Asked by: Alden Mulle
hobbies and interests woodworking

How soon do you stain a new fence?

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Picking the Right Time
If you're hoping to stain a wood fence you've just built, wait at least three weeks.


Moreover, how long do you have to wait to stain a new cedar fence?

Answer: Staining or sealing your fence protects it from the damage of the sun and moisture. If you choose not to stain the wood fence it will weather to a silvery gray. You should wait four to eight weeks after initial installation before applying a stain.

Similarly, should I stain a new fence? New fences should not be stained right away. The type of wood used in your new fence will influence when, approximately, you should stain it. Wet wood won't allow the stain to properly penetrate the wood grain and protect the wood.

Similarly, it is asked, what happens if you stain treated wood too soon?

The truth is as soon as the wood is dry enough, it is ready to be stained. There is no waiting period for today's pressure treated wood to let chemicals leach out. Waiting too long to stain and protect your deck means the wood loses more of its ability let the stain adhere.

How do I keep my cedar fence from turning GREY?

To prevent the cedar from fading to gray, you need to treat the fence with a stain that blocks ultraviolet light and contains a mildewcide. The stain should be transparent or semi-transparent to let the natural wood coloring show, and oil-based so the stain will penetrate into the wood.

Related Question Answers

Hortense Grazia

Professional

What kind of roller do you use to stain a fence?

Use a 9-inch roller to cover large areas, and a smaller 4-inch roller to stain the nooks and crannies. Consider the nap of the roller as you're trying to purchase the right rollers right for this project. Rougher fences will need rollers with deeper naps, in order to get the best coverage.

Rimma Warbruck

Professional

How long does it take for Cedar to turn GREY?

It depends on your area and where your fence is in the ground. Sometimes its as early as 2 months, and other times it takes a year for the grey to set in. This is why stain is so necessary for your cedar wood. It keeps out the water, so those cells can keep doing their thing.

Firdaws Guivernau

Explainer

Does staining a cedar fence make it last longer?

Painting or staining a wood fence can help your fence last longer and look better. Either one will extend the lifespan of your fence by giving it some protection against rot, insects, wear, and tear. Cedar, in particular, does not work well with paint.

Xavi Moslein

Explainer

Can you stain cedar right away?

Cedar should be stained as soon as it will accept the stain. This is easy to determine with penetrating semi-transparent stains. Apply the stain, if it soaks in its ready. If it pools on the surface, do it later.

Elisabetta Tendeiro

Explainer

How do you prepare cedar for staining?

Properly preparing the cedar for the stain and sealer ensures it goes on even and lasts as long as possible, so the finish lasts longer.
  1. Sand the deck surface lightly with a fine-grit sandpaper and an electric sander.
  2. Inspect the deck thoroughly for warped boards or screws that are sticking up.

Quintin Zwart

Pundit

How often should a fence be stained?

As a rule of thumb you should stain a fence every 5 to 7 years depending on the type of wood.

Helida Olivenza

Pundit

How can I determine if pressure treated wood is ready for staining?

After installation, treated wood takes 2-4 weeks to dry. For optimal results, wait until the wood is completely dry to paint and stain. Perform the following test to determine if your project is ready to paint or stain: Place a few drops of water on the area to be coated.

Joseane Travanca

Pundit

How do you know if wood is dry enough to stain?

One way to measure if the deck is dry enough for staining is by using a moisture meter. A moisture meter measures the amount of moisture in the wood. There are one to two probes on the meter that stick into the wood to give you a reading. If using this method, be sure to check the moisture level in several spots.

Afia Diamentino

Pundit

Can you stain pressure treated wood right away?

Let this lumber dry out (from a few weeks to six months, depending on the weather and the condition of the lumber) before applying any stain. Kiln dried pressure treated lumber: Dry treated wood is ideal because you can confidently stain it right away with either oil- or water-based exterior stains.

Sophia Rentrop

Pundit

What happens if you stain wet pressure treated wood?

Staining pressure treated wood is ineffective if the wood is still wet. “Wet treated wood” still contains significant moisture when purchased and may take longer to dry than other types of pressure treated wood. Kiln-dried wood will be dry at purchase and can be stained immediately.

Mirelys Srivastav

Teacher

Roseli Charlott

Teacher

When Can I stain my new pressure treated deck?

It's important to wait until your pressure-treated wood is completely dry before applying stain, as the chemicals used to treat the wood often leave additional moisture behind. Drying times range anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on such factors as weather and climate.

Feliberto Schuz

Teacher

What happens if you paint pressure treated wood too soon?

Because it is not thoroughly dry, new pressure treated lumber can quickly warp and bend if you don't handle it correctly. After you buy new pressure treated lumber, build with it right away, or keep it stacked flat in a dry place and wait at least 60 days to four months before painting it.

Serviliano Eidlin

Teacher

How do you prepare pressure treated wood for staining?

  1. Ask for the oldest pressure treated wood when purchasing it from the lumber yard or home improvement store.
  2. Put on goggles and a dust mask.
  3. Mix a wood or deck preparation powder with water.
  4. Rinse the lumber thoroughly with water.
  5. Test the moisture content of the wood with a moisture meter.
  6. Things You Will Need.

Xiaoshuang Haberern

Reviewer

Can you stain already stained wood?

Already Stained and Finished Wood
If the object you're hoping to stain has been sealed with a topcoat, you won't be able to restain it, but you can go over it with a coating or a colored stain blend. There are a number of polyurethane stain blends available in a variety of wood tones.

Katrice Krull

Reviewer

Is it better to spray or roll stain on a fence?

If you are going to use a roller to apply your stain, make sure to have a brush as well for those hard to reach areas. Applying stain with a sprayer is good too. But, if you are going to use a spray, be sure to set it on low pressure and stay close to the wood.

Kalidou Aufderhaar

Reviewer

How many gallons of stain do I need for a fence?

Divide the total square feet of fence to be stained by the coverage listed on the can. For example, if you have 1,000 square feet of fence and the stain says that 1 gallon covers 200 square feet, you would divide 1,000 by 200, which equals 5 gallons to cover the fence.

Yaxin Klahsen

Reviewer

Do I need to pressure wash a new fence before staining?

To prep a wood fence before staining, the required pressure of your washer should be at least 2500 PSI in order for it to actually remove any dirt particles attached to the wood. However, if the dirt looks like it can be easily removed and is not engrained in the wood then a pressure washer may not be the way to go.

Ta Lorences

Supporter

When should you stain a new cedar fence?

So, how long to wait? A good rule of thumb is to wait a month or two if the fence is made with dry materials. This will allow it to weather enough but not too much. If the fence is made with pressure treated materials it may be 3-4 months for the posts to dry enough and can be checked with a moisture meter.