Fences can be expensive, but are an investment in your property. When taken care of, a fence can last anywhere from 10-25 years, or even more. With a little bit of maintenance, the life expectancy of your fence will greatly expand. This blog post will talk about the types of fences that can be maintained with pressure washing.
Types of Fences to Pressure Wash
Chain Link Fences
Chain link is a very durable fence that can last a long time. Whether traditional galvanized or vinyl coated, chain link can corrode when exposed to certain chemicals and elements. A yearly pressure wash will save you from having to do fence repairs over the years or having to replace your entire fence before you expected.
Wood Fences
Wood is a much softer material than chain link or ornamental, but can definitely be pressure washed. In fact, it is recommended that you give your fence a good pressure wash a week or two before you stain or paint your fence to get it nice and clean, while also leaving enough time for it to dry out. Make sure that you set your pressure washer to lower settings so that you do not damage the fence or strip the paint off.
Ornamental Fences
Ornamental fences are made from either aluminum or welded steel. Similarly to chain link, the metal of these fences is susceptible to corrosion over time when exposed to repeated chemicals or elements. Regularly pressure washing your ornamental fences will greatly extend the life expectancy of the fences and keep them looking brand new for years to come.
Common Issues
Other than the obvious removal of dirt, pressure washing can help with several other factors that can ruin a fence.
Corrosion
The greatest detriment to the life of metal fences is corrosion. Dog urine will cause the posts to corrode over time and eventually break off at the ground level. The best way to prevent this is to pressure wash your fences every 6 months to a year. Make sure to focusing on the bottoms of the posts to get rid of any urine. If you notice some corrosion beginning to eat at your posts, pressure wash it and then apply a coat or two of outdoor spray paint to your posts to help protect them.
If your fence is around a saltwater pool, you will want to pressure wash your fence about once a year. The saltwater can also cause damage if left on the fence for expended periods of time. As you winterize your pool and wrap it up for the year, give your fence a pressure wash to prevent any long-lasting effects before the next swimming season.
Mold & Mildew
Fences exposed to the elements are also prone to grow mold over time. Adding a little bit of bleach into your power washer will help to clean the mold off and prevent it from growing back as quickly.
Pressure Washing Tips (pun intended)
When pressure washing a fence, using the wrong the wrong nozzle/tip or the wrong PSI can cause damage to your fence.
Typically, the best nozzle is a 25-degree tip that will not dent or bend your fence. You want a spray that is about 1.5 - 3 feet wide so that the water is not so pressurized to a single point. You should spray from about 3 feet back from the fence and move closer if needed to remove tough spots. Finding the right combination of PSI and distance away from the fence can take a little trial and error. Practice on a small section of fence until you get a feel for the equipment.
The recommended PSI for chain link or aluminum fencing is between 1300 and 2400. It is best to try out the pressure washer on a small section of fencing to test the strength and make sure there is no damage. Start on the lower side and make adjustments if the pressure is not getting off the dirt and grime. For ornamental steel fencing, the fence can take up to 2300 PSI. Again, try it out on a smaller section of the fence to make sure there is no damage from the pressure washer.
Wood fences are more delicate than the metal fencing. Make sure to start out on a lower setting and a wider tip to prevent cutting the wood or stripping your paint. It is recommended that you start between 500 and 800 PSI on soft wood and no higher than 1300 PSI on hardwood. It is important to test the pressure washer in a small section to ensure your settings won't cause damage.
If you are using a detergent with your pressure washer, make sure to test a section. Let it set for 10-15 minutes to ensure the detergent will not cause any discoloration or damage to the fence. It is recommended that you pressure wash from bottom to top and left to right and you move down your fence, and to let the detergent stay on the fence for about 5-10 minutes before rinsing.
While Conyers Fence Company does not offer pressure washing services, we would be happy to refer you to someone who does.
Give us a call
770-922-2474
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