It does not matter if you have a wood fence that is only a year old or one that is five or more years old, a fresh coat of stain will enhance your fence. A new coat of stain will make your fence last longer. The best stain to use is a semitransparent oil-based stain that is made for the outdoors. It will give you a quality professional look when finished. These professional stains will protect your wood fence from ultraviolet light, mildew and rot. The stain will give your fence an elegant natural look.
You will first need to collect some materials that you will need. If you already have a stain on your fence, you may need a stain stripper. This is optional depending on how bad the stain is on your fence now. You will need;
- Stiff bristle brush
- bucket
- bleach
- rubber gloves
- painter’s tape
- drop cloth
- natural bristle paintbrush
- oil-based wood stain
- clear, weatherproof wood sealant
There are other optional items that people will need when learning how to stain a fence, but these are the most common items needed for all fence staining jobs.
Before starting with staining your fence, do some ground work first. Check what the weather is going to be for the next week. You are going to want days between 50 and 80 degrees, low humidity and no rain in sight. Drying time can be prolonged by moisture or cold air. If it is to hot out, it could dry to fast and lap marks will be created. The best time to stain a fence is in the early morning.
If you need to strip your fence you will need other supplies. Not all fences need to be sanded or stripped. It is up to you as to what shape your fence is in. All fences will need to be cleaned before they are stained. Using a high-pressure hose should do the job well. If water beads form, you will need to lightly sand that area.
Take care of any mold or mildew spots with bleach that has been diluted with water. Repair cracks and chips in the fence using wood filler. Make sure you cover your plants close to the fence with a drop cloth.
With a natural bristle brush, dip it into the stain and use an up and down motion so the stain permeates the wood fence. Maintain a wet brush at all times. Do not forget to stain the edges. After the stain has dried you may want another coat. One coat should be enough for a new fence or one that you are also going to seal.
The last thing to do is to put on a sealant to protect your fence for a longtime. The sealant prolongs that fresh look to your finish on the fence. A good semitransparent stain can last any where’s between two and five years. Your fence will prematurely be aged by extreme temperatures and rain. To be safe, most homeowners know that they should stain their wood fences at least every two to three years. This will protect the sheen on your fence.