How Often Should You Stain Your Fence?
Posted on May 27, 2024
The fencing around your house serves many purposes. It provides privacy, security and valuable curb appeal to your home. It is often a significant part of your home’s valuable first impression to potential buyers or investors. In order to keep the exterior of your home looking fresh and beautiful, its fencing will require maintenance and upkeep. This requires a significant investment of your time and money. If you have a wood fence, staining your fence may be the best option.
In order to keep your fencing looking great and keep expenses down, it is imperative to know how to protect and maintain your fence’s stain.
Maintenance and Protection Required
Most fences are made of wood. Wood fences are very beautiful and will complement any home’s exterior. However, many types of wood are vulnerable to damage caused by pests, bugs and birds, not to mention exposure to extreme weather. Fortunately, protecting against these elements is easy.
When a fence is properly stained, it creates a protective barrier that protects the wood from all of the above mentioned elements and safeguards against a wood fence’s most detrimental enemy— moisture.
Staining is the favored protection technique most people choose, because it provides more preservation, although it may be a bit more costly than just painting your fence. Stain absorbs into the wood better than paint and it doesn’t chip or peel over time. It will just fade or decline over a period of time.
What Do the Experts Say?
Most experts suggest staining every 2 to 3 years. However, when thinking about protecting your fence and making sure damages do not come easily, another major factor is your local climate.
If your house happens to be in a drier climate area and you usually experience less rain throughout the year, your fence may require less maintenance and less staining. Also, closely examine your fence. Does the rain soak into the wood? Do you see water droplets on the wood surface? If you notice that the wood is soaked with water, your fence is in need of staining.
Staining your fence is an easy DIY process for any homeowner. The diligent upkeep of your fencing can keep your home’s exterior looking great and your curb appeal will stand out from all the rest.
