Mending fences

Backyard privacy walls in wood, vinyl or metal all need regular maintenance

I’m going to come out in defence of a well-built fence.

They look good, can offer some much needed privacy, and can keep your kids and pets safely situated in your backyard. A privacy fence in the backyard could even raise the value of your home a little bit. Having a well-built, maintained fence is certainly an appealing prospect for potential homeowners.

Even though it’s an outdoor structure, a fence still needs enough care and maintenance to prevent it from falling apart. As I said, a well-built, maintained fence is a motivating factor for buyers, not so much if it’s rotted and falling over.

Here’s my guide to building and maintaining your fence:

DRAW THE LINES

Do you need a permit to build your fence? Likely you don’t, but that doesn’t mean you’re good to start planting your fence posts. Make a call to the bylaw office and see what kind of regulations there are about building a fence. Some municipalities will have limits on how tall a fence can be or what material you use.

You always want to call before you dig to make sure you’re not going to be digging into any utility lines. You’ll also want to know where your property lines lie.

You may have a good relationship with the neighbours now, but you might not if you build your fence over the line on their property. Have the property surveyed to put the neighbours at ease and ensure there’s no funny business.

Either way, be a good neighbour, let the people next door know what you’re planning. If you’re lucky, they’ll be happy to share a fence with you, and maybe even split some of the costs, though if it’s your pet project you have to be ready to foot the bill all on your own.

DIGGING DEEP

Here’s what you need to keep in mind when you’re placing your fence posts in the ground. You need to make sure the posts are deep enough that they’re below the frost line, which is the depth of soil that doesn’t freeze in the winter. Generally, in Canada, that will be six feet deep, though that may vary. (In Winnipeg, it can be as deep as eight feet.)

If you don’t dig below the frost line, the fence posts will be caught in the freeze-thaw cycle in which the ground expands when water freezes, and contracts when it’s in its liquid form. When the posts are above that line, the fence posts will lift and fall with the soil, and eventually heave out of their footing.

WHAT MATERIALS TO USE

You’ve got a few options when it comes to fencing material. Wood tends to be the cheapest, but it requires a little more maintenance than a vinyl fence, for example.

So what needs to be maintained, and how?

Wood fences should be washed at least twice a year. They should be re-stained every two years or so to prevent decay. Tougher woods like cedar don’t need to be treated, but can lose their colour over time, so adding a tinted stain every few years will keep it looking new.

Vinyl fences should be cleaned once a year. They also need to be inspected for damage, like heaving posts or damaged lattice panels.

For metal fences, your big concern is rust. Fortunately, if any does appear, it can usually be removed and treated with a rust primer and paint.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE GATE

A weak fence gate is a big hazard. Without a good, strong latch keeping it closed, a heavy windstorm can pull it right off its hinges and into your yard and cause some damage. It’s for this reason that I like to use three sets of hinges on a fence gate instead of two so it can provide extra structural support to the gate.

A well-built fence not only has a lot of function, it can look really good. It’s a structure that pulls a serious double duty, so make sure that you’re treating it with just as much care as you would your home.

A fence that’s not cared for will have a shortened shelf life, so maintain it right from the start and it will last.

To find out more about Mike

Holmes, visit makeitright.ca.