Getting your fence and decking ready for winter

Autumn is the time to look at your fence and decking. A Leeds winter brings weeks of rain, the odd hard frost and the occasional gale, and small problems you can fix now in an afternoon can turn into a fallen panel or a soft board by spring.

Check the fence posts

Posts are what hold a fence up, and they usually fail at ground level, where the timber stays wet. Give each post a firm push. If it moves, or the wood at the base is soft when you press a screwdriver into it, it needs attention before the winter winds arrive. A leaning fence with a rotten post is the one most likely to come down in a storm.

Look at the panels and gravel boards

Check for split boards, loose panels rattling in their slots and gaps where a panel has dropped. A gravel board along the bottom keeps the panel off the soil and is much cheaper to replace than the panel itself. If yours have none, they are worth adding.

Clear the decking

Leaves left lying on a deck hold water against the boards, which encourages rot and makes the surface slippery. Sweep it regularly through autumn, and clear the gaps between the boards so the water can drain away. Move pots off the deck or stand them on feet so the boards underneath can dry.

Check the boards and the frame

Walk the whole deck and feel for any board that gives or bounces. Look for screws or nails that have lifted, and for black or soft patches. If you can see underneath, check the joists and make sure nothing is sitting in standing water.

A quick autumn checklist

• Push every fence post and note any that move
• Fix or replace loose and split panels
• Sweep leaves off the deck and out of the gaps
• Knock down or replace lifted fixings
• Scrub off green algae with a stiff brush
• Treat bare timber with a preserver on a dry day

Treat it while it is dry

Timber treatments need a dry spell to soak in, so early autumn is a better time than late. Clean the timber first, let it dry and follow the instructions on the tin.

When to call someone in

A loose panel or a single board is often a quick job you can do yourself. Rotten posts, a deck that moves underfoot or a fence that leans along its length usually mean the problem is in the posts or the frame, and patching the surface will not last. That is when it is worth having it looked at. Our fencing and decking page explains what we do, and a measure-up is free.