Most fences in White Rock, BC are constructed from cedar which has a lot of natural resistance to the weather. The oils in the wood give it the ability to stand up to the rain and the sun. However, over time the oils can dry out. To keep your fence from rotting, painters in White Rock recommend staining them with a good quality stain. Let’s discuss the best practices for fence staining.
Painters in White Rock on Fence Staining
Washing
The first thing that you are going to need to do is wash the fence. Algae, dirt, and any other contaminant can ruin your hard work. Renting a pressure washer (if you don’t own one) is a good idea. You can wash your fence by hand if it is small, but if it is large, use a pressure washer.
Good painters in White Rock will presoak areas of the fence that are very dirty to soften it up. Dirt comes off much easier when this is done. If you find areas of algae, rinse it with some watered-down bleach to kill it. Since you will be blasting that area with the pressure washer, the volume of water will dilute the bleach dramatically and won’t damage your plants.
Once washed, allow the fence to dry before commencing the fence staining. Depending on the time of year, let it sit for 1 day (heat of summer) to 4 days (shoulder seasons).
Staining
Depending on how much time you want to spend staining your fence, there are a variety of tools that you can choose from to accomplish the project that will make the project go more or less quickly.
In broad categories, your option for tools are brushes, rollers, and sprayers. Brushes are the slowest, rollers, are middle, and sprayers are the fastest.
Painters in White Rock use a combination of these tools. If you have it in your budget to rent a paint sprayer, it is recommended for you fence staining project. You will need some cardboard to block overspray, but the time spent will be dramatically less than if you use a brush and roller.
The key to successful fence staining is apply the stain liberally and then work it into the brush. This is most effectively done by spraying the stain onto the fence and then working it in with a brush.
The paint sprayers used by professional painters in White Rock can be rented from most tool rental shops. They are called airless paint sprayers. You can buy lower end versions at Home Depot, but they may not last to your next project. If possible, rent a good quality one. Using one will save you time and give you a better result. These machines can apply much more product at a time, allowing it to penetrate deeper into the fence.
Hold some cardboard behind the fence when spraying the stain onto the lattice if you have any. Also use it to block overspray onto other surfaces that you would like to avoid. Lay drop sheets, or old bed sheets, over bushes and plants. This will protect them from getting stained as well.
Once you’ve completed the first coat, apply a second if needed. The labels on most stains claim to only require one coat, but a second will often do a much better job.
In conclusion, the right tools for the job can make all the difference. If you would like the painters in White Rock at Blue Chip Painting to complete your fence staining project for you, please reach out. Our estimates are free and we have all the tools necessary for a quality and efficient job.
-Jeremy