Timber fences are a classic option for any property as they can provide you with various functionalities such as privacy and security while still boosting the kerb appeal of your home. Nevertheless, despite the inherent strength of wood fencing, they do start to show signs of wear after a while. This damage is mainly due to weathering as the fence is constantly exposed to the elements. The trick to ensuring that the damage your timber fencing sustains does not become irreparable is to keep an eye out for structural flaws before they become aggravated. So how do you know that your wood fencing is signalling for repairs?
Signs of pest infestation
Since insects are small, they may not seem to pose a grave risk to the structure of your fence. However, when the bugs start to build nests in the fence that leads to an infestation, it will only be a matter of time before you have to start considering fence replacement. There is a vast range of ways that insect damage would manifest. Most commonly, you should inspect your fencing for strange holes, which would indicate that boring insects are living in the fence.
Other signs that you should examine your fencing for include gnaw marks or unexplainable scratches. Tapping on the timber would also give you a sense of whether the inside of the wood has become hollowed out. Call a fence contractor so that they can determine the extent of the damage and carry out the necessary repairs for you.
Signs of decay
An assumption some people may make about their timber fencing is that as long as it has been weather treated, it will not be at risk of decay. The truth of the matter is that pre-treatment of the fencing functions to delay the rotting, rather than make the wood immune to it. Thus, it would be prudent to carry out regular inspections to check for the onset of decay and have this dealt with before all the wood succumbs to rotting. These checks are especially pertinent during the wet season when the soil can become waterlogged and expose your fence to excessive moisture absorption.
Catching decay in time gives you the opportunity to replace the affected areas, particularly if you have timber fence slats that can be replaced individually rather than take down the entire fence. Leaving the rot to spread unchecked increases the likelihood of requiring fence replacement as your entire structure will be weakened.