Just like your home, your fence is constantly exposed to the elements. Rain, hail, sleet, snow, sun, wind and everything in-between, your wood fence deals with a lot. Especially if your fence is older, the wear and tear might be starting to take its toll. We know fences are a big investment, so getting as much life out of them as possible is always the end goal. As fence contractors in Park Ridge, we want to educate you about the best way to wash your fence to make sure it’s ready for the upcoming season.
Pressure Wash with Detergent
First and foremost, if you have plants surrounding or touching your fence, it’s best to spray them down with normal water before starting to pressure clean. By saturating them first, they’ll be less likely to absorb the harmful chemicals in the detergent. Starting with one section of your fence and working towards the other direction, simply wet the boards before using detergent. Once you’ve done that, use the pressure washer with detergent, moving from the bottom up to avoid streaks. Allow the detergent to settle for 5-10 minutes and keep adding water to areas as they dry.
If you have areas that are extra dirty, take the time to scrub them with a scrub brush to ensure they’re completely removed.
Pressure Rinse
When rinsing, your water pressure should be set to low or medium as to avoid damaging the soft surface of the wood. Once you are done with one section of fencing, move to the next. Repeat the process until your entire fence is completely rinsed and detergent-free.
Apply Sealant
Our fence contractors in Park Ridge highly recommend letting your fence dry for 48 hours before applying a sealant. This will ensure that the wood is completely dry and that none of the extra moisture gets trapped under the sealant.
Seal every area of wood that you can get to, including in-between boards. The sealant will protect your fence from elements like sun and wind.
After this process, your fence will be looking as good as new! If you have more questions about how to properly wash your wooden fence, our fence contractors in Park Ridge want to help you get your yard ready for spring.
