As time goes on and your fence starts to age, the paint finish starts to wear off. There are a lot of ways you can refurbish a fence without spending too much money or hiring someone.
With simple staining or painting, you can restore that wood to its natural look. If you’ve looked at the variety of wood stains available, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed. So many options! What’s the best one for you?
Stain types vary and you should think about how long-lasting they are, whether they’re easy to apply, and what color selection they offer.
For example, some stains include a sealant that needs to be applied before a final coat is added. But, to make things easier for you, Big Easy Fences put together the top list of products for staining your fence.
Ready Seal 112 Exterior Wood Stain & Sealer – Best Overall
There are 8 colors to choose from, and Ready Seal 112 exterior wood stain and sealer is our favorite. It also offers a great performance which saves you money and time!
The primer we bought didn’t require thinning or diluting, and it sprayed easily with our paint sprayer. In general, it was easy to apply with a brush too- there weren’t any drips or runs insight.
Despite all of the positive qualities, you’ll find that it’s also very affordable. And since it’s biodegradable, there are no problems when you wash off your paintbrushes and other tools.
You can give it a second coat of stain after 45 minutes, but if you want the best paint job this year we recommend giving it 48-72 hours to completely dry. If you don’t want to waste time, this is the best exterior wood stain and sealer this year.
- Biodegradable
- Comes in 8 colors
- 2-in-1 stain & sealer
- Affordably priced
- Does not require thinning or diluting
- Can be used with a sprayer
CON
- Needs 48 to 72 hours of curing time
SaverSystems Deck Premium Wood Stain – Best Value
Get a high-quality wood stain in different shades with 4 finish options. It’s water-based and VOC-compliant. It’s a sealer and stain that blocks mildew and mold and we think it’s great, but Ready Seal is better at sealing, so it’s here in our no.2 spot
To keep your softwood deck looking great for years to come, this durable formula is perfect. Not only does it resist fading, peaking, and graying but it’s also safe to use on any type of wood surface.
The 4 color finishes are easy to apply and look great. It has a nice consistency and isn’t too runny. We had success both with spraying and brushing it on, which is a huge plus in our book because we love less mess!
All in all, we believe this stain and sealer system is high quality, so if you’re looking to apply a stain and sealer to your deck or siding, then this is a great choice.
- Will resist peeling, graying, and fading
- Is water-based
- Stain & sealer in one
CONS
- Should only be used on softwood
- Sealer isn’t very effective
Sashco Transformation Deck & Fence Stain – Premium Choice
If you’re looking for a deep and luxurious stain on your fence, the Sashco Transformation Deck and Fence Stain are one of the most beautiful lifts we tried. This product is semi-transparent, so with just one coat, you’ll see your wood grain coming through really beautifully.
This stain is a bit more expensive so it’s going to cost more than the average. It might sound scary at first, but it’s really easy to apply. Just make sure you get the thickness that’s right for your play yard depending on how you plan on applying it-brush, spray, or roll.
This is the most expensive stain, but it does not come with a sealant. Of course, this is going to cost you more money and time but as you can see by the rich finish it provides, it’s worth it. If you are willing to spend a bit more, we recommend this one. If you are looking for something cheaper, this one is your best option.
PROS
- Rich, deep look
- Hybrid formula with oil-in-water
- A pleasure to apply
CONS
- Very costly
- Does not come with a sealer
Woodrich Brand Timber Oil Deep Penetrating Stain
This stain is pretty easy to use and gives you a beautiful and natural finish. We like how little dripping or running the stain does. It’s great that the stain can be used on new and aged wood because a lot of stains are only good for one type of wood. The finish looked awesome, too- we liked the brushes and sprayers best.
There are a lot of really great aspects to this product, but it’s not perfect either. With that said, the costs can be pretty high and it doesn’t have all of the features that our other two choices are also equipped with.
It is on the expensive side and doesn’t come with a sealant. We prefer products that have the sealer already built-in because they typically have a bunch of benefits. We like this stain, but we don’t think it’s as good of a deal if you take the price into account.
PROS
- Doesn’t run
- You can apply it to your new wood
CONS
- Very pricey
- Does not come with a sealer