‘You’ll return to a wall of green moss, mould or algae’ warns expert on why you should never jet wash your fence
WONDERING how you can get your garden fence looking spick and span without ruining it?
Well, experts have warned to steer clear of one popular hack and shared a 60p trick you can use instead.
With an increase in wet, warm weather, many of us will be looking to bring our fences back to their best – with a mid-season clean, ahead of hosting friends and families.
However, for ease and speed many homeowner will be tempted to grab the jet washer from the shed or even shell out for a brand new piece of kit.
But the DIY experts at Armstrong Cheshire Timber have issued homeowners a warning to reconsider this approach – and provided a much cheaper and simpler approach to achieve outstanding results.
Simon Wardle, fencing expert, advised to use “Hot soapy water and a scouring brush or an old hard brush” to clean up any dirt, whilst keeping the fence panels in good condition.
The best part about this hack is you’ll probably already have some washing up liquid at home.
But if not, you can get your hands on some for as little as 60p from most supermarkets.
How can it damage your fence
According to the founder of Armstrong Cheshire Timber: “Pressure washers can cause damage to the timber panels; by stripping away the surface of the wood, causing erosion and splintering.
“It can also create problems down the line when it comes to painting the timber fence panel.”
And the problems don’t end there.
If you soak your wooden fence panels and they don’t have chance to dry you run the risk of returning to “
If you soak your wooden fence panels and they don’t have chance to dry you run the risk of returning to “a fence full of green moss, mould or algae.”
“If your fence is painted or stained, a pressure washer can strip away the protective coating, making the wood vulnerable to weathering and requiring more frequent care.
“Nobody wants to spend their summer painting and maintaining their perimeter fences.”
Finally, power cleaners can often leave your fence looking uneven, according to the pro.
“This can result in a patchy appearance that might require additional cleaning or sanding to even out,” Simon said.
Expert’s advice if you really want to use a pressure washer
- Always test first: If you do decide to use a power cleaner, test it on small, hidden areas, such as behind a shed, or out of sight behind a tree.
- Low Pressure: Use the lowest pressure setting possible and keep the spray nozzle as far away from the fence as possible.
More gardening trends experts have slammed
Single use outdoor spaces
While outdoor kitchens and pizza ovens in the garden are all the rage, you’re limiting yourself by having an area for just one use.
Instead, why not go for something multifunctional – like a garden seating area that doubles up as storage.
Large water features
While still popular, water features can be an absolute nightmare to look after.
And, with the cost of living crisis showing no sign of disappearing any time soon, having a water feature in the garden could add unnecessary costs to your household bills.
A bird bath is a good alternative, and has the added benefit of attracting wildlife to your garden too.
Shower curtains for decoration
The mum trend of putting up shower curtains up in the garden to hide fences or ugly surfaces went viral a while ago.
But experts have warned that the shower curtains can prove a problem if they don’t dry properly after a wet spell – leading to mould and potential damage.