Fence Maintenance Tips for Spring in Oregon and Washington

Spring in the Pacific Northwest means more sunshine, so it’s the perfect time for seasonal fence maintenance in Oregon and Washington. While you may be eager to dig into gardening or refresh your landscape, don’t overlook your fence—it likely endured many days of harsh weather over the winter months. Regular maintenance is important because it can protect your wood or vinyl fencing from moisture damage, moss, and other common issues.

In this guide, we’ll cover why spring is the perfect season for fence maintenance, give you an inspection checklist, and provide tips for cleaning, DIY repairs and maintenance, and finding local contractors.

Now that warmer weather has arrived, it’s time to inspect your fence thoroughly. Grab your coffee, put on your boots, and use this quick checklist to spot common fence issues:

• Walk the perimeter.
  Stroll around the fence and take a good look. Notice any signs of trouble—leaning posts, sagging sections, or visible damage.
• Check fence posts carefully.
  Gently push on each post. If it moves or feels wobbly, it probably needs reinforcing or replacing. And remember Rick’s offers metal posts as an option to wood.
• Look for rot and moisture damage.
  Inspect areas near the ground where wood meets soil, where rot usually begins. Poke gently with a screwdriver; soft, flaky wood means trouble.
• Inspect boards and rails.
  Run your hand along the fence boards, feeling for warping, splits, cracks, or splinters. These are signs of damage, and that your boards should be replaced sooner rather than later.
• Spot mold, mildew, and moss.
  If you see greenish or black stains, that’s mold or mildew from the wet winter—plan to pressure-wash or scrub clean soon to avoid permanent staining or wood damage.
• Check all hardware—nails, screws, hinges, latches.
  Tug gently at fence sections and gates. Listen for rattles and squeaks, and tighten or replace rusty, loose, or missing hardware.
• Open and close gates repeatedly.
  Gates should swing freely without dragging. If they don’t, adjustments or new hinges may be needed.
• Look closely for signs of pests. 
  Inspect wood closely for tiny holes, sawdust piles, or insect trails indicating termites or carpenter ants. Call a pro quickly if you spot these signs.
• Check for leaning sections. 
  Stand back and observe the fence line. Sections leaning outward or inward indicate weakened posts or unstable ground conditions—address these quickly before they worsen.
• Make a simple action list.
  As you inspect, jot down notes on what needs fixing. Tackling small issues now can prevent bigger (and pricier!) repairs later.

Once you’ve created a list of what needs maintenance, it’s time to begin working on repairs. With a few tools and a little effort, you should be able to handle any minor issues.

Replace damaged fence boards or pickets

Before you remove fence boards or sections, you’ll want to make sure you have their replacements. Start by taking inventory of what needs replacing, then order what you need from a local fence board supplier. Once you have the replacements on site, you can take these simple steps:

• Gather your supplies: Grab replacement fence boards, a hammer or cordless drill, galvanized nails or weatherproof screws, a tape measure, and a saw.
• Remove damaged boards: Carefully pry off the damaged pickets or fence boards. If stubborn nails remain, pull them out gently to avoid splintering neighboring wood.
• Cut and install replacements: Measure the opening, cut your new fence boards to the correct length, and attach them securely. Use galvanized or stainless-steel screws or nails to resist rust.
• Finishing touches: If your fence is stained or painted, treat the new boards to match. It’ll look seamless—and no one will notice your quick fix.

Tighten or replace hardware

After you’ve made any panel replacements, you can tackle small maintenance issues such as:

• Check hinges, screws, and gate latches: These small parts often loosen or rust, especially after a wet PNW winter. Give your gates and fence panels a gentle shake to spot loose components.
• Tighten up: Grab your screwdriver or drill and tighten screws that have loosened. Replace rusty hardware—local hardware stores have weather-resistant replacements for outdoor conditions.
• Oil moving parts: Applying a bit of lubricant or WD-40 to hinges and latches helps keep gates swinging smoothly and quietly all year.

Re-secure fence posts after heavy rains

If you have leaning fence posts, they should be addressed, as they can affect the fence’s integrity or be signs that your fence may need major repairs or replacement. Start by giving your posts a gentle push; if they move, they need reinforcing.

Pack gravel or small rocks around the base of any loose posts to apply a temporary fix. For a longer-lasting repair, dig around the post about 6-8 inches deep, realign it straight, and fill the space with quick-setting concrete. While these fixes may provide fixes, you may want to get an opinion from a fencing contractor before the structure of your fence is beyond repair.