Painting A Fence? Everything You Need To Know About Prolonging The Life Of Your Superior Wooden Fence

Now that Superior Fence & Rail has completed the installation of your amazing wooden fence, you are likely wondering how to keep it in tip-top shape. Let’s face it, a natural wood fence is indeed a thing of beauty, only rivaled by Mother Nature herself. Many of our Superior clients opt for a wooden fence because of its rustic appeal and timeless style. To retain the beauty and prolong the life of your new fence, maintenance will be required. In this article, we will educate fence owners of our recommended best practicing regarding care and maintenance. This includes sealing and/or staining a fence along with painting a fence.

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Prolonging The Life Of Your Wooden Fence

To ensure your wooden fence addition brings you years of function and enjoyment, there are steps you can take. These include keeping the fence clean, and sealing, staining or painting the fence when it needs it. The timeframe for these necessary caretaking tasks varies depending on many factors. Some of these factors include the heat and humidity in your location, as well as the sun’s proximity to the sun, or placement in damp, dark areas. Temperature, humidity (or lack of), rainfall and many elements can dictate how often your wooden fence will need to be maintained.

Keep in mind, that Superior Fence & Rail does not offer staining, sealing or painting services on our wooden fences. We can, however, share our suggestions and best practices in helping you prolong the life of your fence…

Sealing And Staining A Fence

While other fences, such as vinyl and aluminum, require very little maintenance, your Superior wooden fence will require maintenance to ensure that it continues to look and function beautifully for many years. Superior highly recommends finishing your fence with a sealant, stain, or paint for protection from the effects of sun, rain, and temperature changes on your wood.

staining and sealing your wood fence

Depending on weather conditions and the pre-treatment process of your wood components, your wood fence should ideally be sealed, painted, or stained within 30 days to 6 weeks after installation. You do not want to seal your fence immediately after construction as, in many cases, the wood may still be “green.” Waiting 4 – 6 weeks will allow the wood to expand and contract with the amount of sunlight and temperature variations of your local climate.

Sealing your wood fence will offer a barrier against moisture. Wood sealers are available in transparent or semi-transparent options, allowing your wood’s natural beauty and graining to shine through. Applying a wood sealer containing UV stabilizers is recommended to lessen the impact of sun exposure. You should reseal your wood at least annually for continuous protection.

When staining your wooden fence there are many color options to fit your desired aesthetic. Please note that to stain your fence the wood must be completely dry. You can test your wood to determine if it is ready to be stained by sprinkling water onto its surface. If the water beads, your wood is not prepared to properly accept staining. Please wait a few days and retest until the water no longer beads on the surface of your wood. Select a stain with the most extended manufacturer’s warranty. Ensure your stain also has a UV stabilizer and a water repellent.

Painting A Fence

If you decide to paint your new or replacement wood fence, choose an alkyd oil-based primer. Before painting, you must prime every surface of your wood, including cut ends. Finish with two coats of top-quality acrylic latex paint. As with staining, you must ensure your wood is completely dry before priming and painting. Perform the sprinkle test by applying a few drops of water onto the surface of your wood. If any beading occurs, wait and test again in a few days. Paint must be reapplied as needed to maintain a beautiful finish. Painting can be annually or otherwise, depending on your environmental conditions and the location of your wood fence.

painting a fence

Suggest Best Practices For Fence Cleaning & Care

Regarding cleaning your wooden fence, we recommend cleaning it with a pressure washer at the lowest pressure setting. This will help keep the surface of your wood free of dirt and mold. Use a mild soap that is formulated specifically for cleaning pressure-treated wood. Do not use high-pressure cleaning methods or keep your pressure washing wand concentrated on one area. Once your fence has been cleaned, allow it to completely dry, and reapply your weather-repelling sealant or stain. Remember that a clean fence, is a happy fence!

Have More Questions About The Care & Maintenance Of Your Superior Wooden Fence?

Whether you already own a Superior Fence & Rail wooden fence or are considering adding one to your home or business, we are always here to answer any and all questions. We strive to provide the highest-quality wooden fences using the best wooden components on the market. Our custom service team is poised to talk to you today. Feel free to reach out via our online form or give your local Superior office a call.

We would love to hear from you!