How To Stain A Fence

Take the stress out of staining a fence with this easy guide

How To Stain A Fence

How To Stain A Fence

Q: How Do I Stain a Fence?

A: Staining a fence is a lot easier than you may think. If you follow the steps below, you will quickly and easily learn how to stain a wood fence and then enjoy the benefits it brings to your property. Not only will the fence look beautiful after the project is finished, but by following these stress-free fence staining tips you are likely to enjoy spending time outdoors working on it.


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Fence Stain Guide: Step 1 - Closely Examine the Wood
Fence Stain Guide: Step 1 - Closely Examine the Wood
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Closely Examine the Wood

How To Stain A Fence

Fence Stain Guide: Step 1

Closely Examine the Wood

This first step is very easy in the fence staining project. Closely examining the wood involves looking for things like broken fence pieces, screws, nails, or staples. These things need to be removed or fixed in order to end up with a smooth surface where you can apply the wood stain. When you are working on an old wooden fence, your project can be seriously slowed down if you have to remove nails along the way. Sand down areas that may appear too rough or you believe could cause issues with application. Take the time right at the beginning of the project to fully inspect the wood and deal with any broken pieces right away. This is likely only to take a couple of minutes. 

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* WARNING! If you scrape, sand, or remove old paint, you may release lead dust or fumes. LEAD IS TOXIC. EXPOSURE TO LEAD DUST OR FUMES CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ILLNESS, SUCH AS BRAIN DAMAGE, ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN. PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD ALSO AVOID EXPOSURE. Wear a properly fitted NIOSH-approved respirator and prevent skin contact to control lead exposure. Clean up carefully with a HEPA vacuum and a wet mop. Before you start, find out how to protect yourself and your family by contacting USEPA National Lead Information Hotline at 1-800-424-LEAD or log on to www.epa.gov/lead. Follow these instructions to control exposure to other hazardous substances that may be released during surface preparation.

Fence Stain Guide: Step 2 - Clean the Wood
Fence Stain Guide: Step 2 - Clean the Wood
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Clean the Wood

How To Stain A Fence

Fence Stain Guide: Step 2

Clean the Wood

Cleaning up the wood of your fence is very simple. Use a wood cleaner like Olympic® Premium Deck Cleaner on your fence prior to staining. It is important to apply the wood cleaner in an even and uniform way. Additionally, make sure that you follow all safety precautions in order to protect yourself when using the wood cleaner. After applying the cleaning agent, use a soft bristle brush or mop to scrub away all the debris and grime.

You will need to allow the wood fence to dry before moving on to the next step. The following video is specifically about how to clean and prep a wooden deck, however it is also very relevant to how you can clean a fence for staining.

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Please refer to the Product Label, Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for safety and detailed application instructions.

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Olympic Staining Tip


Always test a small, hidden area, using the same number of coats you will be using on the fence and let it dry so that you can be sure to get the wood stain color you want. 


Fence Stain Guide: Step 3 - Staining the Wood Fence
Fence Stain Guide: Step 3 - Staining the Wood Fence
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Staining the Wood Fence

How To Stain A Fence

Fence Stain Guide: Step 3

Staining the Wood Fence

Finally! Now that the wood is prepped and dry, you can get to the most important part, learning how to stain a fence. This process is very simple. You are going to apply the stain using a brush, roller, or a hand-pumped fence stain sprayer like the Olympic® Premium Deck Care Sprayer. No matter the method you use, make sure to apply an even coat of wood stain to the fence. Cover the entire surface. If you see areas that are blotchy or where the stain puddles, quickly use a brush or roller to smooth these areas out.

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Please refer to the Product Label, Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for safety and detailed application instructions.

Fence Stain Guide: Step 4 - Allow the Stained Wood Fence to Rest
Fence Stain Guide: Step 4 - Allow the Stained Wood Fence to Rest
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Allow the Stained Wood Fence to Rest

How To Stain A Fence

Fence Stain Guide: Step 4

Allow the Stained Wood Fence to Rest

Allowing stain to rest is an essential step in staining a fence. The resting period should usually last for at least 24 hours but may extend to 48 hours, depending on the humidity and weather in your area.

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Fence Stain Guide: Step 5 - Maintain Your Stained Fence
Fence Stain Guide: Step 5 - Maintain Your Stained Fence
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Maintain Your Stained Fence

How To Stain A Fence

Fence Stain Guide: Step 5

Maintain Your Stained Fence

Now has come the time to enjoy your beautifully stained fence. You can kick back and relax. However, you will want to maintain the look of your newly-stained fence.

At least once a year, you'll need to clean the fence and provide any maintenance that is necessary. Use Olympic Premium Deck Cleaner to easily remove dirt and mildew stains so that your fence looks great for years to come.

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