Whether your fence is newly installed or has had a fair share of harsh days under the sun, it needs to continue holding its aesthetic touch. Investing in a proper fence line is an integral part of reinstating security for your loved ones and property. Routine maintenance ensures that the fence looks good and strong for years. Staining is a wood maintenance practice that prevents damage from rot and other destructive elements. If you are looking to aid your wooden fence to give you service for ages, here’s how.
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Proper timing
For newly installed and new fences with fresh wood, it would be advisable to wait at least three weeks for the structure to settle. This settling period should give the new wood time to open its pores and accommodate the stain adequately. A general timing rule dictates that the best time to apply stain to your wood fence is in the late afternoon during cloudy days or morning hours preferably when it hasn’t rained in twenty-four hours, and it doesn’t look to rain in the next 24 hours.
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Set up a budget
Just like any other project, staining your wood fence will require a budget to set it on its feet. If you do not trust your “Do it yourself” skills, you might want to set aside funds for hiring fence staining companies near me. Account for the tool costs, stain costs, and any other materials you may need for the staining project. You may also include any repair and preparation costs that may be required before staining the wood fence. All these factors should determine your total fence staining cost.
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Select the right tools
Staining the fence requires several tools, including pads, brushes, or rollers. If you choose to go with the brush alternative, pick a staining brush that’s about five inches wide. The best type of pad for staining a fence is the fluffy nap while a paint roller for the roller alternative does the trick. Choose a tool that’s light in weight to make the local fence staining job easier for you.
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Preparations
Older fences tend to have debris such as mold, dirt, and mildew stuck on their surfaces. These elements may affect how well wood absorbs the stain. You might want to clean the fence in advance. Make a cleaning solution containing bleach and detergent and scrub the fence thoroughly to dislodge the dirt. Rinse the fence to clean out any debris and cleaning solution.
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Stain application
Depending on the timing, you may start staining your fence if the weather is conducive and dry. Having chosen the best wood stain, dip your tool of choice into the stain and apply on the fence. Ensure that you apply starting from the top of the fence to the bottom, per section to give it an even coat. You could also follow the stain manufacturer’s instructions on how to use the stain. In most cases, quality solid-color stains need just one coat to give your fence full protection from the sun and other damaging elements. As for the semi-transparent penetrating stains, you might want to recoat after one hour to have a good finishing.
There you have it! Five effective tips on how to stain a fence. If you have a hard time allocating spare time for the project, consider bringing in wood staining services near me to help you offload the burden.