THIS weekend is meant to be the end of the gorgeous Indian summer we’ve been experiencing, and most of us will likely be enjoying the rays with our feet up.
But according to one DIY whizz, it’s actually the perfect time to get a nifty job done that could end up saving you thousands of pounds over the coming months.
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According to one expert at the home improvement retailer and garden centre Wickes, this coming weekend could be the final chance to carry out some vital fence maintenance.
He suggests that painting your fence with a specially-formulated treatment, available from Wickes for just £8, is a must before the colder months again.
“Fences are essential,” the DIY guru states; “They allow you to enjoy your garden in privacy and provide security keeping pets, children and your property safe.”
“However British weather is known to give wooden fences a battering, especially in winter.”
Treating your fence with a protective wood stain massively reduces the risk of them “succumbing to the elements in winter”.
According to Checkatrade, replacing the average fence will set you back between £500 and an eye-watering 3.7k.
It’s not just the cost of wooden panels – you’ll also need posts and fence caps, and likely a team to help you install it if you want it to be properly sturdy.
Given that each terraced house has approximately 10 panels for which they’re responsible, the Wickes whizz suggests that replacing the whole fence might cost the average homeowner a jaw-dropping £3.3k.
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So if a simple treatment can help you avoid that, you could save yourself thousands in the coming months.
And luckily, this weekend is “the perfect time to take advantage of the warm, dry weather” and get your DIY on, he adds.
To carry out the treatment, the garden guru advises first using a stiff brush to rid any dirt or debris.
You’ll also need to remove any old nails or screws, and a pressure washer might be in order if your fencing is particularly dirty.
You then want to paint the hard-to-reach areas and edges with a brush to get them looking neat, before coating the rest with a large roller or a power sprayer.
Leave the first coat to dry, and then apply a second layer to get your gardenware in as pristine a state as possible.
Not only will it mean that your fence is less likely to fall apart when it gets frosty and blustery – it will also reduce the risk of mould and algae which can damage the structure and stability of the wood.
So while we’ll all want to enjoy the last of the rays this weekend, it will be well worth setting the time aside to give your fence a once over.
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