Staining and Sealing

If your fence or deck has recently been built, you might need to wait a period of time before staining it. Although there are discrepancies about when a fence or deck should be stained, there is a general rule of thumb. If the wood has a moisture level below 13%, the fence or deck can be stained. However, delays might occur in the event of rain, so it is best to stain when there are a few clear weather days in a row.

In general, there are no temperature or sunlight restrictions on our oil-based penetrating stains. However, the wood must be dry, with a moisture level under 13% therefore, it would be important to choose a day with low humidity. As a result, in most parts of the country, it is generally safe to stain year-round.

In general, you want your contractor to be able to access the wooden structure with ease. Trimming back large landscaping, such as shrubs and smaller trees from fence or deck lines will help your contractor be able to get to all parts of your fence or deck. Try to remove all furniture from decks, along with ornamental items or decor, such as hanging or potted plants, patio lighting (if it is against the fence or in the way of a deck structure), and outdoor rugs. Mowing the grass around the base of all structures is beneficial, along with weed-eating along fence lines. Also, we require that you turn off any scheduled sprinkler use.

Maintaining your outdoor space is just as important as maintaining your indoor space! Several times a year, it is best to clean stained decks and fences with a broom or leaf blower to keep dirt particles and debris off the wood. A soft wash with gentle cleaning chemicals is recommended once a year to "sanitize" your wooden structures and to kill any organic growth that your fence or deck might accumulate.

Other than general cleaning, it is best to apply a maintenance coat of stain to your fence every three years to keep it looking great and to keep the wood protected. For decking, this practice is best done every two years on horizontal surfaces and high-traffic areas and every four years on vertical surfaces such as railings or spindles. This maintenance suggestion also depends on the color of stain you have chosen for your structure. Maintenance could be needed sooner for lightly pigmented colors or natural tones, while more heavily pigmented and darker stains tend to last longer between applications.

It is not too late to stain your fence or deck! Even an older structure can be cleaned and restored. If your fence or deck is not very old, a basic wash is usually needed prior to staining and sealing. If your fence or deck is a bit older, a full restoration might be necessary before staining. This would include cleaning and a wood brightener application. For decks, the wood usually needs to be sanded smooth after the cleaning process has been completed and before the staining begins.