The Difference Between Painting & Staining a Fence

Painting a Fence

• Paint a fence if you want to brighten it to suit the surroundings. Painting a fence can give the effect that the fence isn’t wooden. Alternatively, if you have a fairly unpleasant looking aluminum fence, paint it disguises it. You may like to paint a fence in a patio area to give a cozier feel to the area. Paint isn’t absorbed into the wood, whereas stain is. Paint simply coats it. Painting a fence can give long-term protection, but you need to ensure that the fence is completely covered in paint. Any areas that aren’t covered will allow water to seep in under the paint, causing it to peel.

Staining a Fence

• It’s usual to choose to stain a fence to not only protect from the weather, but to enhance the look of the wood. You can even make the fence look like a different type of wood. For example, you can make a regular softwood look like mahogany. When you stain a fence, the stain gets absorbed into the wood. Give a heavy initial coating to a bare fence, let it dry and then repeat the process. Don’t attempt to stain a metal fence; it won’t work as stain needs to be absorbed and metal won't absorb it. Trying to stain a metal or fence made from non-absorbent material will result in the stain sitting on the surface or running down the fence, the same as if you spray water onto it.

Preparation

• Whatever method you choose to adopt, preparing your fence before you paint or stain it is important. If you’re staining a fence, then you don’t need to be so concerned about the surface; just ensure that it is completely dry and free from dirt and dust. Otherwise, you will get patches that aren’t stained. If you’re painting a fence, use a sander or sandpaper to ensure the surfaces are smooth. If the fence is metal, you need to remove any signs of rust by rubbing the area smooth with sandpaper suitable for use on metal. Apply primer paint before putting the top coat of paint on the fence. The primer seals the wood and stops the top coat from getting absorbed into the wood.

Longevity

• You will need to re-stain a fence more often that having to repaint it. The sun and weather cause the stain to fade after a couple of years. Additionally, the protection the stain gives to the fence deteriorates, and you can end up with a wooden fence rotting. A well painted fence can last many years between needing a repaint. Check it each spring to see if any bubbles have formed or if any paint has flaked off the fence. If you find it has, you need to rub the area down using sandpaper and prime it again before painting.