WHY SHOULD I STAIN?
To PROTECT and PERFECT!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Wood is, essentially, biodegradable. You've seen the grey fences around. Some people like the "rustic" or "weathered" appeal of these fences. But if that grey is natural, it's actually mildew and other organic growth that is eating your wood one layer at a time. As the outer fibers succumb to the elements and break down, moisture penetrates deeper, and accelerates the rotting process.
Before and after of just one pass of cleaning solution on 10 years worth of weathering of a treated pine fence.
Now, let's back up to when the wood fence was new. The wood comes ready to withstand the elements, more or less. But ACQ-treated pine or rugged cedar still wont last forever. After about a year, you start to notice the wood grain fade, the overall look starts to dull, the boards have shrunk and maybe even begun to warp. All of these things are signs of wood breaking down. When you look at your fence every day, it's hard to notice, but it IS happening. This is where staining and/or sealing comes in!
At 30-60 days post-installment of a treated pine fence (90-120 days for a treated pine deck) the residual moisture from the treating process is dried out, and the wood will now take stain. Cedar, Fir, Redwood, and other fine woods will be ready anywhere from day of install to two weeks. When we stain a fence early, we preserve the integrity AND the look of the wood. At Republic, we are a Certified Applicator of Wood Defender® products, and stain exclusively with their superior, oil-based penetrating stain products. The oil is absorbed deep into the fibers of the wood, leaving the stain to take hold on and in the surface layer. This serves as a protective layer, repelling water and resisting UV rays. Wood Defender offers a wide variety of colors, and comes with a 2 to 3 year warranty, depending on type of stain chosen. However, no product can provide life-long protection of wood, so you'll need to re-coat every 3-5 years or so. These re-coats come a little cheaper, though, and compared to replacing a fence every 6-10 years, it's a small price to pay.
And this is all to say nothing of the aesthetic value of a beautifully stained fence! Can you imagine? You have a large gathering planned for the upcoming holiday or birthday and a ton of family and friends coming. You've just perfectly manicured your lawn. You're setting up your brand new grill on your flagstone patio and outdoor kitchen. The seating is stylish, the greenery is lush, and the flowerbeds are in full bloom. Then you notice your fence. It's in good shape, but it looks out of place, sun-faded with some mildew stains beginning to streak down the pickets. You remember finding some concerning damage where last fall's leaves piled up in the corner and trapped moisture. Wouldn't you rather look up and notice that fence in full glory, stained to your perfect preference to complete your backyard atmosphere?
Whether you've just built a brand new fence or deck, or you're just trying to rejuvenate and extend the life of one you have, give Republic a call to schedule your free Stain Consultation, and let's get started.
PROTECT your investment and PERFECT your space!