I just had a new fence installed. How soon should it be stained?
Your new wood contains natural juices (sap) and needs to properly dry out before you have it protected. It generally takes 4-6 weeks for white woods (common fence material) and 6-8 weeks for Cedar, depending on the weather conditions. Once the wood has cured then it is ready to be sealed and stained.
My fence is grey, can it be saved?
Probably! It truly depends on the overall condition of the wood. However, most fences that are grey can be restored to look new again! This is done with our cleaning and restoration process where we remove the built-up pollution, dirt, mold and mildew with a chlorine-based solution, allow the fence to properly dry and apply a protective coating!
If wood is pressure-treated, why does it need a protective finish?
"Pressure-treated" does not mean "weather-proofed." During the pressure-treating process, lumber is injected with a preservative called CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) which protects it internally from rot, decay and attack from termites or other wood-boring insects. However, it is still a porous material, and its surface will continue to absorb water unless protected.
When wood is exposed to precipitation (rain, sleet, snow and ice) and the sun's UV rays, other types of degredation occur. Wood swells when is absorbs moisture and shrinks when it is baked by the sun, causing cracking, splitting, warping and end-checking. By applying a water-repellent sealer, you are shielding the wood from water absorbtion, so damage is radically reduced. Coatings with pigements provide UV protection, which will delay or prevent the otherwise natural graying process that occurs from consistent UV exposure.
Do you protect my landscaping, pool and hardscaping?
Yes! We go to great measures to cover and protect your landscaping, pool and hard-scape (boulders, patio, etc.). However, some overspray may occur on your grass near the bottom of your fence. This is normal and will disappear in a few weeks.
Why do fences located near a corner or alley age faster?
Pollution. The exhaust from cars traveling up and down the street and alley are deposited onto your fence. This pollution discolors fences over time. A simple cleaning will remove this discoloration and prepare your fence for re-staining!
Will you use a power washer to clean my fence?
Probably not. We prefer to use a low-pressure spraying system combined with a chlorine-based solution to clean your fence. This solution will not only remove the pollution, dirt and mold, but will also clean the mold spores hiden within the wood fibers.
Additionally, improperly calibrated pressure washers can actually harm your wood by tearing the tender fibers, exposing them to insects and rot. We reserve pressure washing for extreme cases.
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