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Tip
#16
Fences and Shutters
(continued)
Click
here for a printer friendly version of Tip-
Pg. 1-3, Pg
4-6
Maintenance
Tips
Maintenance
Tips for Your Outdoor Projects:
- Replace
rotted boards quickly. Rotted parts shift and wiggle, weakening
the entire structure. Also, dryrot spreads.
- Spray
hardware with WD-40 or a similar oil several times a year.
Make sure all moving parts get some exercise now and then,
even if they're just decorative.
- Vines
may look nice climbing over a fence or up the side of a
house, but they can ruin a paint job and eventually the
wood underneath. And you may have to damage the vine to
repaint or repair. Consider making separate trellises for
vines that will stand out a short distance away from the
house or fence.
- Don't
place your wood projects in heavily shaded areas. With too
little sun, wood retains moisture and begins to rot. Or,
when winter comes, the moisture will freeze and the wood
will split. If you see moss growing on the wood, it's time
to prune the surrounding trees and bushes.
- Unless
you build from cedar or redwood, or have treated the wood
above and below the ground, keep outdoor projects painted
or varnished. Remember, the thicker the finish, the better
the protection. One coat may last a few years; but if you
take time to apply two, the finish will last three times
as long.
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Introduction
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