This type of paint is best when the weather is unpredictable since it only needs one to two hours to dry up.
Our Complete Guide on How to Stain Your Wood Fence
Staining is a great way to make your fence last longer, and it’s a fun DIY project to try if you want to change the look. Fences are very sturdy and great for offering more privacy and security to your home. Over time the wood can break, bend, experience wood rot, and lose its original shine.
Staining your fence will bring it back to life. Some stains can last 30 years or more, depending on the type of wood. Fence staining is a simple task with the right materials and instructions. Today, Carnahan-White teaches the complete guide on how to stain your wood fence.
Stain Your Wooden Fence in the Right Weather Conditions
Like many outdoor projects, weather plays a key role. You want to ensure your wood is completely dry before attempting to stain it. If you have just installed a brand new wooden fence , wait up to 2 weeks before staining. Hardwood is naturally porous and needs time to open up so the stain can penetrate deeper into the wood and absorb more color. If the weather is too hot outside, the stain will dry too quickly without blending correctly. If there is too much moisture in the air, the stain will bubble. Check the weekly weather to ensure it won’t rain the next day. If you are not sure the wood is dry enough, a wood moisture meter can help.
Your wood must be in good condition before staining. Repair any chips, cracks, loose boards, or nails. If some boards feel rough, you can sand them down for a smoother surface. If you are unsure about the condition of your wood, get a professional opinion if you want to learn how to stain your wood fence properly.
Pressure Wash Your Wooden Fence
Pressure washing your wood is the next step to ensure it is free of dirt and debris. Cleaning the wood is an optional step, but be warned you do not want to stain unclean wood. It affects the look of the fence if dirt gets clumped in the staining solution.
If you choose to clean your fence, try using a wood conditioner for thorough fence maintenance. After cleaning the wood, wait for it to dry completely before starting the process. In hot areas, it should only take a couple of hours. Use your moisture meter to check or wait it out.
Pros and Cons of Staining a Fence
A stain is likely to initiate changes in the composition of wood surfaces. This is because a stain seeps through the grain and blends in with the wood’s natural color.
Pros of Staining a Fence
Stain Preserves or Enhances the Wood’s Natural Features – Stains come in varying opacity, from clear to solid colors.
You can choose to keep the natural looks of the wood using clear to semi-opaque stains. Many homeowners prefer the unique texture and rich brown hues of their wood fence to stand out.
If you would like to see a pop of color that’s different from the wood, pick solid-colored stains. These are mostly available in primary colors.
Unlike paint, a solid-colored stain doesn’t cover up the natural texture or grains of the wood thus adding a rustic appeal.
Stain Slows Aging on Wood – It is only natural for wood to age, but a dull and damaged fence is not a good look. [Source: Publisher of Open Access Journals, Wood Surface Finishing with Transparent Lacquers Intended for Indoor Use, and the Colour Resistance of These Surfaces during Accelerated Aging]
Much like human skin, wood can age from too much sunlight. This is where a stain comes in handy. The stain acts as a barrier from harmful UV rays to prevent the color of the wood from fading or greying quickly.
Depending on your location, you may want to purchase a stain specially made for extreme heat.
A Stained Fence is Less Prone to Decay – It’s no secret that wood can be particularly susceptible to water. Rain, snow, and mildew cause wood to warp, crack, and rot. [Source: British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Wood Preservation on the Farm]
Applying stain on your bare wood fence prevents these problems from happening. It can also deter termites.
Stain is Easy to Apply – Applying wood stain is pretty straightforward. Most stains are a two-in-one combo of sealer and stain. If your wood is easy to work with, it only takes one coat to finish the job.
Cons of Staining a Fence
Not all Wood Can Be Stained – There are types of wood that are particularly resistant to stain. Wood that has tighter pores and uneven grain patterns will not absorb the stain. Some examples include birch and maple.
It Can Be Difficult to Re-stain – You have to be careful when choosing your wood stain. If you plan on re-staining to another color, keep in mind that you’ll first need to remove the top finish. Doing so would allow the easier absorption of the stain.
On another note, re-staining from dark to light wood stain can also be tricky.
Stain Takes a Long Time to Dry – Depending on the type of stain you use, some stains take two to three days to completely dry up.
For this reason, it’s best to schedule your project when the sun’s out to avoid the hassle of redoing it.
Pros and Cons of Painting a Fence
If you fancy fully opaque colors or if your stained fence needs a new look, you might want to consider painting your fence. Below are the advantages and disadvantages of painting your fence.
Pros of Painting a Fence
Paint Comes in a Variety of Colors – Unlike wood stain, you have the freedom to pick all kinds of colors when you opt for wood paint. This works in your favor if you want to customize and add a pop of vibrant color to your yard.
The all-time wood paint favorites include white, black, gray, and different shades of blue.
Paint Covers Your Fence’s Imperfections – Painting does a better job covering scratches, shallow and tiny holes, and uneven wood tone than stain.
This is especially helpful if you want to give a fresh and cleaner look to your old and weathered fence.
Paint containing mildewcides, when properly applied to a clean surface, should prevent mildew problems for some time- Daniel L. Cassens and William C. Feist, Finishing Wood Exterior
Paint Is Versatile – Paint adheres to many fence materials. Whether it be tight or open-pored softwood and hardwood or metal, paint can coat it all.
Cons of Painting a Fence
Paint Can Peel Off – A major drawback of paint is it can flake and peel off, leaving your fence looking patchy and messy.
This is why a primer on the surface is necessary before painting. This ensures higher pigmentation as the surface is prepped and lesser chances for the paint to peel off quicker than it should.
Paint Is a Toxic Hazard – The chemical content in exterior paints is high. These volatile organic compounds or VOCs may cause health problems according to the EPA with long-term exposure. It also stays in the soil for many years.
It’s a good idea to seek out low-VOC exterior paint options if possible. There are more expensive but low-VOC paints are available to purchase that produce fewer paint fumes.
Paint May Not Meet The Standards of an HOA – If you live in an area with a homeowners association they may have certain guidelines about painting your exterior areas. Make sure to check with the local CCRs or covenants, conditions, and restrictions to be in compliance and avoid wasting time and money.
Is It Better to Stain or Paint a Fence?
The choice of whether to stain or paint your fence ultimately relies on several factors, including the following:
Type of Wood. Rare and beautiful hardwood usually looks better when stained rather than painted. A stain allows the wood’s natural aesthetics to stand out with all its grains and texture.
Ask for samples if you plan to use a semi-transparent to opaque stain. Consider how it will look when it mixes with the natural color of the wood.
Surface Condition. Stain works great with new wood, whereas paint does a better job at covering cracks and holes on the surface of old wood.
Landscape and Design: Your fence should match your home exterior. Sometimes, a black-painted fence ties up all the design elements of your home better than a stained fence. Whether you have a stained or painted fence can also influence your decision for a harmonious backyard design.
Weather and Temperature Variations. Paint and stain are formulated to be weatherproof, but with slight differences.
Because stain seeps more into the wood, it allows the wood to breathe and allows moisture to move through the wood. However, wood paint serves as a better barrier against UV rays.
When comparing fence stain vs paint, it’s helpful to consider the specific area you live in. Paint provides better protection than stains against mold and sun damage and offers better rot resistance.
