Thomas
Anderson,#2Consumer Comment
Thu, May 10, 2007
so it won't rot and the bugs won't get it. But you also have to paint your wooden fence or the sun will burn it up into splinters in a few years. Cracks/slplits in the wood can be fixed with galvanized splice plates (Wal*Mart, Home Depot, Lowes...) if the cracks/slplits cannot be ignored. All you need is an 18V DeWalt 1/2 inch drill, a power screw bit (comes with the DeWalt), a box of drill bits, and some deck screws. The screws should be shorter than the wood is thick. Screw on the splice plates across the cracks as braces. It is easy work. Use a #2 pencil to mark hole placement through the splice plate holes and start drilling pilot holes (smaller than the screws) and then run the screws. It should be an easy morning. Shift the gate latch as required to get the gate to latch closed and install screws as above. I spent one afternoon bracing a 170-foot elevated walkway- drill pilot hole, hold bracing board in place, run screw with drill, repeat....
Shawangunk
Middletown,#3Consumer Comment
Thu, May 10, 2007
Actually what the owner is telling you happens to be true. Over time, the wood becomes weathered, boards and posts may splinter and/or become warped, gates may need adjusting as the fence settles, etc. This happens with all wood fences, especially in a humid climate such as in the southeast. For this reason, wood fences are harder to maintain than vinyl or chain link ones. You did realize at the time the fence was built that you would need to maintain it from time to time, didn't you? It is normal to need to adjust the gate and replace a few boards here and there. Unless you bought a special warranty from the fence company, they are not responsible for such maintenance.