Before another Colorado winter is upon you, is your fence in good order? Over the summer one might have seen some loose boards or rusty hinges and leaning posts put in. If you are thinking of ways to put some protection on your investment before the snow begins to accumulate, read on.

We at R O Fence Services can tell you what a winter here will do to your wood, vinyl, chain link or ornamental iron; in our 35 plus years of putting up and fixing fences in the Denver metro we have made note of it all. The fall is when you should be making amends for any damage. Give us a ring at (720) 734-8203 and we will put a professional eye on things for you ahead of the cold.

The truth is a fence does not fare well in the Denver winter. There is the freezing and the heavy snow to contend with, as well as ground that swells and shifts and the odd freeze-thaw cycle, all of which is hard on an outdoor structure. But then again, some maintenance now means you will not be footing a larger repair bill down the road.

A Full Walk-Around Inspection

Make a point of walking the whole length of the fence and have a good look about you. You want to spot the minor issues before they become major come winter.

In the course of your inspection you will want to see if there are:

• Any wood boards that are cracked, splitting or on the loose
• Posts that are wobbly from having shifted in the ground
• Rust on your hardware, ornamental iron or chain link
• A gate that sags and will not latch or swing right
• Fasteners, nails and screws that have corroded or worked their way out
• Gaps at the bottom where the ground has given way

Put down in writing or take a picture of anything that is amiss. Should you come across something more than a simple fix, better to put it right now than let a snowstorm make short work of it.

Get the Fence Clean

Once it is below freezing, moisture is the enemy. And dirt and mildew left on your fence will hold onto it. So a fall cleaning of the wood or vinyl is in order.

Most vinyl and ornamental types can be had clean with some mild soap and water. For wood a soft brush and a cleaner meant for the job will remove the grime without marring the surface. See that it is completely dry before you stain or seal.

Sealing Your Wood

Wood may be attractive but it cannot be expected to stand up to Colorado weather unaided. Unsealed wood will absorb the moisture from the ice and snow and the freeze-thaw cycle, resulting in rot and warping eventually.

If it has been a couple of years since you have stained or sealed, the fall is a fine time to put on a water-repellent sealer of good quality. Just wait for a few days that are mild and dry. It will provide a layer of protection for the wood to shed moisture through the winter.

Hardware and Gates

Gates are put to the test more than any other part of a fence by virtue of their constant motion and the cold will make a stiff hinge or old latch difficult to use.

To avoid the aggravation of a gate that is frozen and sticking in January, do the following:

• Put some weather-resistant lube on the hinges and moving parts
• Make sure every bolt and screw on latches and hinges is tight
• Swap out bent or rusted hardware
• Get the latches to stay put and close with firmness
• Correct any sag so the gate is not dragging in the ice and snow

It is an easy matter to put some longevity into your fence with well-kept gate hardware.

Clear the Vicinity

You do not want overhanging limbs or large shrubs as a hazard in the snow season; a limb full of wet snow can break and come down on your fence line. Trim them back and get rid of the leaves and debris at the base of the fence, they only serve to trap moisture and hasten rot.

Call in the Pros

While some of this is an easy weekend’s work, structural damage, a lot of rot or a post that is leaning requires someone with experience. R O Fence Services provides residential, commercial and agricultural fencing in and around Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada, Boulder and Longmont. We have financing options via Hearth and free estimates.

There is no need to discover after the first snow that your fence was not prepared. Contact R O Fence Services at (720) 734-8203 for a no cost estimate and face the winter with confidence.