Hey everyone! I need some advice about maintaining my new wood fence that was installed about a month and a half ago. Someone mentioned that I should stain it, but I'm not quite sure where to start. I've heard about treating the wood too—what's the difference between treatment and staining? Should I find out what kind of wood it is from my contractor before choosing a stain? Also, once it's stained, am I good for a few years, or do I need to paint it too? I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. Is it really as simple as going to Home Depot, telling them the type of wood, and picking out a stain? And for application, is it just using a roller or paint brushes? Oh, and should I plan this for a weekend with dry weather, ideally around 70 degrees? Any tips would be super appreciated!
2 Answers
You should definitely give your fence at least 30 days to dry out, even more if you live in a particularly damp area—like 60 days if you're basically in a rain forest. When you do go to stain it, oil-based stains work best and they come in solid, semi-transparent, and transparent options. You might consider painting, but if you don’t do it right, it could peel off later. Good luck with the fence!
Most likely, your fence is made from pressure-treated lumber, which is usually 'wet' from being infused with preservatives. Definitely ask your contractor about that because you really want it to dry out before you stain or paint it. Make sure to check that first!
Thank you. I will do that!