May is finally here. The birds are singing, the grills are fired up, and the backyards are ready for barbecue season. If your backyard isn’t quite barbecue ready, you still have some time to get everything together before summer really hits. One of the biggest items for your to-do list should be maintaining your fence. Regardless of the type of fence you have, there are some maintenance tasks you definitely need to do this time of year to keep it looking it’s best.

Upkeep For All Fences

No matter the type of fence you have, your seasonal maintenance should start with an assessment. Do a thorough inspection of the fence from both sides, looking for any sort of damage.

Vinyl Fences

When you went with vinyl for your fence, you chose one of the easiest fences to maintain. You can actually do all of the maintenance while you’re doing your inspection. If you bring a sturdy (but not too hard, you don’t want to leave scratches) scrub brush and a bucket, you can clean off the dirty spots as you’re inspecting the fence and it will all be done!

Chain Link Fences

Like vinyl, chain link is very easy to maintain. While you’re walking the fence to inspect it, you should take your gardening gloves so that you can also pull out any sticks, leaves, or vines that have grown up or gotten trapped. Once the fence is free of debris, a simple wash to remove any built up dirt is all that it will need.

Wood Fences

Wood fences are beautiful and classic, but it comes at a price in terms of maintenance. They are the most prone to winter damage, so when you inspect your wood fence, keep a close eye out for all sorts of damage, including broken sections, rot, and insect damage. After you repair any damage that you find, you will need to wash the fence. You should use a hose or pressure washer for this job, because the grime that builds up on wooden fences can be hard to get off. Finally, if it has been a year or two since you painted or stained, you likely need to get that done as well.

Wrought Iron Fences

Wrought iron provides not only a classically beautiful, traditional look, but also time-tested sturdiness that you can count on. This means that you should not need to worry about too much damage from the winter weather. The biggest thing you should be looking for as you inspect this fence is chips in the paint. Any chips will allow the fence to rust, so you will need to repair the paint for any you find. It is also a good idea to give the fence a quick clean.

Trust Eastern Shore Porch and Patio

When you embark on your next project to erect a fence on your property, trust Eastern Shore Porch and Patio to help. We service Bethany Beach, Ocean City, Lewes, Salisbury, and the Delmarva area. You can request a quote today! If you have questions or concerns, call us at 302-436-9520 or send us an email at info@esvinylproducts.com. For updates and ideas, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube.