A little regular care keeps fences and gates strong and looking great. Here's what to check and when.
Created by jflgardens.co.uk
Fences and gates take a real battering from the British weather. A little regular maintenance — a check here, a tightened hinge there, a fresh coat of treatment — keeps them sound and looking good for years longer.
Once a year, walk your boundary and look for loose posts, panels that have moved, rusting hinges and rot at the base of posts. Catching a small problem early is always far cheaper than replacing a section that's fallen over.
Tighten screws and hinges, fix or replace damaged panels, and secure fence posts that have become loose in the ground. Repairing a single panel or post now beats replacing a whole run later.
Treat, stain or paint the timber regularly to keep moisture out — and pay special attention where posts meet soil, which is where rot starts. A fresh treatment every few years makes timber last dramatically longer.
Lubricate hinges and latches, and fix a sagging gate by adjusting the hinges or adding a support. A gate that opens and closes easily is safer, more secure and far less frustrating.
From garden maintenance to a full landscaping-style overhaul, the JFL Gardens team works across Surrey and London.
