Fence...

[Paul1956]

I have this new wood fence around the property.

It is not cedar, but some kind of white wood... likely fir. Most owners
here in Texas allow their fences to deteriorate into a gray finish after
the sun and weather takes its toll.

If possible I would like to keep my fence with the natural wood look
but am totally clueless if there is a finish that can achieve this without
become an annual labor intensive job.

I see some neighbors have attempted the stain route with bad results.
The fence is patchy with blotches of stain color and gray wood.

So my options seem to be:

- leave the fence alone to develop into a gray patina with zero
maintenance other than to replace in a few years

- apply some kind of finish that becomes a maintenance nightmare

- apply a finish that maintains the natural look, prevents the graying
and only needs updating every coupla years or so

Prefer the last option. Is there anything available for this?

 

[DIC]

You could try Thompson Water Seal. ... But I would just let it gray.

 

[Jackfre]

Boy, if there is I sure don't know about it. I tried on a small section of cedar a few years ago and with two coats of Penofin as I look at it right now it is mottled or blotchy. Not what I was looking for. I suspect the summer sun is relentless in TX, as I remember. It just beats everything. I finally gave up on wood fence and went to the 4ga 52"x16' feedlot panels with 2x4 cedar cross tops above the wire making a 6'6" fence. I think you are going to be best off enjoying the lack of hassle on the grayed and weathered wood.

 

[Zeke]

Thompson's or equivalent. You can add some dye. Even if the fence goes gray, it will be better protected. Ask your local paint dealer about generic sealers. Ask them about non pigmented dyes or a thin whitewash with some yellow tones.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Knowing the type of wood it is is important. With some woods a pre-stain treatment can reduce the splotchy effect.

 

[bczygan]

There are 2 kinds of stains. semi-transparent and solid hide.
The UV from sunlight deteriorates wood fibers.
A solid hide stain provides MUCH better protection than a semi-transparent.
Buy the best quality solid hide stain you can find, in oil based configuration and apply per directions. Reapply as recommended. Might need to be every couple years.

Solid hide looks like paint. You can see the texture of the wood, but not the grain.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I tried staining mine at first. It didn't hold up. I gave in and painted it. I paint it every 2 years. The only problem I have is birds sitting on top that like to eat the paint and chip away at it. Aside from that the paint holds up great and doesn't dull.

The cedar playset you see is stained and water proofed. That holds up really well, but its cedar.

 

[HAY YOU]

Thompsons wood preservative (different than the water seal)every 2 years, it won't turn gray.

 

[PWC Repair]

I agree with the Thompson's, good stuff.

 

[G McKay]

If you use a clear stain, the knots will show though. You need to use a solid stain to cover the knots and blemishes. Sherwin Williams stains work great for this. My neighbor had a picket fence around his 3/4 acre property and used a paint sprayer to stain his fence. It might spray some stain on the grass but it won't hurt the grass. After a few mowings, the stained grass will be gone. And your fence will look great.

 

[Beaumont67]

Earthpaint Wood Finishes http://www.earthpaint.net/How_To_Stain_A_Deck.php

My Cedar Deck Refinishing Method:
1st coat Interior Stain (optional) - Bio Poly NT
http://www.earthpaint.net/product_bioPoly_NT.php
2nd coat Wear/Weather Protection Layer - Mountain XT (exterior product)
- Uses A Super Tough Cashew Resin That Is Naturally Resistant To Black Mold http://www.earthpaint.net/product_mountain_XT.php
- slightly thinned down with Pure Citrus Solvent http://www.earthpaint.net/product_pureCitrusSolvent.php

^^^^ Using a floor sander rental, I sanded down black mold off my gray weathered cedar deck boards and top coated with the above. Rolled stuff on. Already gone through one winter, board decking still looks brand new, like it was rained on and golden wood grain pops out. Going to use the same products, on my new fence build, this year...amazing stuff / these wood refinishing products (used in the log house Industry) works like a dream !!

 

[BRIANBB]

Just leave it alone. Its good for 20 years as is. Just run the pressure washer over it every couple of years if you want it looking good.

 

[Falcon67]

Just leave it alone. Its good for 20 years as is. Just run the pressure washer over it every couple of years if you want it looking good.

If it's the standard cheap white wood pickets then you'll be lucky to get 10 years. Our house was built in 2001 and I've replaced many of the white wood pickets already and there is one section that needs about 10~12 right now. You can hose 'em down with Thompson's if you like, they will deteriorate from the ground up. More so in a moist/humid environment like San Antonio. I'd tell you how I keep the bugs from eating the bottom of our white wood fencing but I don't want to be fined by the EPA.