Is My Wood Fence Past The Point Of Re-Staining & Ready To Be Replaced?

Do you remember when you had your fence installed, and how satisfying it was to stain it for the first time? You were probably told that re-staining it every few years can make it last longer, and that’s technically true. However, keeping up with the task of re-staining a fence doesn’t make it completely invulnerable. There comes a time when applying that final coat won’t do anything to save it, but how can you be sure that it’s time to replace it? The professionals at Mossy Oak Fence Orlando are here to tell you when your wood fence is past the point of re-staining and ready to be replaced!

Is Staining My Fence Really Necessary?

If your fence will need to be replaced at some point anyway, is there any reason to re-stain it in an effort to preserve it? Even if the fence doesn’t last forever, you can get many more years out of it by re-staining it according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. For example, an unstained wooden fence may only last about 15 years whereas a re-stained fence with proper maintenance has the potential to make it up to 40 years. This is a major reason why many homeowners would rather stain their fence than paint it.

Testing Your Wooden Fence’s Waterproofness

One of the many ways that stains can protect your fence is by giving it waterproof qualities. Knowing this, one way to tell if a re-stain will no longer help your fence is by checking to see if it is still able to repel water or not. Thankfully, there’s an easy way to test this factor. All you need to do is drop a bit of water on top of the fence and observe it closely. If the water beads fall right off of the side, then your stain is still doing its job. But if the water absorbs into the wood fibers, then the stain will no longer be enough to protect it.

Visual Cues That You Need A New Fence

The water test isn’t the only way to determine whether or not you need to replace your fence. There are also some obvious visual cues that can act as a great indicator without you needing to put in much effort. Such visual signs include:

  • Cracking
  • Splitting
  • Splintering
  • Warping
  • Rotting

Unfortunately, stains won’t be able to do much against these physical ailments. Single board replacements can sometimes be used to get rid of these faults, but if too many boards are needed to fix the fence, it will be more cost-effective to just get a new fence altogether.

What If My Wooden Fence Is Just Old?

It’s wise to replace your fence if it’s simply too old, even if you have yet to come across any damages or signs of wear. Why is that? Worn-down fencing is inevitable at a certain point, and it’s better to get the jump on replacing it before it has the chance to cause any harm or inconvenience.

Let Mossy Oak Fence Orlando Install Your Next Wooden Fence!

For new, premium-quality fences with expert installation near you, call Mossy Oak Fence Orlando today at (407) 900-2940 to ask about our products and services. We’ll gladly go into detail about our selection of wooden fences before giving you a free estimate on your next installation!