can trip you up.
- Regularly Clear Snow Build-Up
This applies to all types of fencing whether your fence is wood, vinyl or metal, snow build up can cause the structure to be put under stress and can damage the surface if left for too long. Using a fine brush or a broom can help gently remove the snow forming on your fence without damaging the surface in the process. Regular cleaning stops the snow from damaging the paintwork and prevents moisture from the snow from seeping into your fence causing internal damage. - Avoid De-Icing Chemicals and Salts
When looking at de-icing the pathways around your house one of the main and most effective solutions you can choose is de-icing chemicals or salts that are easily accessible. However, these options can be incredibly damaging to your fencing, if your walkway is next to your fencing, as they can accelerate rusting in metal fences, deteriorate wooden fences and discolour vinyl fences. To stop this from occurring it is best to go for less chemical-based alternatives like spreading sand around your walkways to improve traction or eco-friendly de-icers that are less corrosive than traditional de-icers.
Rain Protection Tips For Your Winter Fencing
While it does not just show up in the winter, rain appears much more often during the winter periods and should be prepared for diligently. It causes rot and rust if your fence isn’t properly prepared. So here are a few tips to prepare your fence for the rain:
- Using Waterproof Sealant or Paint
Similar to frost, using the correct sealant or paint is vital in the longevity of your fence and protecting it from rainy conditions. For wooden fences, any water-repellent or waterproof sealant or stain would be ideal to protect against moisture getting into the wood. For metal fencing, any ant-rust coating would provide a necessary protective layer against the rain. While vinyl fencing, is generally built to resist the rain, regular inspections and using sealant to seal up any open joints will help keep it around for longer. - Ensure Proper Drainage Around Your Fence
After long periods of rainwater pooling at the base of your fence is inevitable and if it is not taken care of it can lead to moisture getting in through the base of your fence and causing rotting, rusting and soil erosion. To tackle this you can do a couple of simple methods, you can add gravel around the posts as they help promote water drain away. Along with grading the ground around your fence slightly to encourage water runoff away from your fencing. - Inspect and Maintain Your Fence After Heavy Rain
This is something that should be done for all heavy weather conditions but is especially true when dealing with heavy rain. Heavy rain has the possibility of causing water pooling, loosening posts and causing paint or sealant to wear thin much quicker than other weather events. So inspecting your fence after heavy rainfall is necessary to find any bits of damage or issues that could cause damage in the future and fix them or mitigate them before the issues cause your fencing to be unrepairable.
Conclusion
With winter fast approaching preparing for the weather conditions that will come with it is well worth the effort needed to ensure that your fencing avoids any long-term damage that could reduce its longevity. From using frost-resistant sealant or paint to enabling the correct drainage around your fencing, the strategies and tips laid out in this guide will help your fence weather the coming winter period and keep it strong for years to come.
