1. Place a plastic tarp over plants that are near the wooden fence. Put on a long-sleeve shirt, long pants, goggles and work gloves.
2. Clean the wooden fence with water from a power-washer. Use a power-washer that supplies 1,500 or 2,000 pounds per square inch (psi) of water pressure and features 15- and 25-degree spray tips. Standing 18 inches from the fence, slowly wash the fence with the power-washer, using long, back and forth motions. Continue the task until the entire surface on both sides of the fence is clean. Allow the fence to dry completely.
3. Examine the fence for damaged areas and missing boards. Mend or replace broken boards, and replace missing boards. Repairing broken or cracked wood with waterproof wood glue is recommended on The Family Handyman website.

4. Test an oil stain on an inconspicuous area of the fence to determine the product’s finished color. Revise the oil stain you will use if necessary. Apply a thin layer of the oil stain to all portions of the fence’s wood by using a medium-nap paint roller on the large sections and a paintbrush on edging and smaller slats. Use quick, fluid strokes in the direction of the wood’s grain.
5. Allow the first coat of oil stain to dry at least 24 hours, and then apply a second coat of oil stain. Apply a third coat of the oil stain, if desired, after the second coat dries at least 24 hours.

Tips. If the weather is damp or humid, allow a newly power-washed fence to dry for 48 hours before applying oil stain to its wood. Some home-improvement stores rent power-washers.

The post How to protect wooden fence from the elements first appeared on Capital Deck and Fence.

Give it a Cleaning

From the active summer months of barbeques, backyard parties, dirt, and burrowed debris, it’s always a good idea to get out a power hose along with a wood-safe cleaner and give the surface a good cleaning. If you need a little extra power, use a good scrubbing brush to get into those crevices.

Replace any Rotten Wood

As you go along cleaning the deck or fence, pay particular attention for signs of extreme rotting. If you notice a few sections that are rotting, you can hire a fence repair company to replace those slats with new wood. Ignoring these and simply covering them up with a protective finish will only allow the problem to fester. However if the support beams are rotten, it becomes a serious safety issue and it may be time for a new fence. You can purchase a new wood fence, or opt for a PVC fence, ornamental iron fence, or chain link fence instead.

Strip the Paint

Between dragging deck chairs around, the high foot traffic, and your furry loved ones running around, painted decks can start to wear down. If your painted/stained deck looks like it’s had a lot of wear and tear, you might want to consider stripping the paint off before applying a protective coat. This may take more time and effort, but it will not only help to keep the wood protected, but also make it look great for the next year.

Apply the Protective Coat

Once your deck or fence has been thoroughly cleaned, you can apply a water-repellent protective finish. You can select from a variety of colours and stains that suit your taste. Just ensure that you follow the instructions carefully and apply as many coats as required to get a strong seal from those winter elements.

Your wooden deck and fence are essential and costly features of your backyard. And after the wear and tear from the summer months, it’s important to do what you can to maintain them so that you can get the most out of them. Increasing the longevity means performing a few simple up-keeping tasks at the end of each summer. So be sure to refinish and protect your exterior wood surfaces so that they’re in great shape for the next year.

The post Prepare your wooden fence for winter first appeared on Capital Deck and Fence.

• Inspect

Before you begin it’s important to make sure that your fence is actually ready to stain. If you’ve recently had a northern white cedar fence installed, like the types of fences we install, you’ll need to let it “dry out” over a period of 5 weeks (or longer, if the weather has been wet or overcast). If you have an older fence that has been painted or stained before, or which has acquired mold, mildew, dirt, or other contaminants then you will first need to prepare your fence by pressure washing it. Don’t forget to refer to our post on the proper way to pressure wash your fence. If you have to pressure wash your fence then you’ll need to give it some time to dry before you proceed. The fence must not be wet when you begin the staining process.

• Weather

You will want to check the current weather and the upcoming weather before beginning your fence staining project. The temperature should be no colder than 10°C. You also want to choose a time where sunny, dry weather is expected for the next few days. Ideally you’ll have 2-3 dry days after your project to let the stain dry completely.

• Prepare

You will need a staining brush and a paint roller with a rough surface roller cover to proceed. The roller will get most of the stain on in broad strokes but the brush will allow you to reach the areas that the roller just can’t cover.

A staining brush is not the same as a paintbrush! A staining brush is larger and has a wider base of bristles. Most paintbrushes are not equipped to handle stain and will simply be ruined by the time you are done with them. If you want your project to look its best find the right tool for the task. It’s also a good idea to have some broad, plastic sheets to put down over plants and nearby sections of the house so that you don’t stain anything that you didn’t really mean to stain. You’ll also need some sandpaper, as you’ll want to make sure the wood is good and smooth before you begin. While a sprayer may look tempting it won’t save you as much time and work as you might think. Usually sprayers do not produce complete or consistent coverage which means that your fence won’t look as good as it could look or be as protected as it could be.

• Stain

Choosing the right stain isn’t just about choosing a color that you might enjoy. It’s also about the materials that the stain is made out of. We recommend oil-based stains over water-based stains. Oil-based stains last much longer: even when this stain grows “old” it doesn’t produce the same kind of cracking and chipping that water based stains can produce. Of course you will want to make sure to test your stain, either on a piece of scrap wood or a portion of the fence that nobody ever sees. Make sure you like the color and that the wood reacts well to the stain.

After the fence has been cleaned, dried, and sanded you can begin the actual staining. Use full, up and down brush strokes and work on one board at a time. If you have a very large fence you can work on different sections of the fence over time after letting the first section dry. If you have an old fence, and washing and staining it do not help you restore the fence to new or nearly new conditions, then it may be time to call us for a free estimate so that you can replace your fence.

The post Is it too late to stain my fence? first appeared on Capital Deck and Fence.

However, wood has always given off a special warmth, which is missing from these other materials. When it comes down to selecting materials for fences, wood fences will forever remain a classic trim for your home.

Longevity

The first myth we’re going to dispel is the idea that wood rots easily and that it doesn’t offer longevity. On the contrary, wood fences can last more than 50 years, provided that the wood has been pressure-treated. However, the best way to preserve and maintain your fence is to apply paint or stain from the beginning, and again when needed.

Sustainability

One great thing about wood is it’s a sustainable material. Materials like iron or concrete require a lot of manufacturing, creating a large carbon footprint. Wood simply needs to grow, and new trees require approximately ten years of growth until they’re ready to be cut and milled into lumber. That means that by the time wood fences need replacing, after more or less ten years, depending on the climate, more than enough wood will have grown to replace it.

History Says it’s Our Favourite Material

As a country bordering the ‘land of freedom’, we Canadians are familiar with the American dream. And consequently, we can easily picture the ‘white picket fences’ associated with this dream. For more than 400 years, the favorite residential material for fences has been wood, and that’s because of several reasons – it’s widely available, beautiful, and of course, it’s associated with success.

Design Flexibility

There are many designs which can be made from wood fences because of wood’s flexible nature. You can carve and cut wood into any desired shape, and sometimes you might be surprised at what the material can do. In the past, wood has even been shaped into magnificent Gothic vaults.

There are certainly a wide variety of fence patterns to choose from, and wood allows you to use your creativity. Some like lattice patterns for plants to climb over it, while others like the simple post and rail. If you’re installing fences, and you don’t have a specific pattern in mind, it’s recommended that you speak with your fence company about the design options available.

Affordability

When making fences, let’s not forget about the cost. While offering a timeless look, wood is more affordable than other materials. It’s also relatively inexpensive to stain the wood into different colours. The verdict: wood fences are great for your wallet without sacrificing quality and style.

The post Why Wooden Fence Will Never Go Out of Style first appeared on Capital Deck and Fence.

Here’s a list of the pros and cons of some of the most common materials for building fences:

Wood. As the go-to material for thousands of years, wood is still one of the most common and versatile products for building sturdy fences. Even though it’s one of the most affordable options, wood fences are quite durable and will stand the test of time – with the proper maintenance. If there was a drawback to this material, it would be that a wood fence requires some regular maintenance as compared to fences made of other materials. However, with proper waterproofing (as with a paint or stain that fits your design) a wood fence can be the happy medium between functionality and aesthetic appeal.

Iron. Wrought iron fences call to mind pictures of stately Victorian homes with expensive landscaping, and for good reason. Real wrought iron is one of the most expensive materials to build a fence out of, but it is also the most durable and lasting. Even though wrought iron can rust when it’s scratched (nothing a bit of regular maintenance won’t fix,) it remains the most sturdy of all the fencing materials.

Today, most “wrought iron” fences are made out of steel, which is more affordable than iron, but only slightly. Still, you can get all of the aesthetic appeal without the hassle of regular maintenance.

PVC.  Also known as vinyl, PVC is a man-made, plastic-like material that is often used to build durable, low-maintenance fences. PVC is only slightly more expensive to install than a wood fence, but colors can be limited to pre-determined neutral shades like tan or white. Also, while a PVC fence may require little day-to-day maintenance, they can fade over time and may need replacing every decade or so.

Chain link. Chain links fences are great for putting up a fence quickly, affordably and when design isn’t your top priority. Both durable and inexpensive, a fence made of chain link will do a great job defining a boundary, but lacks merit for privacy.

The post How to choose the right fence material | Wood vs Iron vs PVC vs Chain-link first appeared on Capital Deck and Fence.

Why wood? – Cost, maintenance, and longevity?

It’s inexpensive and lightweight, to be sure, but so is chain link. The main reason is that a wood fence can easily be shaped to give properties character and individuality. You can choose from dozens of styles, including linear post-and-rail and crisscrossing lattice, as well as myriad picket patterns and post-cap designs. And you can stain the wood to make it pop out or recede from the landscape as either a vibrant or subtle frame for what’s behind it.

On the following slides, see some of the forms a wood fence can take, and learn the basics of buying, installing, and maintaining it. Take the time now to carefully consider your choice; if you follow our tips, you’ll be looking at that fence—and enjoying it—for many years to come.

It lasts about 20 years, if made of rot-resistant wood. Then posts are usually the first to go; panels survive longer because they typically don’t touch the ground. Posts should be plumbed and tamped every three years or so. If the wood has a coating, the schedule varies; clear toners and waterproofers need annual refreshing, semitransparent stains last three to four years, and solid-color stains go five to seven. Paint is not recommended.

Which Wood Type?

Which Style?

The post Wooden Fences – Frequently Asked Questions Answered first appeared on Capital Deck and Fence.

In Ottawa, the extreme winter conditions put a remarkable amount of stress on our fences, especially those made of wood. Natural wood typically requires the most maintenance because it runs a higher risk of being damaged. During fall and winter months it is important to keep debris, especially leaves, off of your wood fence. Wet leaves and debris can cause your fence to warp and rot through the winter. You’ll be surprised by the amount of gunk, dust, mildew and other debris that can be coated on your fence. If you have a pressure washer, use it to spray clean the the debris. Short of that, good old fashioned elbow grease along with a sponge and some soapy water should do the trick. Waterproofing your wood fence can also help keep it in excellent condition for when spring comes around.

Consider painting or staining your fence. When selecting your paint or stainer, look for UV resistant types that will help protect your fence from the sun’s harmful rays. If you decide to paint your fence, a best practice is to prime your wood beforehand. A good primer can add years to your fence’s lifespan, saving you money and increasing the value of your home. After you’ve applied your primer, allow it to dry completely before applying your paint. When painting, we suggest you use a brush or a roller to apply the paint as opposed to spraying, which can be difficult to apply consistently. Start by painting the top of your fence and work your way down. Use a piece of cardboard at the base of your fence so that you can quickly paint the bottom without worrying about painting your grass or mixing mud into your paint.

Vinyl / PVC fencing

Vinyl fencing requires the least amount of maintenance of all the fencing materials. Vinyl is very durable and never needs to be sanded or repainted. The best thing you can do to maintain your vinyl fence this fall is to rinse it with soap and water when you notice that it’s covered with dirt and debris. Routine maintenance will not only help keep your vinyl fence looking great, but it will also help make it last longer. Due to weather related reasons, such as freezing and thawing, vinyl fence post caps can become loose. To keep the beauty of your fence up use plastic fencing glue to secure the caps back in place.

Iron fencing

Iron fencing also requires little to no maintenance. However, it can be susceptible to rust from regular moisture deposits without the lack of proper coating. You can fight the usual culprits of rust (Rain, morning dew and snow fall) by covering your iron fence with a clean coat of rust-resistant paint. Along with rust, wrought iron fence is susceptible to dents, deep scratches and chips. To ward off the scratches and chips of the surface of the fence, you need to use rust-resistant finish every year, just to maintain the beauty of the wrought iron fences. When it comes to deep scratches, bending and dents, above method of protection won’t work. We suggest not hanging heavy fall decorations on them and, as always, keep your fence free of leaves and debris.

To make sure your iron fences keep look looking new for years, you can give it a thorough washing with soapy and warm water, at least twice a year. Oil the joints, latches and springs of the fences and then follow up with a wax. Use formulated paint to cover small holes and scratches. Don’t forget to sand away all the scratches with steel wool before painting and allow each layer of paint to get dry before applying another layer, this way you can less the chances of dripping and flaking of the paint.

Chain link fencing

While chain link fence is known for its durability and ability to withstand the elements better than other types of fencing, without proper coating it can easily become vulnerable to rust from moisture. Rain, morning dew, and snow are the usual factors that cause rust. With proper coating of rust-resistant finish, you can easily fight them off. During the fall and winter, leaves and other yard debris can become lodged in your chain link fence, which can cause rust. It is helpful to use a leaf blower to keep leaves out of the links in your fencing. Dirt and grass from the ground accumulating on the fence are major reasons why you would need to clean your chain link fence from time to time. You can give your fence a good washing with soapy water between seasons in order to keep it looking new. Start with a wax and then oil the fence’s springs, latches, and joints, etc. with mineral oil. You can use steel wool to sand away light scratches. While painting, it is important that you let layers dry between one another, or else you will risk dripping and flaking.

Loose nails can become the cause of a bigger damage into your fence if not taken care of on time. Make sure that there are no loose nails on your chain link fence. Tighten all loose screws and bolts. Pay close attention to gate hardware as it gets the most use. If there’s a gate in your chain link fence, make sure that its hinges are rust free. Regularly apply oil on the hinges to keep it rust free. If you don’t do that, opening and closing the gate could become difficult as the hinges start to rust.

The post Winter Fence Maintenance – Wood, PVC, Iron and Chain link first appeared on Capital Deck and Fence.

DO know what the snow drifting problem is, where it is, and why it exists. Determine the prevailing wind direction that produces the blowing snow. The wind direction determines the area that contributes drift snow, and the fence orientation. Determine the amount of blowing snow that must be stored. This can be done by past winter experiences with the problem area, and by calculating the amount of winter precipitation that will drift. Is the problem long-term or short-term?

DON’T build snow fences before the snow drift problem is completely identified and a system with adequate storage has been designed.

DO build the snow fence tall enough to store the required amount of snow. Tall fences are cheaper to build for the amount of snow stored. For example, a snow fence 12 ft (3.4 m) tall will store as much snow as seven rows of 4.5 ft (1.4m) tall fences. The amount of snow stored behind snow fences of different heights, when the fence is filled to capacity.

DON’T build snow fences too small to do the job. It’s not cost-effective and will not solve the problem.

DO extend the fence past the problem limits on both ends, to account for varying wind directions (up to 30 degrees), and the reduced trapping efficiency and storage capacity near the ends of the fence.

DON’T build the fence line to short, because snow blowing around the ends of the fence will be deposited in the problem area.

DO located the snow fence far enough upwind of the problem to leave room for the resulting drift. On flat terrain with a 50%-porous fence, this distance would be 35 times fence height, H (). Storage capacity and drift length increase for fences placed on down-sloping terrain, and decrease on upslopes. Locations at the crests of ridges or hills, and sites upwind of topographic depressions increase snow storage.

DON’T place the fence too close to the problem site. This common mistake of not allowing enough room for the drift formed by the fence often makes the problem worse. Fences should not be placed in locations where drifts form naturally, such as in depressions or on the downwind side of hills. Steep, upwind-facing slopes reduce both trapping efficiency and storage capacity. However, fences built to reduce snow loading in avalanche zones should not be placed on ridge crests, which would increase the cornice size.

DO build permanent, tall fences to solve long-term drift problems. These fences should be built in one continuous line with no holes or gaps between panels. Fences may be supported by steel or wood posts set in the ground (post-supported), or by a surface-mounted framework, anchored or counterweighted to resist overturning in the wind (truss-type). Horizontal boards 6-in wide with 6-in gaps (50% porosity) are among the best fencing materials. Synthetic fencing materials include woven fabrics and extruded plastic net. These show no great snow-trapping differences among materials having 40% to 50% porosity.

Post-supported fences, without guys or back braces, work well on ski area sites, where snow is removed from the fence area to cover rocks and bare ground, and where skier safety is a concern. However, these fences are usually more expensive to build.

DON’T leave holes or gaps between panels. Don’t build poorly constructed, to solve long-term drift problems. These greatly reduce snow storage temporary snow fences as an attempt.

DO use the same rules for locating portable fences that apply to permanent fences. Fences that can be removed and stored until the next snow accumulation season are sometimes necessary on cultivated lands, for example. On ski areas, portable snow fences may be used for constructing or protecting snowboarding ‘half-pipes’, where safety requires removal.

DON’T use poor construction techniques for portable fences, or temporary snow fences to solve short-term problems.

Author Credit: R. L. Jairell and R. A. Schmidt

The post Snow Fences? Tips and Tricks! first appeared on Capital Deck and Fence.

In the past we have listed some helpful tips and tricks:

• The Ultimate Backyard Fencing Guide
• How to plan for a fence installation – THE CORRECT WAY
• How to Prepare Your Yard for Fence Installation

However we never went over what could go wrong! Today we shall change that fact! Below we list 6 common but costly fencing mistakes!

1. Wrong Kind of Fence for your Home

This is the big one. Choosing the wrong kind of fence is one of the worst fencing mistakes you can make. If your garden fence doesn’t keep large pests out. It is useless. If your dog can escape his fence. It is useless. There are a lot of choices so how do you choose the right one? We dedicated a complete post on this issue: Choose the Right Fence for Your Home. You also might find How to Choose the CORRECT Paint or Stain for your Fence helpful!

2. Unsecured Anchor/Corner Posts

Corner posts are very important to the integrity of a fence. They bear a lot of the pressure, especially when constructing the fence. If you don’t secure them to the ground and support them with braces or other anchors you will slowly see you fence start to cave in. Or your posts might even snap under pressure. And no one wants that. Make sure your corner posts and your gate posts are deeply secured in the ground and properly braced.

3. Underground Utilities

The other day the city was putting up new guard rails on our road. Sometime that morning our internet went out. Then later that day we went out to do some errands and came to the work crew digging every single guard rail post by hand. And lots of new flags dotting the area showing where cable lines were running under the ground. Those guys looked thrilled to be using a manual post hole digger instead of their fancy post drilling machine. So make some calls before you plan your fence. Make sure you won’t be cutting off your neighborhood’s utilities. Make sure you know where your own septic system is. Because that is one fencing mistake you just don’t want to deal with.

4. Wrong Location

So let’s say you’ve spent all your free time fencing in whatever it is you are fencing. You’ve dug in posts. You’ve stretched wire. You’ve cemented in your gate posts and hung the gates. You are super proud of all your hard work. Then you start using the area that is now fenced in and you realized just how inconvenient your gates are. Maybe they are smack dab in the exact area where water and mud gather after storms. Maybe you want to walk you tiller from your shed to the newly fenced in garden and you have to go WAY around to get there. Maybe you didn’t quite plan all scenarios and you now you can’t fit a tractor in through the gate to deliver hay or bush hog or whatever. Before you start any fencing project make sure you have thought out exactly where you need your gates, what they will be used for, and if everything will work as they are supposed to. Because once those gate posts are secured and the fencing stretched…you really don’t want to move your gate. It’s not impossible to do, but it’ll cost you a lot of time and money and cause a headache or two.

5. Incorrectly Spaced Posts

Now let’s say you are crunching numbers for your new fence, and you figure you will save a few bucks by spacing the posts just a little farther then they ought to be spaced. This might work okay for a non-working fence. But let me tell you, if you’ve got an animal inside that pasture, they will be sure to find those weak points in the fence. You don’t want to spend your free time fixing a fence you just put up because the goat knocked it down again. And you don’t want to spend the money to insert new posts to help strengthen the wire. So if your fence needs posts every 8 feet, then put them every 8 feet.

6. Property Lines?

Didi you know that in some places, if a fence is placed on a property line incorrectly and no one contests it, after awhile (years)  that fence becomes the new property line? So if you don’t pay attention you could mistakenly give part of your land away to your neighbor. On the flip side, do you want to take your fence down and move it over a few feet when you neighbor complains that you just fenced in part of his yard? Or even worse, you could get a fine for accidentally fencing in public or government owned property. If you are at all unsure as to where your property line is, then call a surveyor. It’ll cost less in the long run.

So there you have it, 6 Fencing Mistakes That Cost You Time and Money. Whether you are planning a fencing project in the future or mid-job, hopefully you can skip making these mistakes and have a strong, well-made fence that will last a life time!

The post Common Costly Fencing Mistakes first appeared on Capital Deck and Fence.

Colour Theory

Painting, repainting or staining your fence with a complimentary colour that elevates your overall exterior design is going to contribute to the overall aesthetic of your home, and likely increase the value if done well, so be sure to choose wisely!

The easiest way to find a winning paint or stain colour for your fence is to find a colour that complements the colour palette of your home, and the surrounding neighbourhood. You don’t want to be the neighbour with the bright blue fence in a sea of beige that you can see from two blocks over.

Get a “Green Light”

If you have a homeowners’ association or a neighbourhood beautification committee, etc., you are going to be required to get the “green light” from them before moving forward with painting or staining any of your fences, gates, or pretty much anything else on the exterior of your home.

Many neighbourhoods require homeowners to stick to a neutral colour scheme. This may include variations of beige, brown, black, and perhaps even subdued natural colours like a deep green, burgundy, or blue, but it is best to clarify before moving forward with a big project. If you neglect to obtain the required approvals, you could be forced to refinish your fence and other parts of the home’s exterior in a new colour – a frustrating, costly and time-consuming mistake.

Consult Your Neighbours!

Even if you only intend to paint or stain the area of fence that is on your property, you still need to make sure that you talk to your neighbours before you tackle this kind of project.

A quick heads-up will let them know what you’re up to, and may also give them the motivation to tackle this project at the same time. This provides the opportunity to colour-match, and even share the cost on materials – not to mention the opportunity to get to know your neighbours a little better!

The post How to Choose the CORRECT Paint or Stain for your Fence first appeared on Capital Deck and Fence.