VR Chen construction - Chicago's Reliable Fence Builders

In Chicago, the main culprit is our freeze-thaw cycle. Moisture gets trapped under the stain, then expands and contracts with temperature swings, causing peeling and cracking. Extreme summer sun also breaks down the stain's UV protectants. This is common on older wood fences that weren't properly prepped or sealed.

Look for minor bending or warping of gate panels, especially near the bottom edge where ice and snow pile up. You might also notice the gate doesn't latch smoothly, or hinges begin to squeak. In worse cases, you'll see small cracks on welded joints or the metal starting to rust in those stress points.

We start by stripping the old, failing stain and power-washing the wood to remove any rot or mildew. After the wood dries completely, we apply a high-quality, weather-resistant stain that's designed for Chicago's climate. We also offer a weatherproofing sealant to help prevent future moisture damage. For metal fences, we can repair ice-damaged sections by straightening bent panels and re-welding any broken joints.