Friday, December 10, 2010

Old Fences Have Character

From In the Garden
 From In the Garden

Old fences have the greatest character don't you think? All the moss, lichen, and graduations in the coloring of old fences make them ever so charming. But! The same moss, lichens, and wood variations make the fence a not so stable or functional fence because the moss, lichens, and wood variations are signs of decay and rot; which means the fence is in trouble. We all know wood fences don't last forever but with care they should last a fairly long time. That being said, if you acquire a wood fence that has damage how do you fix it? How can you make it functional and give it a few more years of good life? This was the very question Mr. Fix-it and I found ourselves asking when we recently acquired 24 panels of stockade privacy fence that had seen better days. The price was right ($100 for all) and even though we could see there was some dry rot on the panels, we felt like the fence was salvageable so we bought it. Now the real fun begins-refurbishing all 24 panels.


This fencing was taken down by the previous owners who got it from another Craig's Lister. When they took the fence down they simply ripped the panels off from the poles and did not bother removing nails or anything. The first order of business was to do something with the awful long and jagged nails. I could have pulled them all out but that would have meant some boards would be broken and days upon days of work. I decided to simply cut the ends off containing the nails. In doing so I sacrificed about 8-10" of length per panel. I would have preferred keeping that length since the area I'm putting this fence is about 200 feet long but the ends of the 2x4s were rotten anyhow so it was simpler just to remove them, nails and all.

Once the nails were removed I stood up the panels (as best I could) and then pondered on how to get the lichen and moss and discoloration off from the wood. At first I thought a good scrubbing and some wood or deck cleaner would work, but no it did not. The next thing I tried was our nearly fifteen year old never been used by me pressure washer. Wow! Pressure washers work pretty well when they are not leaking and shorting out circuits! The pressure washer was really the only way to restore the wood panels and get rid of all the character of the wood. Do you see the difference between the two panels above? It is quite a difference and while I won't go so far as to say the panels now look new, they do look pretty good. I used a wood cleaner that is biodegradable prior to pressure washing but honestly, I saw no difference when I used the cleaner versus when I didn't. The pressure washer did the trick. It has taken me about 30-40 minutes per panel to pressure wash these panels. As of this date not all are done but I am slowly working on it.




After pressure washing a few panels I would stand the panels up so they could dry a good three or four days. The dried wood really soaked up the water from the pressure washing. I knew at this point that if I did not seal the wood I'd soon have the same situation; lots of 'character' on my hands when the fence panels began deteriorating again. Therefore, I decided to use a solid color wood fence stain to seal the wood. I choose the solid color stain made by Behr because I've used it before and just love it! The solid color stain goes on just like paint but soaks into the wood and has a 15 year warranty on vertical surfaces such as a fence. The stain really lasts and is most easy to apply. The solid color hides any remaining blemishes on these fence panels so it is best for my use, but Home Depot also sells a semi-transparent stain for wood fences. The color I chose; which if you are a soldier who has been to Iraq it is a funny color and one you would not think I'd choose; is "Desert Sands". The joke is on me. For those who do not know it I went to Iraq a few years ago and I loathe the color of the desert when it is all you see. It is dirty and dusty and I did not enjoy that part of Iraq. The color name reminds me of my experience but I'm not holding it against it because the color is perfect here in my garden. You can see the desert sand in the last photo above. This is what color the whole fence will be when complete. I have finished pressure washing about two thirds of the panels, painted about one third and still have a lot to go before I can even begin installing the fence but I'm well on my way to creating some new character on this old fence by reusing it....


in the garden....

Have you ever reused privacy fence panels, and if so, what tricks do you have for making them work for you? 


 
Words and Pictures Property of In the Garden Blog Team, 
 
In the Garden

28 comments:

  1. Great find! You are a master at craiglist shopping! This is exactly what I did to my fence! Only I went with purple solid stain~it's a better choice then paint any day! gail

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  2. Lots of work here - but what a fine outcome! This sounds like "our style"! Sweat equity - as some call it!

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  3. I've never redone a fence but it looks like you have a good start on yours! I would love to have scored a fence like that for $100! I do agree with Gail though that staining is probably the way to go. It may fade but it won't chip like paint.

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  4. Gail, I just love that stain you have!

    Rebecca, Sweat equity indeed-I can't wait to be done. More staining today and the cycle goes on.

    Dave, We just lucked out. You never know with Craig's List you must check it alot. I've seen other privacy fences folks give a way-you take down. Luck of the draw.

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  5. What a good find and at 100 dollars. Old fence ooze character.

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  6. I love old fences! I salvage anything I can. Especially old windows. I have around 100 now. I plan to build a greenhouse and cold frames with them.

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  7. Old fences (wooden or the old or new stone ones) and barns do have tons and tons of character. All the hard work you do also tells us of your great character!!!

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  8. Got to love a pressure washer, best money spent especialy for vinyl siding.
    I'm surprised you haven't used yours for your decking.
    I have that small 1 foot split rail with a large 3 part in the back yard, I love them just for the looks.
    I'm the incredible shrinking lady lately, lots weigh loss! Yah! Happy fer me, have to post on it sometime!

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  9. GWGT, Oh yes, gotta love those old fences and the price for sure.

    Michelle, You are going to have quite a greenhouse when it is all said and done. that is a whole lotta windows. I have a few here if you ever get to Tennessee I'll give you. I save them too but not for a greenhouse. I do crafts and paint them. When a local company was replacing windows they removed a lot of wood casing windows-great shape too. I took them off their hands plus have picked up a few others here and there. Folks really want to get rid of them.

    Mom, Thanks! It's taking time but worth it. Looks like my neighbor might be moving sooner than we thought. Definitely need to get it done before she leaves. I'll miss her so much.

    Dawn, CONGRATS! Though I must say that getting sick is not an enviable way to lose weight. Please stay well. Mr. Fix-it has used it to scrub the deck. Me, I wash the vinyl siding with a scrub brush and hose. I think the pressure washer can cause more damage when water gets up under the siding so I've never used it there. It is kind of relaxing on the ladder scrubbing the siding with bleach believe it or not. I need to do it again as it has been about 4 years now. It takes about a week but nice when done. Our pressure washer is a cheapo and I broke it a few times while doing the panels. I do not trust it at all. Good thing Mr. Fix-it is so forgiving for all the things I break because he fixes them and that takes time.

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  10. Great way to save some $ as well as recycle those old panels. What a difference a power washer makes huh? I love ours, thank goodness I let hubby talk me into buying it. lol ;)

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  11. Hi Tina! I was just lamenting to my husband about a shabby/deteriorating fence we share with our neighbor...maybe it just needs a little love! Now I'm thinking maybe it just needs some love and a new COLOR!

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  12. I love old fences too. I'll buy anthing if it is old, rusty and has the paint peeling off. Birdhouses are great made from old fences-don't you think?

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  13. I've been wanting a power washer but can't justify it. You sure are resourceful and I love how you don't waste anything and put it all to good use. You sure aren't lounging around during your winter break from gardening either!

    btw, thanks for the heads up about where you got the great Amaryllis deal. I'm headed to mine today to see if they have any on clearance. Even tho I don't need any more bulbs, if I could find them as cheap as you did, I would just use them as a winter display then toss....(since they are probably 'Red Lion' or 'Apple Blossom' right?)

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  14. Racquel, Those power washers are sure something alright. I am liking it but hope I never have to use it again. Only 6 panels left to wash and paint!

    Cat, Power washing and staining a fence is a really BIG job but makes all the difference in the world. The solid color stain comes in SO many colors and is really easy to go on and will make the fence last. I considered spraying the stain on but you lose so much to the air that I am using a brush and roller. It is is not a big deal at all so if you have a short fence with little or no vegetation in the way refurbishing might just be the ticket. Let me know if you do so and if it is hard. I have a fence that is already up that I'd like to stain but am intimidated by all the length and shrubs in the way.

    Linda, Birdhouses made out of fence boards are fantastic. I love the rustic types a whole bunch. I might mount some on here once the fence it up but I have another idea too so we'll see how it goes for decorating.

    Kathleen, I hope right after Christmas I can have the fence done and can relax-finally. I have a few garden projects to do in the garage and some photo organizing but generally am looking forward to a month off-come February it all starts over. A good thing I guess. If I ever find those bulbs on sale I'm buying them all and sending them to you! They were not only Red Lion-a couple of different kinds. I should've kept the boxes but didn't:( Hope you find some.

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  15. Tina what a fantastic find! I just love old fences. I guess I pretty much love everything old. But fences and old sheds are great. Looks like the pressure washer did the trick. I got one for Bob a couple of years ago and would like to use it myself but haven't had time I was so busy this last summer ~ but I will.

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  16. Lots of work but worth it.
    Like the use of the word "character"...it makes imperfections and aged something of value...like me. :)

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  17. Thanks for the offer Tina! I never made it today ~ I ran out of time. Hope to get there tomorrow. I'm even more excited knowing there were more variety in the bulbs than I thought!

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  18. Pressure washers are wonderful aren't they! Imagine how long it would have taken if you'd used an electric sander on them, which would have been my first thought! The stain looks as if it will make a good foil for plants Tina, look forward to seeing it up. Great salvage job!

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  19. Interesting.. and to answer your question I had a privacy fence that got brokien into kindling by a small tornado that just miss our old house. I collected the insurance, was given an old fence & in a similar manor to your experience and then power washed the gree gunk off it. My spouse wanted it painted redwood. Since it was my job and said NO and proceeded to do nothing further with it on the theory I liked the "weathered look." :)

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  20. What a great job you've done so far, Tina! I know this must be a lot of work, but the end results will be worth it. This will look beautiful.

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  21. Linda, Those pressure washers sure make short work of dirty fences and things. Hopefully next summer will not be too awfully busy and you'll be feeling great. I suspect you will.

    Patsi, Me too! Love that old character huh?

    Kathleen, I will for sure be on the look out for you now.

    Janet, I considered a sander too! It probably would've been better for the fence but the fence is salvage so why bother. Oh boy I would never have finished. As it is I'm still not finished with these and I've them over a month. Getting close though.

    Troutbirder, Nothing wrong with the weathered look at all-lots of character just like you! I hope no other tornadoes come through to take out the new old fence.

    Rose, My mantra is overdo it to get it really right the first time then you can forget about it forever. Unfortunately that hasn't worked for me. You know like cleaning my house. I clean really good and dust and all and try to forget about it but gosh it never works!! We'll see if the fence will let me forget about it-hope so!

    Everyone have a great weekend. We'll still be decorating, putting up our tree and waiting for the snow to come.

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  22. Wow what a difference. We keep looking at pressure washers, with all the decking and docks, we will need to stay on top of cleaning and resealing the wood.
    You do have a knack for finding deals!

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  23. Janet, I wish we had researched pressure washers. We bought ours on a trip back to the states from Germany many many years ago and it is finicky. Leaks all the time and everything. It is a big purchase and one you want to be sure of when you get it. I think if I had to do over I would get one from a pawn shop and be sure I checked it thoroughly online and in person. Less fittings is good because they seem to leak though Mr. Fix-it has ours fixed pretty good now-I hope.

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  24. That reminds me how long it's been since I used my steam cleaner. So effective and chemical free! But I haven't gotten it out in ages.

    We have a wooden privacy fence that looked great when we got it but is grey and weathered now. I may steal some of these techniques!

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  25. You are so resourceful, Tina! All of your hard work is definitely worthwhile and the wood was a real find! I like the color you've chosen for the stain. We have a power washer that my husband has used on our deck, siding and front sidewalk and it's great to have. We have a split-rail fence which is really hard to power wash and/or stain, due to so many narrow boards/rails. Maybe you could come for a visit and do your magic?! Free room and board:-) Nah, just come for a visit...I won't make ya work.

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  26. We salvaged fencing from a house that was being torn down. It was pressure treated wood and so I did not have to clean or stain it. We used these salvaged fence boards to build the fence at the very back of the yard. Sadly, we ran out of materials and so had to add new boards into the mix. These new boards are not as aged as the old ones and so now there are two different colors of boards. Hopefully in a years time the color difference will disappear. The savings makes the wait worth while.

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  27. Jen, those pressure washers sure are great!

    Jan, If I ever make to VA I'll be sure to give you an email ahead of time. I'd love to meet you! I was thinking of you the other day. My son says he is going back to his hometown of Heidelberg. Little does he know that just because he was born there does not make it his hometown-that is of course reserved for our little town here. But I remembered you took your kids back. We may do the same someday.

    Jennifer, You are so lucky to have been able to salvage the fence. And saved a mess that would otherwise have gone to the dump. Outstanding! I think the new board and old boards will mesh soon. Adds character in the meantime!

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  28. I have to laugh at your comments about the sand color... I have a retired Army friend that does not own one piece of green clothing. She said she had enough of green clothes in her 20 year career. LOL...

    I love old fences and their character but as you say, they are slowly decaying. If you want those to last for many more years, you must do as you say in this blog. Hum, I wonder just where that fencing is going to be placed….

    Girl, I love our pressure washer! We use it on fencing, house siding, shed, sidewalks, brick walls, swings, etc. The best thing is; you do not have to use any chemicals as the water does the trick!

    Your fencing looks brand new after your hard work….

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