Keeping your cedar fencing looking like new depends on proper care of the wood, especially given Northern Virginia’s rampant climate changes. Before you begin treating your cedar fencing, be sure you consider the location and orientation of the cedar fencing. Here are some tips to get you going in the right direction:
- Consider the proximity of the cedar fencing to the ground. Cedar fence pieces that are low to the ground, or even touching the ground, will be more likely to absorb moisture than areas well above it.
- Protect your cedar fencing from its biggest enemy — moisture. Make sure the fence is in direct contact with the sun as much as possible. While it is not likely the entire cedar fence will be in direct sunlight, providing as much exposure as possible will prevent many moisture-related issues.
- Preserve the bottom of the cedar fence posts with a belowground preservation treatment to protect the wood. Even though red cedar has a natural tendency to repel water, that will not provide 100 percent protection from moisture exposure.
- Even though the sunlight is important to keeping the cedar fence from rotting due to too much moisture contact, too much exposure to sun will lead to discoloration of the cedar fence. In Northern Virginia fences can be on the receiving end of many hours of strong sunshine. Select stains for your cedar fence with high pigment concentrations to avoid discoloration of the cedar fence.
- Contrary to popular belief, cedar fencing should be treated shortly after installation to protect the wood from warping, cracking and splitting. If the cedar fencing feels wet to the touch, allow it to dry completely before applying stain or sealer.
For more information on how to best protect your cedar fencing and for answers to all of your fencing questions, contact the fencing experts at Hal Co Fence. Serving all of Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, the fencing professionals at Hal Co Fence deliver the highest quality products along with the highest quality customer service.