How to Stain a Wood Fence

Staining your fence is an easy way to improve your home’s curb appeal while protecting it from the elements. Staining is also a better alternative to painting your fence since you’ll have to re-stain less often than repainting. Plus, when you do need to re-stain, the process will be quicker since you won't have to sand down chipping paint. If you enjoy the beauty of a wood-stained fence, this guide will help you get the look.

Jump to Supplies

Should I Paint or Stain My Fence?

Painting or staining your fence is the best way to protect your wood fence from the elements, but which is better? Ultimately, the best choice depends on what look you prefer. If your wood fence has a lot of imperfections you’d rather cover up or you don’t like the look of the wood grain, a painted fence can add color and protection.

Conversely, if you want to enhance the character of your wood fence, staining is the way to go. You can also use a semi-transparent or semi-solid stain to show off the wood grain while hiding any glaring imperfections.

Tip: If you initially painted your fence and now prefer a more traditional stained look, it is possible to use a solid stain over a painted fence. For the best results, sand the top pair of the paint enough to remove the protective coating. This will open the wood’s pores enough to apply a gel stain over your paint job. If you opt to stain over a painted fence, the finished product will have more a faux wood look rather than show off the character of the wood grain.

When is the Best Time to Stain a Fence?

When doing an exterior project, the weather can play a role in how your final product turns out. It’s best to stain a fence on a low-humidity day when it’s not raining. Rain can delay dry time, dilute the stain, and even wash it away, leaving the fence susceptible to further weathering. The optimal temperature for staining wood is between 40- and 90-degrees Fahrenheit. Lastly, choose a time of day when your stained fence can dry in the shade since drying in direct sunlight can cause lap marks.

STEP 1

Prep Your Space

Before starting your project, clear everything from your workspace that you don’t want to be stained. Next, cut back any grass or shrubs away from the fence for easy application. Lastly, use a tarp to protect any nearby surfaces including your lawn and nearby shrubbery, the sidewalk, and your home.

STEP 2

Prep the Fence for Staining

Now that your space is prepped, it’s time to prep your fence for staining. If you have an older fence, you may need to pressure wash your fence to get any dirt and algae off. If you have a newer fence, you’ll just want to lightly wash down the surface. Be sure to let the fence dry completely before sanding. Lastly, remove any hardware from your fence like latches, handles or post caps. These are things you likely won’t want to go over.

Tip: Don’t forget your protective gear! Be sure to wear a dust mask, gloves and clothes you are ok with getting dirty.

STEP 3

Stain Your Fence

Now that your fence is clean and dried, it’s time to start staining! There are a couple ways to stain your fence. You can either use a roller and brush or a sprayer and brush.

Tip: Avoid having to buy more stain in the middle of your project and calculate how much stain you need for your fence beforehand. To do that, multiply the length by the height to get the square footage of your fence. Then, multiply your square footage by two to account for both sides to get your total square footage. Once you have a rough number, work with your local Sherwin-Williams associate to help you determine how much stain a container will cover so you know how much stain and sealant to buy.

How to Stain a Fence with a Roller and Brush

Using a roller, start by applying a thin layer of stain to your fence, working in the direction of your fence in six-inch increments. Once you have a coat of stain applied, go back over your work with a staining brush to work in the stain to ensure it’s fully absorbed into the wood. Be careful not to add too much stain to the word with the roller brush. If you have stain running down your fence, you’ve applied too much.

How to Stain a Fence with a Pump Sprayer

A pump sprayer is the easiest way to stain your fence since the stain tends to go on evenly. Pump Sprayers also come in handy when it comes to reapplying your stain down the line. Once you have the stain loaded into your sprayer, apply the stain vertically for vertical fences and horizontally for horizontal fences. Work in six-inch increments to ensure an even coat all the way across your fence. Once you’ve applied a coat with the sprayer, use a staining brush to work in the stain before applying a second coat with the sprayer.

STEP 4

Seal Your Stained Fence

Unless your stain has a sealant, you’ll need to seal your work. Applying a sealant will keep the stain even and keep out moisture to prevent warping. Seal your fence once the stain is completely dry. Depending on which stain you use, you may only need to wait a couple of hours, but some stains may recommend sealing the stain after 24 hours.

Tip: Now that your project is complete, it’s important to remember how often you’ll have to stain your fence for optimal longevity. We recommend staining your wood fence every two to three years. However, factors like climate, sun exposure and other conditions may affect how long you can go between staining.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

Project Supplies

Back to Top