How to Get Rid of Green on Wood Fence?
When your wood fence is green it can be a major eyesore. It can also cause problems down the road if left untreated. If you want to keep your fence looking the best it’s important to get rid of the green as quickly as possible.
(Looking for”6ft metal fencing repair“? Contact us Today!)
The main reason your fence turns green is due to mold, mildew or algae growth on the wood. This is caused by water retention in the pores of the wood which allows micro-organisms a place to grow. This usually occurs in areas with a damp or humid climate or dark areas where the wood doesn’t dry out quickly.
To get rid of the green algae or mold you’ll need to wash the fence with a bleach solution. You can either use a power washer or just dip a scrub brush into the mixture and gently scrub off the algae spots. It’s also important to make sure you wear rubber gloves, work clothes and close-toed shoes when working with the bleach solution to avoid skin irritation.
Another method that works well for getting rid of the green algae is using a spray bottle of vinegar mixed with water and applied to the fence. This is an environmentally friendly and safe way to get rid of the green. However, this method does require scrubbing and can be time-consuming.
Adding baking soda to the vinegar mixture will help break up and remove stubborn algae and mold. You may also need to adjust the vinegar-to-water ratio based on how much green algae or mold you’re trying to remove from your fence.
If you don’t want to use a pressure washer or a bleach solution you can simply spray a vinegar mixture (one cup of plain white vinegar to a gallon of water) on your fence and leave it to sit for a few minutes. After a few minutes, scrub and rinse the fence. It’s also important to make sure that you have everything removed from your fence and out of the way before scrubbing.
Once you’re done scrubbing you can apply a sealant or primer to prevent the bacteria from coming back in the future. But, before you do this you need to make sure that all the green algae, mold or mildew is completely gone from your fence. If you do leave some of it behind, it will continue to grow under the sealant or primer and cause more damage.
Sanding the fence will help to reduce surface grit that can harbor bacteria and mold. This is especially true if your fence has been stained or painted. If you haven’t already, you can stain or paint the fence after scrubbing to help prevent it from turning green again in the future.
Heat treating your fence can also prevent the fence from turning green again by sealing the wood’s pores. This can be done in a DIY manner with a heat gun or purchased from your local home improvement store.
