Precision Staining | How to Prepare a Wood Fence for Staining: Step-by-Step Guide

How to Prepare a Wood Fence for Staining

Josh Richards • Oct 04, 2022

Preparing a Wood Fence for Staining

Why it’s important to prepare Wood before Staining.Its important to clean you wood to remove mold, mildew, and dirt
Five Step Cleaning Process

1. Use Eco cleaner or a wood cleaner 2. Rinse off chemical3. Neutralize the chemical with wood brightener4. Rinse the wood5. Let the Fence DryWood Preparation Do's & Don'ts

Fence Staining and Sealing in Orlando

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Fences are an essential part of home security and beautification. Having an attractive fence can improve the value of your property. It's also important to keep in mind that you want to maintain the color of your fence over time. Your fence will gradually fade and end up looking dull if you're not careful.
If you enjoy doing your DIY projects, then preparing a wood fence for staining is a great project to take on. This means you must learn how to prepare your fence before staining. Here's how to make sure you achieve an even finish, as well as lasting results.

Why it’s important to prepare Wood before Staining

Certain woods such as maple and pine may have difficulty absorbing stain or become too blotchy to be stained that the result is chaotic. Many refinishing projects end in uneven or blotchy staining due to the stain not evenly absorbed by the wood.

Preparing a wood fence for staining will ensure that your wood is free from wax, old stain, and dust before you begin. This makes it easier to apply the stain evenly over the entire surface. Additionally, applying the stain will penetrate the grain of the wood more effectively, making your stained fence look newer for longer.

If you don't invest some time to ensure that the wood's surface is prepared for staining, the end product won't live up to your expectations. With the appropriate tools and techniques, you can repair any flaws in the wood, sand it down to clean it up, and condition it to be ready to apply stain.

Supplies Needed

You will need the following;

Pressure washer

The correct tip or nozzle(white tip or 40 degree) for your pressure washer

Water source

Wood cleaner or eco cleaner

Wood brightener

Plastic bucket

Stiff brush

Gloves

Goggles

2 Pump up sprayers

A Hose

Prepare Yourself

If you stain your fence, it's important to be prepared. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Make sure you have the proper protective gear for staining your fence. Wearing sturdy gloves and protective glasses is essential, and so are you wearing clothing and footwear you won't mind getting dirty. If you're planning on using sprayers instead of rollers and brushes, ensure you wear a respirator or protection mask to avoid breathing in the unpleasant smell of stain from your fence.

Staining your fence is a difficult task. Depending on the dimensions, your fencing may take a lot of time or days. Take your time. This may be a multi-day project (depending on the size of your fence), so consider when in the year would be best for staining your fence. Staining is only possible after the wood has dried. Therefore, we recommend choosing a time that isn't too cold or hot. If possible, avoid working during peak heat or cold periods—mid-fall is usually considered a good time for this purpose when the weather is cooler but not yet frigid.

If possible, remove the shrubbery or plants around the area where you'll be working. This will give you more room to maneuver around your fence and help keep dirt and debris from getting onto your newly-stained fence.

Prepare Your Wood Fence Before Staining

If any nails protrude from the surface of your fence that could scratch up a brush as it goes over them, they should be hammered back in so they're flush with the surface before painting begins.

If the fence is new, you only need to clean it using water- a gentle spray using a pressure washer is considered good. It is not necessary to use any specific cleaners or soaps. However, if the fence is dirty and old, you might need to use a stronger cleaning. There's a high likelihood that it's contaminated with dirt, mold, mildew, and other debris that alters how the fence absorbs the stain. In this case, it's best to apply Eco-friendly cleaning products, chemicals, and water.

Before staining, fences made of wood can be cleaned using pressure washers or hands. Utilize a pressure washer in the 1500 to 2000 psi range and an angled spray of 25-40 degrees. You can also use one-part chemical, two parts water, and a scrub brush to scrub the fence. Must remove all dirt and algae before staining. It's much faster (and more convenient) to employ pressure washers than a hand scrub. If feasible, we recommend borrowing either renting or buying one to finish staining your wood fence project.

Five Step Cleaning Process

1. Use Eco cleaner or a wood cleaner

The Eco cleaner is used for a light cleaning, mostly on new woods or something that doesn't need a lot of work. It's safe for you to use and won't harm your plants. The wood cleaner is a stronger cleaner used for jobs on weathered wood or jobs that need a stronger cleaning. You can apply the chemical with a 12v system or pump up the sprayer to apply the cleaner. You need to fill either the 12v system or the pump-up sprayer with water, and then you need to add your chemical, the eco cleaner or wood cleaner, whichever one you think your job needs. The eco cleaner works better in warm water, but it's ok if you don't have warm water, it'll still work. After they are filled with water, you add your chemical, then shake it up for about a minute to mix it.

2. Apply the chemical to your wood

Before applying the eco cleaner or wood cleaner to your wood, apply water with a garden hose to any surrounding plants as a precaution. Then apply the cleaners with whatever system you have. You want to saturate the wood with the cleaner. You may break up your project into sections depending on your project. The chemical is fast-acting, so it doesn't need to be on the wood for long. It needs to be on the wood for 5-15 minutes. The key thing to remember is as the chemical is on the, make sure it doesn't dry out. You want to keep it wet so that the chemical keeps working. You can use a pressure washer or a garden hose with an attachment to keep it wet. A pressure washer is better to mists the water on the fence and doesn't wash most of it off. After the chemical has worked, you're ready for step two.

3. Rinse off chemical

You'll need a pressure washer with a little pressure to clean the chemical off. You'll want to be close enough to remove the chemical and blast the dirt off. You don't need a lot of pressure to do this. Start at one end of the project and go the board's full length. Never start in the middle of the board. You'll etch the wood. Start the side, then bring it to the wood. If you were cleaning a fence, you would want to start above the pickets at the top and move downward. As soon as you get to the bottom, you'll go back up the same board. As you go, keep washing behind the cleaned boards you just washed because they get some of the other boards' chemicals on them. Once you finish, you're ready for the most important step, which many people miss. That's the wood brightener.

4. Neutralize the chemical

You do that by adding wood brightener. You do the same process as in step 1. This step stops the first chemical from keeping working by neutralizing the pH level in the cleaners you just used in step one. It also opens the wood pores and makes the wood look amazing.

Also, brighteners are an essential component of the restaining process. They reduce the pH of the boards, and permit pores to breathe so that they are more ready to absorb the new stain.

5. Rinse the wood

Rinse off with the pressure washer like you did in step 2. After that, you have to let the wood dry out, so it's in the right moisture content range, or the stain will fail.

6. Let the Fence Dry

It's suggested to allow your fence to be dry at least for 48 hours following the pressure washing process and before staining. The best method is to verify that it's within the right moisture range of 12-18 percent. You can buy one a local hardware store.
This is essential because a clean and dry will allow the stain to set better and minimize any potential splotches or streaking on the surface of the wood. Moreover, this can protect against mold or mildew growth, which can cause damage to your fence and make it impossible to stain.

Wood Preparation Do's & Don'ts

Do.

Ensure that your wood project and all wood preparation materials are at room temperature before beginning.

Similar to the air in your workspace, The wood surface and any wood preparation products you use must be at least 65 degrees F. Then, let them rest at room temperature overnight before beginning your woodwork.

Maintain the temperature at or above 65 degrees F throughout the drying period recommended by the label.

The entire recommended drying time is stated on the labels. If the temperature decreases to a lower level, the evaporation process will be slowed, and this product for wood prep remains tacky for a more extended period.

Always sand in the direction in which the grain runs down the board.

The wood grain can leave visible scratches when they absorb the stain.

Apply more pre-stain wood conditioner on the top grain of the board to keep it from absorbing much more stain than the side of the wood.

Don’t

Work in direct, intense sunlight because the sun's heat could cause moisture in the wood to cause bubbles in the finish or stain.

Work under the vents for air conditioning or heating. Air conditioning or heating vents could blow dust directly into your wet-looking finish.

Use a belt sander for sanding (if needed) any surface other than floors. A belt sander can quickly create deep gouges and scratches in wood.

Skip the Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner for any projects you're planning to stain. It enhances the look of stained wood.

Final Words

The bottom line is that there are many factors to consider when figuring out how to properly prepare for staining a wood fence. If you are thinking of staining yourself, then it is vital to recognize those factors and plan accordingly.

It'll take more than just a little elbow grease to stain a fence. If you're not staining a brand new fence, you'll need to invest in a sprayer, brushes, drop cloths, protective gear, and a power washer. If, on the other hand, you don't have the time or money to invest in your fence project, then always consider professional fencing staining.

Keep in mind this is not a comprehensive guide to staining wood. It's simply a beginner's primer on getting started and achieving the best-looking results possible. Check out our guide for (Add internal Link here).

Custom Fence Staining & Treatments in Central FloridaIf you value your time, you may find that having your fence professionally stained is a much wiser choice. And you may be surprised at just how affordable professional fence staining is. Contact Precision Staining at 407-222-4058. Our team is skilled in restoring your fence and making it look good as new. We care about using safe and eco-friendly products that are good for the environment and you and your whole family.

Other Tricks For Best Staining Results

Thorough inspection of wood

Before getting started on your project, it's important to inspect your wood thoroughly. Look for any holes, cracks or loose joints that need to be repaired before staining and finishing. It is always recommended to repair them prior to staining or finishing your wood work. Small cracks and holes inside the wood may be repaired with wood filler. Don't spread the wood filler over the hole since that requires additional sanding to get rid of the excess.

Sanding

Sanding is a crucial stage in the process of preparing wood due to a variety of reasons. It smooths dry wood filler, removes minor scratches and nicks and open the pores in the wood, allowing it to take in more stain. Moreover, sanding removes the layer of glaze formed by the planer blades of the factory when they come into close contact with natural resins present in the wood. This glaze may block the stain or finish from entering the wood's pores if not removed.

Get an orbital sander and sand with 80 grit. Or a floor sander. Don’t go crazy or you’ll close the wood pores up.

Test

Test any technique or product on an unnoticed spot before you start your wood-based project.

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