Pros And Cons Of Two Types Of Wood Fence Stains

How can the lifespan of your wood fence be increased? You can stain or seal the wood. Here are some things to know about using water-based and oil-based stain on your wood fencing material.

Oil-Based Stains

An oil-based stain is always going to have a lower maintenance cost compared to a water-based stain since it is easy to apply a second coat of stain directly on top of the old one a few years down the road when it needs it again. Many homeowners love this about oil-based stains. You do not have to strip the existing stain off the wood, and oil-based stains can replicate the natural oils that are found in cedarwood. This makes the wood fence more durable and lasts a much longer time.

However, you'll find that oil-based stains are sensitive to moisture. If there is too much moisture in the wood at the time you apply the stain, the wood will not absorb the stain. That's why it is always worth checking the moisture levels of the wood before you do any work. In addition, oil-based stains are going to be more transparent and show more of the wood underneath the stain. This is problematic if you have to replace a section of an old fence since you can see the differences in the wood

Water-Based Stains

On the flip side, water-based stains do a great job of hiding the flaws in your wood fencing material. This means that if you do have mismatched boards or parts that just look ugly, a water-based stain will cover them up. Water-based stains can also be applied to fencing that is in high humidity since you don't have to worry about how oil and water do not mix when applying the stain.

Water-based stains are more likely to peel or crack after application than oil-based stains. This is due to the stain not penetrating the lumber and instead acts as a film that rests on top of it. This also creates a problem where you could be sealing moisture underneath the stain, which promotes rot in the fencing material. 

Not sure which type of stain you should put on your new fence? Be sure to reach out to your local fencing contractor for their opinion after they finish installing the fence. For more information about staining a wood fence, reach out to a local fencing contractor as well.

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