Painting vs. Staining Your Fence: Which One Is Better?

Without a protective barrier to shield it from the harsh forces of nature, a wooden fence can quickly succumb to weathering, moisture damage, and rot. When it comes to wooden fences, most homeowners have two options to choose from: paint and wood stain. The question is, what option should you choose between fence painting and fence staining?

It's true that both wood paint and wood stain can effectively shield your fence from the elements, and they both have distinct positives. However, of the two, staining is by far the more low-maintenance (and arguably more durable) option.

Fence Painting: The Pros & Cons

For many years, paint or whitewash was the most viable option for most homeowners when it came to protecting their fences. Paint is not without its perks, either: even today, with all the different stain colors we have available, paint still affords homeowners a lot more color customization when it comes to decorating their fences. It also dries much faster than stain does, which can be a major plus when you're in a hurry to get the job done. There is one glaring downside to painting a fence, though, and that's maintenance.

The trouble with paint, even paint designed for durable outdoor use, is that it's prone to cracking, peeling, and bubbling over time. Paint can look beautiful at the outset, but it does not age gracefully! What's more, once your painted fence starts to show significant peeling and cracking, it'll need to be repainted, which means taking the time to scrape and sand all the old paint off before you can clean and prep the surface - a time-consuming process.

Fence Staining: The Good & The Bad

Staining your fence can have its downsides, too, particularly with how finicky it is to apply. Stain can struggle to set properly if it's too cold or too hot outside (below 50°F or above 90°F), and it needs at least two days to dry properly, which can be an issue when rain is on the forecast. It's less stylistically versatile, too: stain is more about enhancing wood's natural appearance than covering it, and while consumers have a wide variety of colors to choose from, you still don't get the broad range of different colors that you get from paint.

However, fence stain has paint beat by a large margin when it comes to ease of maintenance. Rather than sitting on top of the wood, stain soaks into the wood, so there's no danger of it cracking or peeling off; there's no separate barrier to crack or peel away. Stain also tends to last slightly longer than fence paint does, and when it comes time to reapply it, you don't have to spend hours scraping it off the old surface. All you have to do is pressure wash the surface clean and give the wood a day or two to dry off!

Fence Staining Experts In Glen Allen And Beyond

While painting and staining are both viable methods of protecting your fence and enhancing its looks, fence staining is far easier to maintain in the long run. Ultimately, the decision comes down to you. Whichever option you choose, maintaining and retouching your fence's stain or paint will help you extend your fence's lifespan to the maximum!

Need help taking your fence to the next level? In addition to our Glen Allen pressure washing services, Hammerdown Powerwashing offers both deck and fence staining services to help local homeowners protect their wooden hardscapes from the elements. We can take all the stress and effort out of maintaining your wooden fence. If you'd like to get a free estimate for fence staining, deck staining, or any of our pressure washing services, call Hammerdown Powerwashing at 804-543-5947.