Is metal fence easier to maintain than wood?

Fences help in defining property lines, adding security, and landscaping outdoor areas. When it comes to choosing between a metal fence and a wood fence, the effort for maintenance in the long run must also be taken into consideration alongside cost. Maintenance of wood might be more extensive than metal, and it might require a lot of time, effort, and cleaning. Metal Guardrails, a marketer of high-quality metal fencing solutions, custom builds long-lasting metal fences that ensure the need for maintenance is dramatically lowered. For this reason, it is also important to take note of the maintenance that wood and metal fences require. Maintenance differences involve aspects such as, the need to repairs, cleaning times, and the need for weatherproofing. This information should help in deciding a more hassle-free option. 

Repairing and Replacing Fences Due to Weather: Metal Fences Stand Strong

Weather will always be a mortality factor of fences and is unavoidable, and the wood fences also have disadvantages. Weathering means that the rot and mold will develop. Metal fencing avoids this situation. A wood fence will be damaged by the rain, extreme temperatures, and humidity. After the rain, wood will soak in and develop rot and mold, then concluded with frost the wood will crack. For this reason, a fence must be protected with a seal and paint every 1-2 years which is time-consuming and expensive.

In contrast, Metal Guardrails utilizes galvanized steel or aluminum alloys to manufacture fences. These alloys develop protective rusting, which means fences won’t rust or oxidize, even during heavy rainfall, humid weather, or salty coastal areas. Metal fences only need simple annual inspections to check for minimal damages; no need for frequent sealing or painting. The fences’ strong weather resistance ability significantly lowers maintenance work, thus making it more convenient to care for than a wooden fence.  

Cleaning Your Fences: Metal Fences Are Easier to Clean  

Regular maintenance is essential for fences to avoid looking unkempt, and metal fences are certainly more convenient to clean than wooden fences. A wooden fence contains porous surfaces that attract and trap dirt, debris, and dust. These contaminants seep deep into the fibers, making it a challenge to remove. Cleaning a wooden fence involves scrubbing, using special wood cleaners, and power washing. Excessive water, however, can loosen the surface and encourage wood rot. Metal fences are less maintenance because they are smooth, non-porous surfaces that encourage dirt and debris to fall away.To clean your Metal Guardrails metal fence, spend only 15-20 minutes: simply take a garden hose and rinse off the dirt on the surface, then get a soft cloth, dip it in soapy water, and remove the tough stains. After, rinse it off with clean water. A metal fence’s smooth surface dries off fast. There’s no moisture buildup compared to a wooden fence, which can eventually get mold. Homeowners really appreciate metal fences because the cleaning process is significantly easier and more time efficient!  

Metal Fence Avoids Pest Damage  

Pest damage is a common problem with wooden fences, but it is a total fallacy to say that metal fences experience pest damage. With wooden fences, you have to worry about termites, carpenter ants, and wood borers infesting the fence. When that happens, the fence will weaken structurally and homeowners will have to pay a fortune to pest control to fix the issue. Then the damage will need to be replaced, which removes the fence’s tension. Metal fences do not have pest damage. Metal fences do not provide food for termites, and metal is too tough for rodents to gnaw>

With a metal fence,  you don't have to worry about pest damage, while a wooden fence requires constant prevention of pest infestations. Unlike wooden fences, a metal fence's pest resistance means you don't have to worry about the wood pest maintenance routine.  

Metal Fences Have Fewer Repairs that Are Simpler to Make  

Fences can sustain damage over time from impacts, and a metal fence needs less and simpler repairs. When wood fences sustain damage, like broken boards or rotting posts, the posts or boards have to be completely replaced because the wood can't be repaired without visible differences. Plus, when replacing wooden fence sections, the old and new wood must match in color and texture, a very difficult task that often leaves a wooden fence looking very uneven. Unlike wood, fences from Metal Guardrails have highly durable and impact resistant metal. If fences do sustain damage, like scratches or dents, you can repair them by simply sanding the area and putting touch up paint.

In the case of more serious damage (like a rail that’s bent), it’s possible to take off the damaged portion and replace it on its own, and the new metal piece will connect and integrate with the other sections of the fence. The damaged sections of a metal fence can be repaired easily enough that a homeowner can do it, without needing to hire a professional—this is not the case with wooden fences which tend to have more complicated repairs that do require a skilled professional.  

The time it takes to maintain a fence will ultimately affect the long term costs of maintenance, and wood fences require more maintenance and don't last as long as metal fences. A wooden fence that is well maintained will last between 10 and 15 years, but it will also require maintenance in the form of cleaning every year, and sealing or painting it every other year. The fence will also require repairs to be done because of rot or damage done by pests. In time, the entire wood fence will need to be replaced. However, a metal fence from Metal Guardrails will last for 25 to 50 years. During that time, the fence will only require the occasional cleaning and light repairs. A galvanized steel fence will require painting every 5 to 10 years, which is much more time than the wooden fence. An aluminum fence will require painting even less than that.

A well-built, sturdy fence made of metal requires very little care, and will last a long tome, Whereas a wooden fence requires continuous upkeep, taking a larger toll of your time and money upkeep.  

Cost-Effectiveness in Maintenance: Metal Fence Saves Money Over Time  

In contrast to wood, metal fence provides a better return over time because of how little it costs to keep it maintained. This is because although wood may start with lower maintenance costs, they accumulate over time. That is because wood fences require costly sealants, paints, wood cleansers, and pest control services and having to replace rotted wood. Over just a 100ft fence, you might spend 200-500 per year and after 15 years, replacing would cost about 3000-5000. Metal fences cost more to install, but after that the only upkeep is a 100ft that costs 50-100 every year. Then, you would only need to replace the paint every couple of decades and that is it.  In other words, after 25 years having a metal fence, you would only need to spend 30-40% on upkeep and replacing costs than you would on a wood fence.

Metal fences save you money on upkeep while also minimizing the hassle. Homeowners understand the constant headache and the upkeep costs of maintaining wooden fences and prefer metal ones.