How to Prepare a Fence Before Sealing

Whether you have a newly installed fence or an older one, you must seal it from the elements to keep it from rotting. Even if you used treated lumber and built the fence yourself, over time the wood will rot, although more slowly, if it isn't treated properly. Before sealing a fence, even if it is new, there are a few things that must be done before hand.

Water hose
Wood cleaner with mildew killer
Wood stripper
Scrub brush
Hammer or drill

Instructions

- 1
  Spray on a sealant remover if the fence has been sealed previously. This is to remove any remaining sealant that might keep the new sealer from soaking in. Fill a garden sprayer with the liquid and coat the fence.
- 2
  Let the stripper set on the wood according the the directions on the package, then scrub the fence with a brush to work it loose. Rinse the fence clean of the sealant remover when you are through.
- 3
  Rinse the sprayer out and fill it with a wood cleaner that has a mildew and mold killer in it. Spray the fence and let it sit the recommended amount of time. Scrub the slats to clean, then rinse thoroughly. Let the fence dry out for at least a day.
- 4
  Look over the fence for any loose nails or screws. Remove them and replace with new slightly larger hardware so that they don't slip out again. Use a drill to remove screws and the claw end of a hammer to remove nails.

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