Fence Upkeep and Cleaning in Florida's Climate

A fence in Central Florida works hard for a living. Humidity, daily rains, storm season and mildew all take their turn at it. The good news is that keeping a fence looking good here is not complicated. It is a handful of simple habits, done a couple of times a year, matched to whatever the fence is made of. Here is a practical care guide from our side of the business.

The Florida Challenge: Mildew

The greenish or black film that shows up on shaded fence surfaces is mildew, and our climate grows it enthusiastically. Shaded yards, fences under trees, and the north-facing side of a fence are where it settles first, because those spots stay damp longest. Mildew is mostly a looks problem, but left alone for years it holds moisture against the surface, and moisture is what ages a fence early. Catching it early with a cleaning is much easier than restoring a fence that has been dark with it for seasons.

A Simple Cleaning Routine

For most fences, a garden hose, a soft brush and mild soapy water handle the whole job. Wet the surface, scrub gently with the soapy mix, and rinse well. Start from the top and work down so the dirt washes over areas you have not cleaned yet rather than ones you have. On stubborn mildew spots, a cleaner sold for that purpose works well, and it is worth testing any cleaner on a small hidden area first. A rinse a few times a year and a real scrubbing once or twice a year is a rhythm that fits Florida life.

Care by Material

Wood asks for the most attention, and rewards it the most. Keep mildew off, keep sprinklers from soaking the same boards daily, and renew the stain or sealant when the finish wears thin, which for most fences means every few years. Vinyl is the easiest of the group, since soap and water handle nearly everything and there is no finish to renew. Aluminum needs only the rinse and an occasional soapy pass, with a little care along the bottom edge where trimmers can scratch the coating. Chain link is the lowest maintenance of all, since there is nothing to paint or stain and the galvanized steel simply wants debris cleared off after storms.

Storm Season Habits

A few habits before and after storms save real trouble. Walk the fence line before hurricane season and look for leaning posts, loose boards and any hardware that needs tightening, because a weak spot gets weaker under stress. Trim back branches that overhang the fence so they do not come down on it. After a storm passes, clear debris leaning against the fence, check that gates still swing freely, and look over the line for anything shifted. Catching a small lean early is a repair, letting it go is a replacement.

Have a fence that needs more than cleaning? Call Discount Fence of Orlando at 407-612-6200 for a free on-site estimate. We serve homeowners across Orange, Seminole, Lake, Osceola, and Volusia counties.