How To Prevent Mold Growth On A Wooden Fence

14 March 2016
 Categories: Home & Garden, Blog

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Wooden fences provide durability and a natural aesthetic to your home, and can be stained a wide variety of different shades to match the appearance of your home and yard. However, due to extended weather exposure, mold and mildew can begin to grow on your fence, which not only ruins its appearance, but can also damage the structural stability of your fence, which can require expensive repairs or even replacement to fix. Understanding the causes of mold and mildew growth, and how they can be prevented, can help you maintain your wooden fence.

Cool Shady Areas

If your wooden fence is located in a shady area, mold and mildew growth is much more likely. This is because a shaded area provides a cooler temperature, and prevents moisture from evaporating, both of which are factors which promote mold growth. In order to combat this, trim the foliage around your fence to ensure that it is receiving the maximum amount of sunlight possible.

Plant Growth

Mold growth can be encourage by plants growing right up against your fence. This is because they can prevent air flow and shade the fence, again allowing for moisture to build up on the wood, but additionally because they can carry spores that can allow for fungus to spread into the wood of your fence if left unchecked. Again, trimming and clearing the area so that there is minimal contact between plant life and your fence can prevent mold growth from occurring.

Physical Damage

Any physical damage to your fence can promote mold growth. This usually occurs in the form of a scratch, which will break the sealant around the wood panel and expose the untreated interior. If spores are able to take hold on this exposed wood, they can quickly spread throughout the interior of the panel, causing it to quickly rot away. If you notice any scratches on your fence's panels, fill them in using wood filler (available at most hardware stores) and reapply a coat of sealant.

Worn Sealant

The sealant on your fence prevents water from being absorbed by your fence, and will stop mold growth from occurring. However, over time water will wash away the sealant on your fence, opening your fence up to mold growth. Colored sealant is very easy to notice when it becomes worn, while clear sealant will require a close inspection to see if the coat is still intact. You can reapply sealant (which is available in many varieties in most hardware stores) using a normal paint brush to protect your wooden fence. 

To learn more, contact a fencing contractor at a company like Harco Exteriors  LLC