This cream house looks great with the coordinating cream fence to match. You can clean your fence in one of two ways, depending on the color you want. If the colors were similar, I would say this wouldn't be a huge issue, but since you want to lighten up the fence's color, removal … For some reason, I am having the hardest time picking a fence stain. Instead of appearing cohesive and consistent with the nearby structures, the stain makes your fence or pergola stick out like a sore thumb. It's possible to stain over existing stain and much easier than painting over it. This is why you will never see dark colored vinyl siding - the hot temperatures will literally permanently warp the plastic! You might use the paint rollers if you’re sealing a smoother surface, or if your fence doesn’t absorb as much of the stain as ours did. White wash pickling stain allows the wood's natural grain and some of it’s original color to show through the milky, translucent white stain. If some of the stain color remains or the surface appears rough, use 80-grit sandpaper to finish the project. See more ideas about fence stain, fence, stain colors. Look at the Stain Color on Other Structures in Your Yard “It doesn’t look right with the rest of the yard,” is one of the most common complaints amongst DIYers who picked the wrong stain color. Personnally, I don't think it will fail. Most people today are concerned about the environment, but it’s hard to completely avoid the volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, and chemical toxins found in paints and stains. Author of Paint Stain Blog. White cedar ages to a beautiful, silvery grey. Ask yourself if you want the fence to stand out or blend in. Still, earth-friendlier exterior finishing products are becoming more readily available. Stain can help to slow surface oxidation, thereby maintaining the wood's color longer. Natural wood stain is a transparent medium you can mix in with standard stain to make it thinner and lighten the color. One way of staining these edges, if too little clearance is present, is to put a little stain in a pie pan and then lift it up into the board. This is because a darker color will reach higher temperatures when the sun beats on it.. The problem is that some of the stain will have absorbed into the wood’s grain or porous surface. Since the first coat soaked into the fence instead of coating it, removal would be your best best. DO choose a fence colour that relates to your house. Although the project is listed for an unfinished fence surface, scroll lower down to read more preparing a coated fence surface. Behr stains do reccommend at least two coats. I pained our entire fence solid color black stain recently without consulting the covenants for our neighborhood. There are fence stain colors for every type of home and piece of property that are beautiful, bright, and bold. There’s not anything wrong with wood staining, but there are some misconceptions about it and how to use it that I want to clear up. How to Stain a Fence a Different Color The next step was removing as much of the chipped paint, dirt and debris as possible. How to Stain a Fence STEP 1: Choose the right day (or days) for your project. Pay Attention to the Lighting. Since the first coat soaked into the fence instead of coating it, removal would be your best best. Before you start work on the stain itself, check out the deck to make sure all the boards are in good shape. The natural wood of your fence, such as pine or cedar still lies beneath the stain. It will cover but it may take a couple of coats depending on the color you choose. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. As with any type of paint, stain or sealer application, you should start with a clean, dry surface. Check the stain that you already have to see if it’s oil- or water-based so you know what type of natural stain to buy. Even if you have stained your deck with transparent stain for many years, you can easily use a solid stain later if you want a different look. Wrong color on fence. I am assuming you have a typical rough cut cedar type of fencing. By choosing an opaque or solid stain, your color-changing efforts are improved. Although you can’t stain over paint you can paint over stain. By pressure washing and sanding off the old finish, you'll have fresh, bare wood for white washing. Wipe or brush stain generously over a 1-foot section of fencing at a time and wipe off immediately to avoid an uneven finish and lines of dried stain. Give your deck a touch of class with these great greys. Green America: Eco-Friendly Paints and Stains. The amount of time your fence will need to weather is directly tied to your climate. Even though the solid color looks and acts like a paint coating, it is not. ... What Are The Best Grey Stain Colors For My Deck? If your home’s body has a light and dark neutral combination, but the door is a vibrant red, a rusty brown offers good middle-ground color for a fence. Even though the solid color looks and acts like a paint coating, it is not. Or do I need to strip/ power wash the wrong color off? Inspiration for your next staining project. Thanks for your question and welcome to the community! Fence Staining at the wrong time. Take the finish off down to the bare, original color for a renewed, fresh and earthy look. If you want a truly unique look for your fence, paint is the way to go, as your color selection is virtually endless. What Color Should I Stain My Wood Fence? Make sure the paint or stain is uniformly removed from the wood surface and no patches remain. Best Overall: Ready Seal Stain and Sealer. Let us know if this information has assisted you, and please update us on your progress. For safety around clouds of oil-based sealant, we bought a paint suit and used a respirator we already had that’s similar to this one . I hate sanding and besides, you'll make a mess and it will never have an even color. It's a project that can be completed in a day, and your yard will thank you for it. I doubt that this will occur. Further, there is far less jointery into which water may gain access. Options include recycled paint, water-based acrylic or latex instead of high-VOC oil paints, vegetable-based stains and preservatives, and products with zinc oxide as the necessary fungicide. Can I paint over existing (Behr) dark drown solid stain on my fence with a lighter brown solid  stain color? The fear of putting too much stain on is that of having too much film build-up to where the wood can no longer breathe freely. Buy on Amazon. Even if your deck looks fairly clean, it likely has some dirt and gunk on it that needs to be washed off. still wet, with a Scotch-Brite pad and mineral spirits or naptha. Here are the top 4 grey wood stain colors you can use to refresh your exterior space. Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. This will make it clear if one or two coats is neccessary. Add to this the total amount of stain you put on will then be washing off. Thanks for any help out there. Limited colors available. Know how you’re fence will look throughout the day before making a decision. Work on a mild and dry, overcast day for extended drying time. For a painted fence, just apply a fresh coat or two every couple years. We are about 3 months behind staining is since we had it installed because I just can’t make up my mind. Stains are available in heavy transparent colors from the usual palette of browns to deep grays, rich greens, classic black and vivid blues, just to name a few that could cover a paler shade quite well. Oh my gosh, for anyone who thinks that interior decorating is confusing, let me just say- designing anything outdoors is ten times harder! Water cannot pool on them and you don't walk on them. The problem is that some of the stain will have absorbed into the wood’s grain or porous surface. Let me be a contrarian here: Were it my fence, I would simply apply one or two more light coats of stain in the lighter tone you desire. And with paint, comes an immeasurable selection of colors. You won’t get the exact color result, however, due to the stain's transparency and the existing color below, but with a couple of additional coats, you’ll come close. If the stain and lumber have weathered, the color will come off easier. If you’re shopping for a fence stain … I highly recommend Cabot's solid color stain, a bit pricey but well worth it. An exterior stain job can last from 5 to 15 years, depending on your location, the work's exposure and the quality of the stain. To preserve beautiful grain patterns in wood, opt for a single coat of a lighter color. Lorna Hordos is a home-flipping business owner and freelance writer. In other words, repeat a colour that already exists in your exterior. Wipe off the excess with a rag immediately. Waiting until your fence is fully dry after installation will help you get better coverage and a deeper, more consistent color. Transparent deck stains are limited to around 60 shades, but solid deck stains … One more note: it is always good  to stain both sides of the fence when possible. How do I Decorate a Privacy Fence to Look Country? If you would like to preview your new color, I suggest you buy on of the 8oz tester cans of  stain. The item to use to remove the existing darker stain is shown and linked below: http://www.homedepot.com/buy/behr-premium-1-gal-wood-stain-and-finish-stripper-6401n.html. Verticle surfaces such as fences are far more durable than decks. I used the pressure washer (standing back a good distance to avoid damaging the wood) and it worked like a charm. First, strip as much of the color as possible: If you're using an oil-based stain, scrub the surface, while it's. Get “natural” wood stain that has the same base as the stain you’re lightening. Then ask yourself if you want to make a loud style statement or blend in quietly. Because the wood is wet from the treatment solution it needs time to dry before the wood fiber can soak up the stain. A lighter color will actually reduce the internal vapor pressure and possibility of the wood peeling.. Scrub out the streaks, then reapply the stain liberally. You have just installed or built a new fence, deck, pergola or … In this post, we're sharing how to stain a fence, including the prep and clean-up. The type of wood used for your fence can guide your choice in stain color, as well. Less moisture means less pealing and failure. What this means is that the moisture content of a fence is going to be less than that of decking. Since the fence already has been sealed, you will use less stain on the additional coat (s). If neighbors have an assortment of fencing materials in various colors, go for a shade that expresses your personality, from subtle silver to sizzling scarlet. Many people really like this look, and will choose it over attempting to preserve the brand new look. These should never come in contact with the earth. Simple repairs add years to the life of your fence. The link to this project is shown below: http://www.behr.com/Behr/home#view=10;vgnextoid=2c8f65a0ebf2b110VgnVCM1000008119fea9RCRD;channel=PROJECT_CENTER. If the colors were similar, I would say this wouldn't be a huge issue, but since you want to lighten up the fence's color, removal would be the best option. It's easy to change the color of a stained fence using simply another coat of stain, as long as you go with a darker shade or a solid finish. This is offset by the fact that the stain itself will darken the fence considerably. You’re no longer stuck with typical dark browns or honey oak-type colors when it comes to staining a wooden fence. Apr 16, 2020 - fence stain colors I like. Theres an misnomer between 'painting' stain over another stain. Speaking of lighting, keep in mind that lighting does play a large part in the color of your fence stain. This helps keep moisture from entering from the back side. In my neighborhood there are lots of fences back to back of varying colors, ages, styles. Sand the fence lightly to remove any dirt, weathered stain and loose bits of wood before working a couple coats of paint into every nook and cranny. Hire a pressure-washing company or rent a pressure washer from a local rental shop to remove the faded stain and decaying surface wood. She writes friendly, conversational business, home and lifestyle articles for Bizfluent, azcentral, Daltile, Marazzi, Lowes, Philips Lighting, WordPress.com and numerous other publications. No matter if you choose to remove stain for a natural look or apply new stain over old, your wood needs a protective finish to maintain its fresh appearance, guard it from fading in the sun’s harsh rays and keep it from rotting due to seasonal downpours. This is a good time to replace any damaged or rotten boards. With an assortment of finishing products to choose from -- including eco-friendly ones -- there’s more than one way to change the color of a stained fence. Stain simply colors wood while a top coat finish or sealer protects the wood against UV damage moisture and/or mold and mildew. Keep the earth graded back, or even shorten the boards if neccessary. During assisting him in his work, I learned a lot of things about painting and staining. Customizing With Color. As long as you clean and prepare the surface properly, you can do another long-lasting stain job. That’s because depending on the amount of light, your fence color can look up to three shades lighter. Don't cheap out! I recently have been informed if they won't ok the color of the fence, I will have to reprint. The stripper is caustic and then must be neutralized with the acidic deck cleaner. They are normally self-priming, especially in dark colors. If you should go ahead and restain without stripping and it should fail drastically, the worst case scenario is that you would have to go through the above procedure, no more. Getting the old color out of the fence, which will not totally be removed, will require A LOT of labor and considerable expense. Look at your house, natural surroundings and neighborhood to spark a colorful idea. A: Finding a wooden fence color doesn’t have to be hard. Choose a clear weatherproofing product and give your fence a couple coats as directed on the label. My father was a painter by profession, and I was one of his companions most of the time. Stain manufacturers have created a variety of hues, and solid stain options give you color stain options that look like paint. Stain can not help but leak around the boards. In your case being a solid color stain going over another one, especially a different color, it would be more advisable to remove the existing stain now. Solid hide stains are designed to keep out rain, yet let any moisture which has gained access to slowly respire through the film wihout popping the film. In your case being a solid color stain going over another one, especially a different color, it would be more advisable to remove the existing stain now. Most newer products provide a stain and sealer in one product. You can also pound loose nails back into the boards to make sure your deck is sound. What Color Should I Stain My Wood Fence? Transparent Deck Stain Considerations. A power washer is highly advisable as a labor saver, but will also be splashing debris all over. Fence Stain/Color FAQs The physical appearance of a community is the first opportunity to make a positive impression and well kept streets, yards, and fences all … Goof 3: It's splotchy. The natural wood of your fence, such as pine or cedar still lies beneath the stain. Choosing colors Before staining wood, ask yourself why you want to change its color. What a mistake. The other ideas members mentioned here are good to try, except for sanding. You also need to clean your deck well before you start any work on it. This will help your new stain look the same across every part of the deck. Simply power washing or pressure washing your natural fence can bring it back to life, too, if you choose not to paint or stain but would like to try and keep the “new” look. The most vulnerable point on most fences is the bottom edge   of the boards. You had better make an agreement to stain both sides of the fence...Staining one side will make the other side look bad. For water-based stains, use a lacquer thinner. Whether you’re along a coastline or surrounded by semi-dessert landscape, pick colors from nature's palette, such as sand, sage or a watery blue. I’m William. Treat a white wash as you would a standard staining product by applying a generous amount and immediately wiping off the excess. If you are going to paint or stain your fence (and not leave it to weather, like I did) then this advice seems pretty obvious. Take a look at your natural surroundings and neighborhood for color ideas. 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