Building Fences Right

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Building Fences Right

Fences aren't cheap. Here's how to make one last years. By Sherri Dalphonse

Want a better price on a fence? Install it in late fall, says David Doss. Photograph by Chris Leaman.

Comments () | Published April 8, 2011

Want to make a wooden fence last? The trick is to keep moisture away, says David Doss, president of Expert Fence:

“A lot of people ask us to bury the fence boards in the ground, and we won’t do that,” Doss says. “People think that will keep critters out of their yard, but critters will come in anyway.

“The fence needs to be free and clear of anything that’s going to help it retain moisture—moisture control is the biggest thing people can do for longevity. Keep the grass trimmed below it, keep off ivy and other plants, and don’t have the boards come in contact with the ground.”

This feature first appeared in the March 2011 issue of The Washingtonian.