Are you set on building a wood fence at your home, but your fencing contractor is recommending steel posts? You may wonder why you would use steel when so many wood fences use wood posts. Here is what you need to know about this technique that will make your wood fence even stronger.

Improved Longevity

Wood fences often need replacement because the post ends up failing. The wood either rots over time, has major insect damage, or just naturally fails. This is not a problem when using steel posts, since the material is durable and galvanized to prevent the post from rusting. This ends up causing the lifespan of the fence to greatly increase when compared to using a wood counterpart. 

Improved Strength

A steel post is going to be able to withstand some very heavy winds, which will help the fence last through even the toughest storms. While most people don't have to worry about winds that get up to 50mph, this can be reassuring to people that live in hurricane-prone areas who don't want to replace their fence posts if they break. The improved strength of steel posts also helps the fence last through gentler weather, like snow and wet seasons. 

Improved Warranty

When you use a steel fence post, you are going to get a warranty on the post in case it does become damaged over the years. This covers basic damage, such as if the steel breaks, warps, or bends on its own. A warranty is not something you typically get when you put in a wood post since wood is naturally more prone to breaking than steel. If you are planning to stay in your home for a long time and want to take advantage of a long warranty, consider using steel posts.

Improved Repair Savings

If your wood fence does become damaged, one of the most expensive parts to replace will be the fence posts. The pickets and horizontal rails of a fence are fairly easy and cheap to repair on your own, but the fence posts themselves are going to require a lot of labor to remove and replace. If you use steel from the start of the construction process, you won't have to worry about replacing a steel post down the road. 

Still not sure if you should use steel for your fence posts? Ask your fencing contractor for more information on why steel posts are superior to wood, and schedule a fence company to start installing your new fence.