wooden fences | Capital Deck and Fence

Prepare your wooden fence for winter

Capital Deck and Fence — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 08:24:45 +0000

Before those long winter months set in, performing a few exterior tasks is a process that many of us are well aware of. And when it comes to wooden structures such as your deck and fence, it’s important to include them in that list as well. Though wood is a beautiful material, wood fences and wood decks can quickly fade, deteriorate, and rot without proper care and treatment. So this winter, protect your wooden deck and fence by performing some of these essential steps.

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.

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How to repair water damaged fence

Capital Deck and Fence — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 08:05:40 +0000

It has been a rainy summer in Ottawa this year. Your fence might have taken a toll. To undo the damage, we have prepared a step-by-step guide below. This guide follows a simple 5 steps:

Check the damage
Determine the size of the damage
Clean the fence
Replace or repair the fence
Paint or stain the fence

1. Check the damage

Use a pry bar to check the areas of your fence which are broken. In case there are nails fixed to the wooden posts of your fence, use a pair of pliers to remove them. You need to always wear a pair of work gloves when you are mending a fence which was broken in bad weather.

2. Determine the size of the damage

Measure the broken sections of the fence by using a tape measure. Buy a new supply of wood to replace the broken pieces from the fence. Try to purchase wood that matches the one from your fence as much as possible. Measure the wooden post of the fence and use a rip saw to cut the wood to fit the measurements of your damaged fence.

3. Clean the fence

Remove the surface layer of aged wood can bring a new life to your fence. With a power washer, clean your fence. A power washer that operates at 1,500 or 2,000 psi max. Use 15- and 25-degree spray tips. The power washer’s spray will slightly raise and roughen the grain on smooth wood. This allows more sealer to soak in and improves the finish. The wood’s color will brighten as the surface is stripped away. Watch closely and stop stripping when no more color change occurs. You don’t have to remove too much surface to expose fresh wood, and continuing to spray won’t improve the color.

4. Replace or repair the fence

With the fence clean, it’s time to fix or replace damaged boards, refasten loose boards and countersink any protruding nails. Remove the damaged wooden posts and replace them with the new posts by installing them properly in the gap where the broken posts were once located. Place a level on the new post of the fence to make sure that it is straight. Use a hammer and nails to fix the posts to the frame of the fence. Make sure to hammer down the nails in even spaces between one another so that the new post is firmly fixed to the fence’s frame.

5. Paint or stain the fence

Before applying the stain, be sure the fence is dry. Allow at least 24 hours. If it’s cool and humid, allow another 24 hours. Apply paint to the surface of your wooden fence. Make sure that you using exterior paint of a very good quality to paint the fence. Let the exterior paint dry thoroughly after you finish painting and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Painting the fence is optional but it is a very good idea because it conceals the storm damage repair. To preserve the natural color of the wood, use an exterior semitransparent oil stain. It seals the wood while allowing the grain and color variations to show through. And its pigments add an overall color tone. Make sure the stain contains ultraviolet inhibitors, which will slow down bleaching by sunlight, and a mildewcide to slow fungal growth. Look for samples on cedar at the paint store, or bring in your own piece of wood to test. A test sample is the best way to ensure a satisfactory result. Most semitransparent oil stains are guaranteed to last two to five years. (Solid-color stains last longer but are more difficult to renew.) Fences usually face severe weathering, so expect the finish to last no more than three years. Plan on recoating the fence within this time frame to keep your fence looking fresh. Before recoating, wash the fence with a garden hose sprayer and use a bristle brush on stubborn dirt deposits and stains. Let the fence dry and stain it using the same method.

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Common Costly Fencing Mistakes

Capital Deck and Fence — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 08:31:02 +0000

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!

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The Ultimate Backyard Fencing Guide

Capital Deck and Fence — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 12:12:51 +0000

There are many reasons to install fencing. You might want to keep the family dog — or the kids — safely in the back yard. Maybe you’re looking to prevent intruders from entering your property, to increase your outdoor privacy, or to block an unpleasant view of your neighbor’s rusty collection of muscle cars. Perhaps you’re safeguarding your swimming pool or adding a boost to your curb appeal.

A fence can do any of these things — if you choose the right one. There are hundreds of different styles to choose from, plus a handful of different construction materials, each with their own maintenance requirements and prices.

And you’ll need to make sure your fence doesn’t create animosity in the neighborhood — or even violate local laws and regulations. Here’s how to avoid those pitfalls and get a beautiful long-lasting fence that fits your home and your budget.

Follow the Rules

Fences are subject to local zoning codes, which dictate the maximum height allowed, how far they must be from property lines, and whether they’re even permitted in front yards. So contact your municipality’s zoning department first, suggests Janet Arden, of the American Fence Association, a trade group based in Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Also, if you’re in a neighborhood association, a historic district, or a fairly new development, you may face further limitations on fence style, height, and location — so check with local officials.

Consider Your Goals

The first thing any fence salesman is going to ask you is why you want a fence—because your answer will help narrow your choices. There are four basic categories to choose from:

Privacy fence: If the goal is to block sight lines, you need solid fencing, which generally means it’ll have tightly spaced vertical boards, pickets (pointed stakes), or framed panels to prevent you from seeing out and others from seeing in. It should be at least 6 feet tall so most people won’t see over it—taller if the neighbor’s teenagers are on the basketball team.

If a little visibility is okay, then the pickets can have spaces between them, or you can use a lattice or decorative fence pattern.

Security fence: To keep people out, you’ll again want a fence that’s 6 feet tall or higher to hinder anyone from simply hopping over it. Pickets or other spiky tops help to deter climbers—especially if the fence has a smooth outer face, so there’s no place to step. For fences with horizontal rails on one side and vertical pickets on the other—in other words, for most fences—that means facing the pickets out.

Decorative fence: If the goal is to establish property lines, add a structural element to the landscape or boost curb appeal, your fence doesn’t need to be nearly as large or obtrusive. You can choose one that’s just two to four feet high, and with spaced pickets, latticework, or all sorts of ornamental designs that don’t block the view, but enhance it. Or you can go totally simple, with a rail fence (just posts and two or three horizontal members) like the ones used on horse farms.

Safety fence: To create a dog run, enclose a pool area, or deter wildlife from trespassing on your property—without changing the view—the most durable option is a wire fence, such as chain link. At their most economical, these consist of galvanized metal mesh, but adding a black or green vinyl coating helps to make the fence almost disappear from view. Or, for an even lower-cost fence, you can use a metal or plastic mesh hung on metal posts or stakes.

Pick Your Material

Once you’ve decided on your fence type, choose the material it’s made from. That’s what’s going to determine its price, the maintenance it needs, and its warranty. (Note: These are ballpark prices. Costs vary wildly around the country—and even among fence companies in the same ZIP code.)

Wood: By far the most common fence material, wood provides a traditional look at a moderate price. Depending on the species you choose, from low-cost pine to high-end cedar or redwood, your installer may recommend treating it with a stain or wood preservative to protect it from insects, rot, and ultraviolet light. Expect to repeat the job every three to five years.

Vinyl and composite: These faux-wood fences are made from either solid vinyl or a mix of wood fibers and plastic resins. In either case, the material is formed into rails, pickets, and other fence parts that get assembled piece-by-piece just like wood fences.

Their color—usually white, but available in numerous hues—is mixed into the material itself, so they never need painting. The best of these products look exactly like the real thing, so if you want a painted wood fence, this is a way to get it without all of the maintenance that wood requires.

Iron and aluminum: The classic wrought-iron fence can be anything from an ornate decorative property-line marker to a tall, spiky enclosure that provides high security.

These days, though, the fences aren’t actually wrought iron. They’re made from welded tubes of steel or aluminum. Thanks to factory paint coatings, a good metal fence will need virtually no routine upkeep, though you should touchup any spots where the coating cracks or peels to prevent corrosion.

Chain link and wire: The most economical of fences, chain link also has the advantage of almost disappearing into the scenery, especially if it has a black or green plastic coating on the mesh.

If, on the other hand, you prefer not to see through the fence, you can order it with vertical privacy slats woven into the mesh.

The post The Ultimate Backyard Fencing Guide first appeared on Capital Deck and Fence.

When to Paint your Wooden Fence? This summer!

Capital Deck and Fence — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 08:49:00 +0000

What comes to mind when you picture finally having the time to work on all the summer renovations you thought you would do this season? It might be building a deck in your backyard. Or perhaps it’s patching up and cleaning your roof. However, it is common knowledge to many homeowners that summer is the ideal time to paint your wood fence.

By finding a few hours to paint their fence, Ottawa homeowners like you can enjoy feeling a sense of relief and joy at finally getting the job done―all while enhancing your property’s curb appeal, whether your wood fence surrounds your downtown home or your country residence.

Whether you’re painting or staining your fence, the first step is to make sure it has been cleaned of any mildew or dirt which could have a negative effect on the painting process. Fortunately, gone are the days when cleaning a fence in Ottawa was limited to a bucket of soapy water and a sponge. Today’s homeowners can easily rent a spray washer, which will quickly and effectively pressure clean your fence in no time. Ottawa’s fence experts also advise to move the pressure wand in the direction of the wood grain of your fence as opposed to across the grain: this reduces the risk of visible marks forming in the wood itself.

Now that your fence is free from mildew and dirt, let the painting begin!

When it comes to applying a coat of colour or protective stain on your fence, Ottawa homeowners have the choice of using a spray paint gun, or opting for a traditional brush and using good old-fashioned elbow grease. Painters who have the benefit many years of experience under their belt will most often use a spray paint gun, and then immediately go over the painted area with a dry brush to remove excess paint and fill in any bare spots.

Finally, the best advice to follow when painting your fence is to work in the perfect weather conditions. A hot, humid day could cause paint to peel, while rain is obviously a big thing to avoid. Why not also ask your friends for a little extra help and fun too?

If you feel it’s time to finally paint or stain your fence this summer, you can always count on the expertise of wood fence experts. They have the experience, knowledge, and skill to offer you the help and advice that gets the job done.

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Maintaining Stained Deck and Getting Rid of Wood Slivers

Capital Deck and Fence — Tue, 10 May 2016 09:04:02 +0000

HOW DO SLIVERS FORM AND HOW DO I GET RID OF THEM? Wood is a natural material and reacts to weather changes. Horizontal surfaces, such as decks and the top of handrails, are subject to significant traffic and will sliver more readily than vertical surfaces. Wood slivers form when the wood surface is subject to repeated wet/dry cycles which cause the wood fibres to bend and twist. The fibres want to return to their natural shape and in trying to do so, may rise above the original surface. Over time, this movement will form a sliver. While the forming of slivers cannot be stopped, you can minimize slivers by applying a protective coating such as paint, stain or a water repellent that minimizes water penetration into the wood and protects the wood from the sun. If the wood has been exposed to the weather for more than two weeks, sand it with medium grit, garnet sandpaper (80-100 grit sand paper) before applying a protective coating to remove weathered fibres. This will allow for better coating adhesion.

HOW DO I MAINTAIN MY STAINED DECK? Exposure to the elements and foot traffic cause deck surfaces to fade. Horizontal areas such as deck surfaces and handrails wear much faster than vertical deck elements such as spindles. Regular maintenance will help maintain the appearance of your deck and also preserve the wood. A wood stain is used to protect and colour exterior wood surfaces. There are two types of stains: film forming (solid stains) and penetrating stains (transparent and semi-transparent). Stain colour varies because of characteristics in the wood and how the wood is treated prior to staining. Wood characteristics such as density and grain vary from tree to tree and even in boards cut from the same tree. For example, a portion of board that is dense will not accept stain as well as a portion of board that has a more open grain. Wood that is rough sawn, unprimed or very dry may absorb stain more quickly than wood that is smooth cut, damp or treated with a sealer. When a wood surface needs to be re-coated, it should be repaired, sanded and cleaned so the new stain can fully penetrate the surface of the wood for maximum durability of the finish. After the wood is prepared, new stain can be applied. This coating will help protect the wood from sun damage. Paint on the other hand, will completely block the sun but it can also trap moisture which encourages faster decay of the wood. It’s important to use the correct type of applicator and the correct application technique to ensure the coating is evenly distributed and provides maximum protection for the wood. For example, a roller-applied stain must first be worked into the wood with a brush to give a more uniform colour and deeper stain penetration. IT’S IMPORTANT TO USE THE CORRECT TYPE OF APPLICATOR AND THE CORRECT APPLICATION TECHNIQUE TO ENSURE THE COATING IS EVENLY DISTRIBUTED AND PROVIDES MAXIMUM PROTECTION FOR THE WOOD. Most stain manufacturers provide detailed brochures that discuss stain product options, surface preparation and application tools and techniques.

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How to Maintain Wooden Fences

Capital Deck and Fence — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 12:24:38 +0000

As we previously mentioned, one of the downsides of wooden fences is that they need more upkeep than some of the other fences such as vinyl. A wood fence may be damaged in any number of ways: rotting, splitting or other mishaps. In order to keep your fences strong and healthy, there are various factors you need to consider because diving into helping.

Organisms that cause decay need oxygen and moisture in order to grow. Soil in contact with fences supplies moisture, therefore, fence parts that are below ground are more prone to decay. Another factor to keep in mind is the climate; wet climate favours decay. To protect from decay:

Use wood pressure-treated with preservatives
Apply water-repellent preservatives
Build with naturally decay-resistant wood
Follow careful construction practices
Choose wood that are naturally resistant. Cedar wood is an ideal wood for fencing because it contains natural oils that make it moisture resistant as well as unappealing to insects. Redwood also resists moisture and insects.

Keeping on top of the repair by removing the damaged panel and replacing it is one of the best way to maintain wooden fences.. An advantage of wood panel fencing is that you can repair or replace individual pieces rather than the whole fence. Repair may include repainting a worn piece, or it could involve replacing an entire panel. Either way, it is a job that you can get done in a few hours.

Sealing your wooden fences from the elements is a must. Either that is by painting the fences or by staining/sealing. Staining gives panels a hint of color while maintaining a natural wood look. As a rule, when water no longer beads up on the wooden fence but soaks in, it is time to reseal. After the initial sealing, your wood fence will need regular maintenance at least every three years to prolong its life and help it stay strong and beautiful. The first step in wood maintenance involves cleaning it to remove all mildew. Special mildew cleaning solutions will make this process easier – apply it with a scrub brush to wash away all mildew that accumulates on the surface of the wood. After scrubbing every part of the wood fence, rinse away the cleaning solution with a hose. As you scrub the fence, examine it carefully to find any areas that need repair. If you find areas with decay, make a note to repair or replace these parts of the fence to keep the fence strong. Allow the fence wood to dry for at least two to three days after washing it before proceeding with painting or staining. Caulk all crevices in the fence with wood caulk to protect the fence from moisture. Apply the paint or the stain to the fence to cover all exposed surfaces. Although tedious and time-consuming, it’s most effective to apply the product with a paint brush or a paint roller instead of spraying it on. After applying one coat, allow it to dry completely and then apply a second coat of paint or stain. If you have not painted or stained your fence, you will need to apply a clear sealant every year to protect the wood and maintain a strong seal against moisture.

Softwoods such as redwood, pine, fir and cedar are all most susceptible to termite infestation. Unfortunately, those are the types of woods most likely to be used for fences. Termites require moist soil to survive and work to eat through softwoods that are partially buried. If your wood fence has portions that are buried, try digging them out and keeping the fence entirely exposed to the air. If you remove the wood from the termites’ habitat, they will not be able to destroy a wood fence. Furthermore, remove old roots, boards or other wood residue from soil near your fence. If termites have already infested your soil, contact a pest control specialist to treat the soil.

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