About fence staining & sealing
A stained fence lasts longer than an unstained one, because the finish is what slows water getting into the timber. The main reason fence stain fails early is that it went on at the wrong time.
New pressure-treated timber has to wait
Pressure-treated lumber leaves the yard saturated with treatment. Stain applied to it cannot soak in, because the wood is already full — it sits on the surface and wears off unevenly. New fences need to dry out first, and how long that takes depends on weather rather than the calendar. A simple test is to sprinkle water on it: if it beads, the wood is not ready; if it soaks in, it is.
Clean first, always
An older fence carries mildew, pollen and a grey oxidised surface layer. Stain applied over that bonds to the loose layer rather than to the timber, and it lifts within a season or two. Washing and full drying beforehand is what makes the difference between a finish that lasts years and one that looks poor by the following summer.
Both sides, or one
Staining only the side you look at is common and it is cheaper, but the unfinished side still takes on water. If a neighbour’s side is inaccessible that is simply the reality of the job; where both sides can be reached, doing both protects the timber more evenly.
What moves the price
- Linear feet of fence, and the height
- One side or both
- Condition — clean new timber versus weathered and mildewed
- Whether repairs are needed before finishing
- Stain type and how opaque a finish is wanted
This is why a photo prices most jobs without a visit.