Time-tested for their organic beauty and potential to raise home value, wood fences remain a common sight in communities nationwide—though it’s incumbent upon the homeowner to ensure their investment remains in good condition. As wood fences age (especially in the aftermath of winter), one sometimes observes rot in the railings, bulges in the posts, cracks in the panels, etc. At this point, you must decide to either a) allow the deterioration to continue, b) repair the damaged parts, or c) tear out the entire fence and replace everything from top to bottom. For the last two options, you must have high-quality wood fence materials from a reputable vendor.
Why Do I Need to Repair/Replace My Wood Fence?
Before you go to the trouble and expense of repairs, first ask yourself why the fence needs work to begin with. Is it due to long-term inadequate maintenance, insect damage, environmental conditions, or simple age? It is possible the fence did not receive the upkeep it needed over the years. An important maintenance tip is paint and stain. Because wood’s an organic substance, it’s receptive to water and often suffers physical damage when contained water (rain, for example) turns into ice in winter. Painting and staining imbue the fence with a protective, surface-level layer that helps keep out liquids. You might also consider sealing your fence to deter wood-munching insects such as carpenter ants. Don’t forget that cracks and crevices in your fence become potential homes for wasps!
How about environmental factors? Fence parts perpetually trapped in sheltered areas (say, under trees or in the shadow of cliffs) rarely receive sunlight and are thus more prone to developing mold and rot. You might also consider landscaping changes or at least partially diverting the path of your new fence.
Should I Repair or Replace My Fence?
Minimal, localized damage can be sorted out through repairs and a small number of replacements. (Replace a few rails and posts rather than the entire fence.) But if your fence, overall, is plagued with warped posts, broken rails, mold, decay, etc., or if it’s simply aged to the point of extreme disrepair, it’s likely better to tear down the entire thing and replace it from the ground up. Obviously, repairs are cheaper and less expensive than replacement, but if your fence will only continue falling apart in the foreseeable future, replacement might cost less than the price of combined repairs long-term.
Where Can I Get High-Quality Wood Fence Materials?
America’s Fence Store stocks more than eighteen acres of fence parts, including wood posts, rails, pickets, and gate hardware. We acquire hundreds of truckloads of materials from around the world and sell them at great prices! We don’t settle for cheap, flimsy stock like what one finds in premade fence panels available at the big box stores; only the best-quality timber is sourced for our inventory. If you’re unsure how much wood fence material you need for your project, worry not! The team is on standby to answer your questions. Or you can check out our free-to-use fence drawing tool, right here. Draw a fence outline on a Google Maps view of your lot, and the tool automatically calculates everything you’ll need to build your fence and adds it to your cart. We also sell Complete Fence Packages for wood fences in the following sizes:
- 4’ Fir Wood Picket Fence
- 6’ Cedar Wood Solid Privacy Fence
These fence packages are used to build wood fences of the following lengths: 50’, 75’, 100’, 150’, 200’, 250’, 300’, 350’.
