Whether you're putting up a new fence or maintaining the one you have - staining is necessary to extend the life of your fence! Here are a few tips to help you with your staining project.
- CLEAN THE FENCE. BRIGHTEN, IF NECESSARY.
Clean with a high quality wood cleaner, then rinse thoroughly with clean water. For redwoods + some cedars, use wood bleach to remove tannin stains if necessary.
Make sure wood surface is clean, dry and in good condition. You may need to wait a few days for wood to dry - depending on weather conditions.
Cover plants, grass, concrete, trim and any other areas you don't want stained.
- APPLY STAIN.
Stir product thoroughly. Make sure that all pigment is mixed evenly into the stain. Apply one coat of stain. If wood is very absorbent, you could apply a second coat of stain (within 30 minutes of the first coat).
You should continue to re-stir the product as you go because darker pigments can settle at the bottom.
- CLEAN UP.
Dispose of waste including roller covers and brushes in a water-filled container. Seal the container and dispose of it properly.
FYI
It's important to clean the wood before applying stain because it will entrap the dirt + make it impossible to clean. The wood will turn dark + dingy and may not look as appealing.
Below are samples of Messmers stain we carry in store (see store samples for accurate representation of stain color).
