“Should I stain my fence?” That is a question that many homeowners in Oklahoma City are asking themselves. After the expense of building the fence, it may not seem like the time to spend more money to get it stained.
The truth is, staining is worth it for just about any wood fence you plan to keep. A good stain keeps a fence looking great and helps it last a lot longer than it would bare.
Is It Worth It for Your Fence?
Here’s the honest answer: it depends on the fence. The more you spent putting it up, the more sense it makes to protect that investment. A quality cedar fence is well worth staining, both to shield the wood and to keep it looking sharp. On the other hand, if you’ve got a cheap pine fence with thin runners thrown up along a property line, it may not be worth putting much more money into.
The other half of the decision is looks. A stained fence holds its color and richness, while a bare one weathers to gray. Some homeowners don’t mind that gray at all, and others can’t stand it. If you want your backyard to feel finished, stain is what gets you there.
Unstained vs. Stained Fences
Both of these fence panels were installed the same day. The one on the left did not get any stain. The one on the right was stained shortly after it was installed. After 3 years there is a striking difference in their appearance.
Benefits of fence staining:
A high quality fence stain will improve and maintain the look of your fence over time.
- High quality pigments last for years.
- UV protection will keep the wood from breaking down.
- Keeps gray mildew from growing on the wood surface.
Fence Stains will also help the fence to last longer
- Seals out moisture to prevent rotting.
- Keeps boards consistently dry to prevent warping.
What Actually Breaks Down a Fence in Oklahoma
Two forces do most of the damage to a wood fence: UV rays and moisture. Oklahoma serves up plenty of both. We get a lot of sunny days, and all that UV slowly breaks down bare wood. We also get enough rain and humidity to invite rot and warping, even though we’re not an especially wet state. A quality stain blocks the UV and seals out the moisture, which is exactly what buys your fence those extra years.
Wood Prices Are Rising: It will only get more expensive to replace your fence.
As wood and labor prices increase the cost to replace a wooden fence continue to go up. Fence staining is an excellent way to save money on a costly fence replacement. Wood fences can often last for 20 years or longer if they are properly maintained and stained.
When we stain a fence, we use Wood Defender stain and back the work with a 2-year warranty. Most fence staining projects in the metro run $2,000 to $4,000, depending on size and condition. Not sure which color fits your home? Start with our fence stain color guide.
Would you like to know what it would cost to have your fence in the OKC metro stained? You can call Hometown Painting LLC at (405) 400-1619 or Request a free estimate.