Proper Installation Is The Key To Avoiding A Warped Fence

When you install a new wood fence, the last thing you want is for it to look beat up and misshapen within a few months –– or even a few years. Unfortunately, there are many mistakes people make when installing a fence, and some of these may result in warped fence boards. As you probably know, wood absorbs moisture. As moisture is absorbed and released from the fence boards, they expand and contract. This process can cause them to warp, especially in damp areas. While you can't stop the wooden boards from expanding and contracting, you can do something that will help stabilize them and reduce the odds that they'll become warped or otherwise distorted.

When installing a wood fence, it is essential to place back rails to connect the boards to one another. Doing so will give more structure to the fence. With the boards better held in place, they won't be able to move and warp so easily. Beyond simply installing the back rails, you'll want to make sure that you use the right number of rails and put them in the ideal location based on the height of your fence. Read on to make sure you install your fence and rails correctly to avoid a warped fence.

Without back rails, also called backer rails, fence boards will be more likely to warp. These "rails" are wooden boards that run horizontally along the back of a fence, holding the vertical fence boards together to provide structure and stability. So, without them, the boards will be more likely to move and bend, especially when exposed to moisture. However, properly installing a fence isn't as simple as slapping up a back rail in the center of it. Instead, you must choose the ideal number of back rails based on your fence height and install them at the correct locations. Taller fences will need more back rails to prevent the long boards from warping. Use four back rails for 8-foot fences, three for 6-foot fences, and two for fences that are less than 5 feet. Make sure the upper and lower rails are no more than 8 inches from the top/bottom of the fence.

Properly installing back rails isn't the only thing to do to prevent fence damage. Warping is caused by wood expanding and contracting as it absorbs water. Sealing your fence will also be important to prevent the wood from absorbing water and protect it from UV rays, which can worsen damage. This added maintenance is one downside of wood fences. Wait to seal a fence until it has reached equilibrium moisture content (EMC) — the point where the amount of moisture in the boards is the same as that in the environment. This may take a few days to a few months, depending on the type of wood and the air conditions.