Fence Staining and Painting

Fence staining and fence painting

Safe Choice Painting stains and paints wood fences across North Texas and southern Oklahoma, from privacy fences along a back lot line to picket fences in front yards and board fences around acreage. A fence is washed, dried and checked, then stained or painted on one side or both.

It is often done in the same visit as an exterior painting job so the colors work together.

Stain or paint: which suits your fence?

Stain soaks into the wood. It shows the grain, it does not peel, and when it wears it fades evenly, so the next coat goes on without scraping. Paint sits on top as a film. It hides the wood completely and can last longer between coats, but when it fails it cracks and peels and has to be scraped before the next coat. A fence that has been painted usually stays painted; a fence that has been stained can switch to paint later.

Transparent, semi-transparent or solid stain

• Transparent stain adds a little color and water repellency and shows nearly all of the grain. It needs recoating soonest.
• Semi-transparent stain tints the wood while the grain still shows. It is the most common choice for cedar and pine privacy fences.
• Solid stain covers like a flat paint but still soaks in. It evens out mismatched or weathered boards and lasts the longest of the three.

How a fence is prepped

1. Wash. Gray fibers, dirt and mildew are cleaned off by pressure washing at a gentle setting, so the grain is not torn up.
2. Dry. Ready Seal, a stain maker, says wood must dry completely for 48 hours or more after washing, depending on the weather.
3. Check. We point out soft, loose or split boards and leaning sections before any stain goes on, so you know where the fence stands.
4. Protect. Plants, grass along the fence line, the house siding and any brick or stone nearby are covered, since penetrating stain soaks into porous masonry too.
5. Apply. Stain is sprayed and back-brushed or rolled so it works into the grain and the cut ends.

New wood needs time first. Ready Seal gives new cedar 2 to 4 weeks to dry and new pressure-treated lumber at least a month, ideally 2 to 3 months, depending on temperature and humidity.

How often should a fence be restained?

Sun sets the schedule. NOAA's normals put the average July high at 95.9 degrees in Denton and 95.3 in Ardmore, and runs of fence facing south and west take that heat all afternoon, so they fade first. When the color has faded and water soaks in instead of beading, it is time for another coat. Solid stains last longest, transparent stains the shortest.

Getting your yard ready

A few things make fence day go smoothly:

• Move grills, planters, toys and anything else stacked against the fence.
• Trim back vines and shrubs that touch the boards, since stain cannot reach wood that is covered.
• Turn off sprinklers that hit the fence for a day or two before and after, so the wood stays dry while the stain soaks in.
• Let us know about pets and gate codes so the yard stays secure while we work.

Neighbors on the other side of a shared fence usually need to know too if both sides are being stained.

Do HOAs control fence stain colors?

Some do. Lake Kiowa's Architectural Control handbook says exterior painting and staining do not require a permit. In Lantana, exterior materials are governed by the Architectural Review Committee, so check your neighborhood's guidelines first. We help with HOA color approvals by putting the stain color, product and sides to be stained in writing.

Matching the fence to the house

A fence reads as part of the house from the street. Cedar-tone and natural stains suit brick and stone homes; gray and dark brown semi-solids pair well with painted siding and dark trim. If the house is being painted too, the fence color is chosen with the body and trim colors so they work together, and samples go on a few boards first.

Nearby

• Exterior painting
• Pressure washing
• Exterior painting in Lantana, TX
• Exterior painting in Lake Kiowa, TX
• Porch floor and porch ceiling painting
• Barn and shed painting
• Deck staining