Is staining a fence worth it?
But you've got a new fence, and you've got a few questions now. Isn't my fence going to age over time? Do I somehow have to seal it? In order to "finish" a fence, there are three fundamental options: painting, staining, or leaving it natural. There are advantages and disadvantages of each alternative.
PAINT
Until there were so many options for stains, painting fences were more common. We would recommend painting at least, since it requires a lot of maintenance. If you plan to go ahead and paint your fence, every 1-3 years you can expect to have to repaint it, as paint tends to crack and peel.
Bear in mind that you will need to scrub all the current paint off until you need to repaint, prepare the surface for fresh paint, and then eventually repaint it. It is a lot of work and a lot of effort, and painting and repainting will ultimately cost you more over time.
We know what you're wondering now: "but how else am I going to look like that white picket fence?" Well, there are a couple of alternatives. One is to purchase a picket fence made of white vinyl. Every once in a while, vinyl would never need to be stained, decorated, or maintained other than a good cleaning. Using a solid white stain is the other choice.
STAIN
Most of the time, Stain wins over paint, and that's because it needs so much less care than paint. Initially, it might be a higher expense, but you won't need to re-stain over and over again.
The stain would gradually fade and have to be cleaned, but not nearly as often as paint. The stain does not peel or crack, so preparation is much less needed than repainting. Without all the scraping and peeling, a nice power wash or washing with a deck cleaner can give you a clean slate to work with before re-staining.
When it comes to staining your fence, there are a whole lot of choices. One alternative is a solid stain that will give you the classic "white picket" look without all the paint maintenance, as described above. Or, there are plenty of semi-transparent choices to choose from, if you just love the look of natural wood and just want to protect your fence. Even simple solutions are available that simply serve to waterproof and secure your fence.
NATURAL
The third choice to complete a fence is to simply leave it natural and allow it to weather over time. This choice requires the least amount of work, of course, but it leaves space for the elements to take a toll over time on your fence. The rustic, weathered look, however, is common these days, and quality wood, even if left to the elements, will last a while.
If you want not to paint or stain but want to try and maintain the "new" look, simply power washing or pressure washing your natural fence will bring it back to life, too.
The white cedar is aged into a stunning, silvery gray. This look is very liked by many people, and they would prefer it over trying to keep the brand new look.
Do You Need a Fence Contractor You Can Trust?
Why pay more when you can restore? That's our motto and the way we approach every project. Fresh Coat Restoration specializes in new deck builds, new fence builds, deck repairs, fence repairs, arbor restoration, fence restoration, deck restoration, pressure washing and sealing/staining. If it's in your backyard chances are we specialize in it! When you call FCR you will be working with a licensed, insured, honest and reliable contractor with years of experience and thousands of satisfied customers. We are the top Fencing contractor in the Vine Hill neighborhood of Martinez, California, serving the fencing installation and restoration needs of homeowners throughout Contra Costa, Solano and Alameda Counties. Contact us today to start your project!
