How to Stain a Cedar Fence

Although some people prefer the look of weathered cedar, others like the wood to look like when they first installed it for more than a few months. Applying a quality stain and sealer to your fence will give it the new look for longer and improve the strength of your fence during extreme weather. Depending on the type of fence you have, renting a paint sprayer to apply the stain may cut the work time by more than half. But it's messy and takes a great deal of preparation to make sure the fence is the only thing you stain.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Deck cleaner
• Push broom
• Pail large enough for a broom
• Scrub brush
• Rubber gloves
• Garden hose
• Wood stain and sealer
• 4-inch paintbrush
• Tarp

1. Clean the fence. If your fence hasn't just been installed, it should be cleaned before applying the stain. Use a quality deck cleaner and mix it in a large pail. Dip a push broom in the cleaner and scrub the wood fence. Be careful around flower beds to protect them from the cleaner. Use a scrub brush to clean areas too small for the broom.

2. Rinse the fence with a garden hose. Go back over spots that may have been missed or any stubborn stains or dirt. Rinse thoroughly, and allow it to dry. Lay down tarps at the bottom of the fence to prevent the stain from getting on the grass or anything you have around the fence.

3. Apply the stain. Use a 4-inch brush to brush on the stain and sealer. You can use an oil-based stain with a poly brush or a water-based stain with a latex brush. Make sure the stain is rated for outdoor wood. Deck stain and wood protector is an excellent choice. Apply the first coat, and by that time the first part of the fence should be dry enough to start on the second coat.

4. Check the color. Colored stains work much better on fencing than just a clear sealer. If you want the color to stay natural, choose the closest color stain to natural cedar as possible. After the second coat, check to see if the color is what you want or if you want it darker. Apply another coat if you want it darker.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're staining a privacy fence, it will be quicker to use a power washer to clean it. Privacy fences are good candidates for paint sprayers. You can rent them at a tool rental store. Ask when renting if they have any restrictions on the type of stain that can be used with them, because an oil-based stain can clog the jets.