Why stain a brand-new cedar fence?
A new cedar fence looks finished the day it goes up, but the wood is bare. Within a season the sun bleaches the surface, the boards start to soak up rain and the first checks open along the grain. Stain stops that before it starts. An oil-based stain soaks into the cedar instead of sitting on top like paint, so water beads off, the boards stay tighter and the color you picked is the color you keep.
Think of it as the last step of the build. The fence is bid, built and then sealed, and a sealed fence is the one that still looks right years from now.
When should a new fence be stained?
Not the day it is built. Fresh cedar carries moisture from the mill and the lumber yard, and stain applied over wet wood will not soak in. In Lubbock dry air, a new fence is usually ready in a few weeks. The test is simple: sprinkle water on a board. If it soaks in within a minute, the wood is ready. If it beads up, give it more time.
Once the fence is dry we schedule the staining as a second visit. We can book it when the fence is bid so it does not get forgotten, and it works the same way for a new cedar fence we built or one someone else built.
Which color?
We use Wood Defender fence stain in nine colors. It is oil-based and semi-transparent, so the cedar grain shows through.
- Cedar Tone
- Redwood
- Leatherwood
- Oxford Brown
- Desert Sand
- Rustic Oak
- Sierra
- Sable Brown
- Coffee Brown
Bring a photo of your house and trim to the estimate and we will tell you which two or three we would put next to it. Our project gallery shows several of these colors on finished Lubbock fences.
How the stain goes on
The crew covers plants, patio furniture and the neighbor's side where needed, then works the stain into pickets, rails, cap and trim with sprayers and brushes so it reaches the edges and the gaps between boards. The oil soaks in over the next day. There is nothing to peel later, because nothing sits on the surface.
Plan on a fresh coat every few years. South- and west-facing runs fade first, and how much rain the fence takes decides the rest. When that day comes, the re-seal is a different job from this first coat; our fence weather treatment page covers it.
Book it with the fence or on its own
Estimates inside Lubbock are free and Blake bids the staining himself, usually at the same visit as the fence. We are open seven days a week, 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Call (806) 535-5351 or send a request for a free in-town estimate and tell us when the fence went up.
Book fence staining when
- Your new wood fence was just built
- The fence has turned grey or blotchy
- Water soaks into the boards after rain
- You are selling your home and want the fence to look its best
- You want to protect a recent repair
How the job runs
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Call or send the form
You will usually talk to Blake, the owner. He asks a few questions about the fence, wood or chain link, what broke, roughly how long the run is.
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Free in-town estimate
We look at the fence in person, check the posts, measure the run and talk through what you want. Estimates inside Lubbock are free.
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A quote before work starts
You get the price before anything is torn out or built. Reviewers have pointed out that the final bill matched the quote.
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The crew does the work
The crew repairs, builds or stains the fence, works around gardens and pets, and cleans up when the job is done.