Wood Fences and Staining: Five Things to Consider
Wood fences need staining like a barbecue needs a sunny day. When you stain a wood fence not only does it look great, but you are giving it protection from all the weather on the way. There are many things to consider when staining a wood fence, especially if you are new to wood fences. A wood fence is an investment in the future, and if you care for yours, you will get over 20 years of service from it.
At Fence Armor® we know from experience why wood fences need staining. Fence maintenance is our business and is the reason why our clients trust us to help them care for their fences. Wood fences need staining, and it is not just to bring out the grain every few years. Our team of experts has been getting many questions about staining recently, so we put this informative post together as a guide.
Included on our list of things to consider why wood fences need staining is:
- Wood fences need staining to survive
- UV ray protection is vital
- Choose a quality oil-based stain every time
- How often should you stain a wood fence?
- Your curb value will increase
Let’s take a closer look at each point.
Wood fences need staining to survive
If you do not maintain a wood fence, it will soon rot and fall apart. You might get away with little maintenance to a vinyl fence but not so with your wood one. Staining is an excellent way to maintain a wood fence, but it also helps it to catch the eye of visitors, friends, and family.
When we say wood fences need staining to survive, it surprises many people. The stain soaks deep into the wood, giving it deep down protection from weather effects and termites. An extra layer of protection can stop the wood from drying out or soaking up too much moisture from the air.
UV ray protection is vital
Many homeowners underestimate the effects of the sun on a wood fence. They think all the damage will come from the wind, rain, and cold weather, and they are right up to a point. UV rays, though, damage the wood fibers, and the wood will dry out, crack, and even split after a few years.
UV rays can do damage on even the darker days and so always use a stain with an added UV ray protector. You might like the initial aging look to the fence, but the damage going on underneath the surface shortens the life of the wood fence. Stain a wood fence and protect it all the year through.
Choose a quality oil-based stain every time
Another very important consideration when your wood fence needs staining. If you have many wood fences to stain, you will begin to think of the quality. You may know that many oil-based stains can do more damage than good, due to the low-quality ingredients used in the manufacture of the product.
We recommend and stock Stain & Seal Experts mineral oil-based stain which go on easily. Their proprietary blend of mineral oils, finely ground pigments and resins penetrate deep into the wood. Using stains which are solvent free provide excellent protection for the fence and are good for years.
Photo courtesy of Stain & Seal Experts
How often should you stain a wood fence?
Ideally, you should only need to stain a wood fence every few years, but knowing when a wood fence needs staining is key to the life of the fence. In some areas of high sun, your wood fence may dry out quickly and need more regular staining. An oil-based stain may need topping up each year.
When you see signs of mold, mildew, or algae on the wood, then comes the time for staining. Look on the darker side of the fence, where it does not get much sunlight. If the wood looks faded or dry, you can refresh it with a coat of stain. Ignoring the problem does not make it go away.
Your curb value will increase
A quick fix may be needed when you sell your home and want to impress any potential buyers. A well-maintained, stained, or freshly painted fence always adds to the curb value. Outside of selling your home, you should keep an eye on when the wood fence needs staining and give it a coat.
Curb value increases when you add fence post protection. Fence Armor® Post Guards and Postsaver® Sleeves protect the fence posts from all kinds of damage. Our products are simple to install and look after the fence for many years. You can remove the Post Guards when adding a fresh coat of stain.
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At Fence Armor® we know about wood fence maintenance. Our years of experience tell us when a wood fence needs staining. Ask our experts for advice on your next project. Call us today for all your fence protection needs.
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