When it comes to fence maintenance, there are two distinct approaches: you can either let the wood age naturally or you can refinish it every few years or so. Each approach has its advantages, and aside from how busy you are, taste and temperament also come into play. Fences are usually made of rot-resistant lumber, so a low-maintenance approach is a reasonable one. On the other hand, a fence treated regularly with a quality stain will usually outlast an unfinished fence and look newer longer.
Start with a structural inspection. Simple repairs done along the way can add years to the life of your fence. Check for broken or loose fasteners and loose fence boards, rails and gates. You’ll find that simply resetting or supplementing nails and screws with new ones will help firm up an aging fence.
Choose corrosion-resistant screws instead of nails to pull loose pieces of fencing tightly together. If your gate is sagging, straighten it with a turnbuckle support. Coat the posts where they emerge from the ground or concrete with a wood preservative: this is the area that rots first.
Prune away any plants (and trim overgrown grass or weeds around the bottom) that interfere with the fence to reduce rot from contact with organic material
Scrubbing the surface of the fence boards with a long-handled stiff-bristled brush will get rid of accumulated dirt. For tougher jobs, use a specialty product formulated for cleaning wood fences and decks. Apply the cleaner with a bucket and brush, allow it to penetrate, then rinse it away.
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