Choosing to stain your fence instead of painting it is your best option, as it lasts longer and requires less maintenance.
Once your new wooden fence is built, you are then left to decide your topcoat, between paint or stain. Choosing to stain your fence instead of painting it is your best option, as it lasts longer and requires less maintenance.
Why Do I Even Need A Topcoat?
Leaving a fence bare exposes the wood to nature and the weather, which can be very damaging to your fence. Rain, sun, snow, and dirt damage wood, so waterproofing your fence is essential. If you have young kids running around your yard, a coated fence can prevent the splitting and cracking of wood that can easily cause splinters in fingers and toes. Also, painting or staining prevents the wood fence from warping and twisting, and really preserves the life of the fence.
Paint or Stain?
While both paint and stain protect your fence from the weather, insects, and rot, staining your fence is the better option. Wood absorbs stain much deeper than paint, so when the paint starts to get old, it will chip and peel. And although painting your fence may end up being a little less costly in the long run, it will require more maintenance with more frequent touch-ups whenever the paint is chipped. On the other hand, a stain will simply fade nicely over time.
What About Color?
Just because you chose to stain your fence doesn’t mean that you have to give up color! Solid stains aren’t only limited to brown; they actually come in many vibrant colors such as red, blue, green, yellow, purple or pink. However, if you prefer the natural look and feel of wood, you can choose a transparent or semi-transparent stain in a natural color, so the color and texture of the wood shine through while getting the protection it needs.
What Is The Cost Difference?
While there is still a debate about whether paint or stain costs more, in the long run, it’s important to look at the time it will take for you to maintain. Stain costs less by the gallon, but you will need more of it when you first stain your fence. But stain won’t have to replaced as often for touch-ups, so compared to paint, you’ll actually purchase less in the long run. Also, when it comes time to remove the topcoat and start again, paint takes much more time to scrape and sand away. A stained fence just needs to be cleaned then can be quickly stained again.
Professional Fence Installation from Hercules Fence DC
Hercules Fence DC has been providing homeowners with quality fences for over 50 years. We are well equipped to meet your needs, whether they are residential or commercial. We have extensive experience working with families and pet owners to keep the most important members of their home safe, so call us today about installing a new pet fence for your family. Contact us by giving us a call at 301-441-1600 or visiting us online. To see examples of our work, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Flickr.
