How to Care for Your Wood Deck and Fence
By Chesterfield Fence & Deck Expert | August 25, 2026
Proper care is the key to maximizing the lifespan of your cedar fence or deck. Ultimately, whether you already own one or are planning a backyard upgrade, learning maintenance basics protects your investment.
Why Choose Wood for Your Fence or Deck Install?
First and foremost, choosing wood for your next fence or deck project provides exceptional long-term value due to its natural durability, insect resistance, and aesthetic appeal. Additionally, wood remains cool underfoot in summer heat and naturally boosts your property’s curb appeal and resale value, making it a highly profitable investment for homeowners.
Chesterfield Fence & Deck’s wood solutions:
If you want a dependable material for your yard, premium red cedar is naturally stronger and far more durable than most other lumber options. Because of this natural strength, it allows your outdoor structures to easily handle Missouri’s unpredictable weather without requiring any chemical treatments at all.
Specifically, this inherent resilience makes red cedar an exceptional choice for both fencing and backyard decking. Because the wood naturally repels boring insects, it successfully resists warping from seasonal moisture and easily survives extreme temperature swings. Additionally, a quality red cedar backyard solution demands far less long-term upkeep than other standard wood varieties. For instance, it never actually requires staining or sealing to maintain its integrity, ultimately providing homeowners with a reliable, low-maintenance, and visually stunning upgrade to their outdoor living space.
The Benefits of Chesterfield Fence & Decks’ Red Cedar Fence and Deck:
Natural Strength & Durability Missouri Weather Resistance Natural Pest Control Moisture Warp Resistance Low-Maintenance Upkeep 20-Year Lifetime Guarantee
If you are looking for durability, Ozark Timber Copperwood fences are made from locally harvested pine. Since this wood grows slowly at high elevations in the Ozark Mountains, it is naturally stronger than standard lumber. Therefore, the combination of slow-growth timber and copper naphthenate produces an incredibly long-lasting, natural wood fence.
Specifically, Ozark Timber is pressure-infused with a non-hazardous, heavy-duty blend of protective oil, copper, and naphthenic acid. As a result, this advanced formulation chemically repels wood-boring insects, extreme moisture decay, and wood-destroying fungi. Furthermore, it ensures the timber remains structurally sound over time.
Initially, Ozark Timber’s Copperwood fences look bright green when removed from the treating cylinder. However, they soon weather into a beautiful copper color, and eventually, the wood turns a classic silver-grey.
The Benefits of Chesterfield Fence & Decks’ Ozark Timber Copperwood Fencing:
Locally Harvested Pine Copper Naphthenate Infusion Advanced Chemical Protection Dynamic Color Evolution Eco-Friendly FormulationWhat are the best ways to care for your wood fence or deck?
The best ways to care for your wood fence or deck are by power washing your wood outdoor living addition. Annual power washing removes embedded dirt, environmental grime, and mold spores before they can degrade the wood fibers. To ensure your wood fence or deck lasts, the experts at Chesterfield Fence and Deck recommend not painting any wood surface.
Paint creates a rigid surface film that locks moisture directly inside the wood. Trapping this moisture leads to severe structural problems, including internal rotting, severe warping, twisting, and rapid wood decay.
Red Cedar Fence and Deck Care Guide:
Ozark Timber Copperwood Fence Care Guide:
When you invest in your home, you deserve complete peace of mind. For this reason, at Chesterfield Fence and Deck, we protect your outdoor living space with industry-leading, multi-decade warranty coverage.
For instance, your Prestige Eastern Red Cedar fence features a 20-year product warranty against rot, decay, and insect damage. However, to keep your cedar fencing looking beautiful and fully covered, simply keep heavy mulch, soil, or bark away from the fence pickets, since these materials trap moisture.
We believe labor warranties should go beyond the bare minimum. Specifically, while Missouri state law only requires a standard one-year labor warranty, we protect your investment with a comprehensive 5-year labor warranty from your project’s completion date.
Eastern Red Cedar relies on natural organic oils to resist rot, insects, and decay, offering a classic reddish-brown aesthetic. In contrast, Ozark Timber Copperwood is a heavy-duty timber pressure-treated with a specialized copper-based preservative, giving it a distinct greenish-brown hue and enhanced deep-fiber protection against severe ground-contact moisture.
No, they have distinct visual profiles. Eastern Red Cedar features a warm, rich tone ranging from pinkish-red to deep amber with a fine, consistent grain. Ozark Timber Copperwood has a lighter, rustic pine grain with a subtle greenish undertone from the copper treatment, which eventually fades into a warm, natural brown when exposed to sunlight.
Yes, but we do not recommend painting your Ozark Timber Copperwood because moisture can get trapped underneath the paint. This can lead to wood rot or blistering.
Choosing Chesterfield Fence & Deck to build your outdoor living space ensures you are working with a premier, locally trusted contractor that has served the St. Louis area for nearly 60 years. First and foremost, we specialize in installing fences, decks, sunrooms, screen rooms, patios, pergolas, windows, and doors.
Whether you’re looking to add a cedar deck or Prestige Cedar fence to your outdoor living space, our team specializes in transforming standard outdoor living spaces into high-end, functional retreats.
Furthermore, our expert installation crews are fully versed in local St. Louis building codes. We provide a seamless, stress-free construction experience from concept to completion.
Ultimately, our long-standing reputation is backed by an A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating and thousands of satisfied local homeowners. Therefore, investing in a Chesterfield Fence & Deck outdoor solution ensures maximum efficiency and an immediate boost to your St. Louis property’s resale value.
Give us a call and speak to our installation experts or visit our 25,000-square-foot showroom:
Visit: 620 Spirit Valley East Dr.
Chesterfield, MO 63005
Call: (636) 532-4054
Chesterfield Fence & Deck is an expert fence, deck, and outdoor living space installation company. With nearly 60 years of experience, you can ensure we are committed to quality and high standards of craftsmanship and customer service. Our office and showroom are located in Chesterfield, Missouri, where we are honored to serve homeowners in the St Louis, metro, and surrounding areas.
