Fence Staining vs Painting – What’s Best For Your Wooden Fence?
There’s nothing that quite matches the appeal of a wooden fence. Chain link is sometimes the most practical choice. Vinyl is virtually indestructible. But a fence made from wood remains the favorite choice of countless homeowners.
Wooden fences have come a long way in terms of durability, thanks to modern technology. However, they will still deteriorate eventually unless they are well preserved. Thankfully, there are several options available that will help you do the job. Fence staining or painting is simply the best way to make your fence last for years to come while retaining its beauty.
Fence staining is one of the most popular choices for treating a fence. Stains are available in a range of preparations and colors. You can choose from solid colors, semi-transparent or wood-toned stains.
A wood-toned fence stain lets much of the natural wood grain show through, but it still provides protection from the elements. These products do contain some pigment. Semi-transparent fence staining also allows some of the grain to show through but adds some color. Solid colors look very similar to paint (although their chemical composition is different), but you can still glimpse the wood grain if you look closely.
As a rule, the darker the stain the longer it will last, however the differences might be slight. The reason for their longer wearing abilities is because they are somewhat more resistant to UV radiation. You might not find that a compelling enough reason to use them if it doesn’t give you the look that you want.
A transparent option for treating your fence is to use shellac or pigment free oil. These products give exceptional protection from the weather conditions, yet allow the natural beauty of the wood to shine through. However, there’s very little in the way of UV protection.
Paint is another common treatment for a residential fence, and it has been improved immeasurably by modern chemistry. Paint comes in a huge assortment of prices and formulations, including latex and oil. Alkyd based paints can last longer than the wood they protect.
Latex is usually the least expensive option, and it’s easy to apply. Its major disadvantage is that it will eventually peel. It spreads easily and looks very attractive in the beginning. But cold, snowy winters, strong rains or baking summer heat will leave it in shreds after a few years. This might not be a problem in some parts of the country, but there are other regions that experience all three of those climate conditions.
Your next option is oil or alkyd-based paint. This is somewhat more costly, and a little more difficult to apply smoothly. But if you figure out what you’re doing you can end up with a lovely finish. It handles weather conditions well and seals the wood to defend it against moisture.
The main difference between these two types of paint is in the binder. The binder used in latex paints keeps together the solvents and pigments. Oil-based paints use vegetable oil extract for that purpose.
When choosing between fence staining or painting, your budget, painting skills and personal preference all play a part. Happily, you can’t really go wrong with any of your choices when it comes to enhancing the look of a real wooden fence.
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