Fence care

How to take care of your fence in Florida

Heat, humidity, salt air, storms and sprinklers are hard on any fence. A little routine care keeps it looking new — and keeps your warranty in good standing.

Our 10-year labor warranty applies when the fence is properly maintained. This is what that means.

A simple routine

Three habits that do most of the work

Every few monthsKeep an eye on it

Rinse it with a hose. Open and close every gate and check the latch. Trim plants back from the fence.

Twice a yearWash and walk the line

Wash it, tighten loose hardware and walk the whole line looking for a post that leans or has sunk. Spring and the end of hurricane season (December 1) are good times.

Every 2 to 3 yearsRefresh the finish

Repaint steel, polish stainless steel, and re-stain or re-seal wood. Vinyl and aluminum don’t need it.

By material

What each fence needs

Pick your fence. Every product also has its own warranty — see the warranty page.

Vinyl / PVC
  • Wash it a couple of times a year with a garden hose, mild dish soap and a soft brush or cloth, then rinse. Do it more often under trees or near sprinklers.
  • Green or black spots in the shade are usually mildew. A mild household cleaner and a soft brush take it off.
  • Skip solvents, abrasive pads and harsh chemicals; they can dull the finish. If you use a pressure washer, keep it on low, a few feet away, and don’t aim into the joints.
  • Vinyl doesn’t need paint, stain or sealer.
Aluminum and Dura Fence
  • Rinse with a hose and wash with mild soap and water. Rinse off salt and grit, especially near the coast.
  • The finish is warranted against chipping for 3 years. If you see chipping or peeling, take a photo and send it to us before you touch it up.
Wood
  • Wood is a natural product. Sun drying, small warps and hairline cracks are normal. The 10-year warranty on the pickets is against rot, which the chemical treatment prevents.
  • To slow weathering, stain or seal the fence. New pressure-treated wood needs time to dry first, so ask us when. Plan to refresh it every 2 to 3 years.
  • Keep soil, mulch and plants from piling against the bottom of the pickets, and keep sprinklers off it.
Steel and stainless steel
  • Steel has no material warranty because it needs upkeep. Repaint it every 2 to 3 years to keep rust from forming, and touch up scratches and chips right away.
  • For a rust spot: wire-brush it, wipe it clean, then apply a rust-inhibiting primer and paint.
  • Stainless steel doesn’t rust like steel, but it needs to be polished and maintained. Wipe it with a stainless cleaner and rinse off salt.
Chain link
  • Galvanized chain link needs very little. Pull vines and plants off it, check that the top rail and ties are secure, and look for places where the fabric has been pushed or cut.
Gates

The hardest-working part of your fence

Open and close every gate every few months. Check that the latch lines up with the catch, and put a little dry or silicone lubricant on the hinges and the latch. Don’t hang on a gate, push it open against its stop, or let it slam.

The first sign of trouble is a gate that drags, sags a little, or a latch that no longer lines up. That’s settling, and it’s normal on a gate that gets used. Don’t force it. Send us a photo: in the first year we adjust it at no charge, and after that, for the rest of your 10-year warranty, a tune-up is a discounted flat $100. A gate torn off its hinges or bent is priced as a repair. See what’s covered, or browse our gates.

Around the fence

What grows, sprays and drives near it

  • Plants. Keep palms, shrubs and vines trimmed back so they don’t lean on or push into the fence. Damage from landscaping that isn’t maintained, including a neighbor’s, isn’t covered, so a friendly word about overgrown palms next door is worth it.
  • Sprinklers. Aim them away from the fence. Constant spray leaves stains and mildew.
  • Soil and mulch. Keep them below the bottom rail so the fence isn’t sitting in damp ground.
  • Mowers and cars. Keep a few feet clear. Impact from vehicles and equipment isn’t covered by the warranty.
After a storm

A few steps before you call anyone

  1. Stay clear of leaning or downed sections until it’s safe.
  2. Photograph everything before you move anything. Your homeowner’s insurance may cover storm damage.
  3. Prop up leaning panels so they don’t fall, and call us for a repair quote. Wind and storm damage isn’t covered by the workmanship warranty, but we don’t raise our prices after a storm.

Something not right?

A post that leans or sinks, a gate that won’t latch, chipping on the finish while it’s under warranty, rot on wood. Tell us early — it’s usually a simple fix. Call (813) 443-0771 or log it online.

Sign in and log a repairSee the warranty
Questions

Fence care questions, answered

How often should I clean a vinyl fence?
Two or three times a year is plenty: a garden hose, mild soap, a soft brush, then rinse. Clean it more often under trees or near sprinklers, where mildew shows up faster.
Does a vinyl fence need to be painted or sealed?
No. Vinyl doesn’t need paint, stain or sealer. A wash a couple of times a year keeps it looking new.
How do I keep a steel fence from rusting?
Repaint it every 2 to 3 years and touch up chips and scratches right away. Steel has no material warranty because it needs this upkeep. Stainless steel needs to be polished and maintained.
How do I fix a sagging gate?
A gate that sags or won’t latch usually needs its hinge adjusted, or its post has settled. Don’t force it. Send us a photo: in the first year we adjust it at no charge, and after that, for the rest of your 10-year warranty, a tune-up is a discounted flat $100. See what the warranty covers.
Does the fence warranty require maintenance?
Yes. Our 10-year labor warranty applies when the fence is properly maintained, which means the routine on this page: keep plants trimmed back, wash it, keep up the finish on steel and wood, and tell us early when a gate or post starts to move. Read the full warranty.
What should I do after a hurricane?
Stay clear of leaning or downed sections until it’s safe, then photograph everything before you move anything (your homeowner’s insurance may cover storm damage). Prop leaning panels so they don’t fall, and call us for a repair quote. We don’t raise our prices after a storm.

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