It just so happens that every year I have to clean off this green stuff on my fence. I had tried several ways of getting if off before stopping and just finding the easiest answer. I don’t like to waste time when I can do it quickly the right way.
Fences turn green due to some type of algae, they turn black due to mold or mildew. These fungi and algae grow in areas of low sunlight and higher moisture. Simply scrubbing or brushing them off may not clean your surface and extra chemicals may be required for a long lasting solution.
There are a lot of answers out there when it comes to cleaning off your fence, but some constitute a lot of hard work like power washing or scrubbing but really don’t solve the problem as it will always come knocking at your once again in less than a few days. While it may be something that comes back each year do to things out of your control, there are very cheap and easy ways to make one application per year all that is required.
What Causes Algae Or Fungi Growth
Why is this happening to you and how can you stop it? Algae, mold and mildew all grow under very similar conditions, there is a difference in how to identify each though.Let’s talk about the different reasons it grows and some natural ways to keep it from coming back after you have done all the hard work to get rid of it.
Algae is a plant, while it does not have stems, roots or leaves it does use chlorophyl to produce food which is why it is considered a plant. It is most often seen growing in the water due to the fact that it thrives in moist environments. Light is required, unlike in mold or mildew, but it has to be followed by lots of shade. If left out in the sun all day on a hard surface it will dry up and die.
Mold and mildew are in the fungi. They also love moisture and, unlike algae, do not require any sunlight to grow. They can, however, live in sunlight which is why you may find yourself battling with it outside and inside, whereas it would be more rare to find algae growing in your house.
Natural factors may be effecting the growth of these organisms on your fence and there are long lasting solutions. Changing the environment will be this answer. No, I don’t mean the weather because as of yet no one can do that.
- Reducing the shading in the area
- Reduce moisture on the surface
- Kill the source of the spores or plant
These can be accomplished any number of ways depending on your situation. Pruning trees generally can reduce the shade or if you have installed shade than temporarily removing it while you are not relaxing under it could be the answer. Moisture on the surface is difficult to reduce on your fence, however if this were an issue of a deck, patio, shed or something of the like that you could go that route.
Killing the source is something we will talk about just below because it deserves a section all of its own.
Get Rid Of It Quick
Killing algae, mold and mildew can either be a long drawn out and incorrectly done process, or you can get it done in minutes and have the results last for the season. Yes, this is possible and I wouldn’t say it unless there was some type of video, picture and in person proof. It also may be a good idea to cover your plants if they are near your fence. This also may be part of your problem, but they might be important to you.
Whether your fence is black, green or any other color(caused by mold, mildew or algae of course) you have many options out there to get it off quick. 30 seconds cleaner appears to be the best thing to get fungi and algae off of wood surfaces. Notice I said wood, because while it does work on other surfaces, there are better products for things like house siding, pools, etc. I saw it used and decided then that it is better than anything I have, check out this video of a bunch of cleaners going head to head if you don’t believe me.
Now please don’t think I am just giving a shameless plug for something, I really think it works. If you absolutely can’t spend another dime then use a 1 to 4 parts bleach solution and spray it on. Apply the same way that I described before and you will get as good a result without every buying a cleaner as I think anyone can get. I like it less because 30 second cleaner actually has components that are different then bleach as well as it appears to just preform better.
The best applications involves spraying it on the fence and allowing it to sit for 10 minutes. After waiting, power wash the fence with a 40 degree nozzle if you have it(less than that can actually tear and damage the wood). Apply it one more time to make sure you got all the surface and leave it. Seems to easy to be true than don’t take my word for it. A very small bottle is not very expensive and if it works than it will save you a lot of time and money with a lot of other things that just don’t do nearly as good of a job or not at all.
If you’re wondering if a power washer is required, it is not. If you have it then I recommend it as it can remove any dead growth or cover causing your fence to sun bleach unevenly, but that may just be picky of me. You can just apply it, rinse it off 10 minutes later, then apply one more time to let it stay. Easy as that.
Can You Paint Over Algae Or Mold
DON’T DO IT!! I know I yelled there and no one likes that, but depending on your fence size you may have just spent a significant amount of money to paint or stain your fence and all of it would have been wasted when the green and black spots returned and you had to go back to step one.
By painting over the spores of mold or mildew you simply allow it to live in a dark, already moist environment. Yup, you guessed it, it will come back within a matter of months if just cleaned off and sealed in. If you are going to do it than spend a little extra money up front to get a great product that you will spend less to care for later rather than only putting in half the effort to put in significantly more than half later.
Clean it out as above and then apply your stain or primer coat once it has had the opportunity to completely dry. It is obviously preferable to do it prior to putting it up or taking it down to allow it to dry inside a shed, but that may be a luxury that very few of us have. Once the primer or first coat has dried, add a second coat of stain or your first coat of paint. At this point you are just trying to get it to the color you want. Once complete use a sealant to ensure no more moisture gets inside.
You will look back and thank yourself for doing this one right. Now, sit, relax and enjoy the view of a job well done.
Related Questions
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