Can You Use a Solid Stain Over a Painted Fence?
Wood is a highly durable and long-lasting material, making it ideal for use in both outdoor and interior environments. When installing a wood fence, moisture, direct sunlight, and pests can all damage the material. You can add an extra layer of protection by painting or staining your fence, but can you do both?
This overview will guide you through the process of staining a previously painted fence.
How Does Stain Differ From Paint?
Unless you regularly work with wood, you may not understand how paint and stain differ. Although these two types of products might seem similar, there are stark differences between them. Learning what distinguishes each product will prepare you for working with them to upgrade your pressure-treated pine wooden fence.
When to Use Paint
Your intention in treating a wood fence will determine whether you’ll use paint or stain. Paint is a better choice if you want something that will add a protective layer over the wood. It’s also a good option for customizing the wood’s color. In addition to changing the color of the wood, paint is effective in hiding flaws in the wood’s surface.
Paint is thicker than stain and requires a considerably longer drying time. In addition, you’ll find it necessary to regularly add a fresh coat of paint as it peels or fades. If you decide to switch to a high-quality wood stain, removing the paint and preparing the wood is a labor-intensive process.
Sometimes Stain Is a Better Option
A premium wood stain serves an entirely different purpose. Although there are solid stains, this is still a poor option when your concern is customizing the wood’s color.
Rather than coating the wood in a protective layer, stain brings out the wood’s natural beauty. Since the wood grain absorbs the stain, this product is not a good choice for protecting the wood’s durability.
The thinner viscosity of the stain allows it to go on faster. It also means that stain needs less time to fully dry. You can choose between a variety of transparent, semi-transparent, and solid stains. Since the grain absorbs the stain, you shouldn’t choose this option if you want to hide flaws in the wood.
Staining a Painted Surface
If you decide to stain a previously painted wood fence, a professional fence staining company will provide the best results. You should still know what’s involved in this process. You’ll want to prepare for the time and labor it will take to fully update your wood fence.
The specific situation will determine the complexity of the project. If you’re switching to a stain that resembles the color of the painted surface, look for peeling. Paint that looks solid and smooth won’t require much preparation. In this case, your fencing company might only need to clean the fence and give it time to dry.
Since the biggest reason to switch from paint to stain is to enhance the natural beauty of the wood, you should expect a more complicated process. This involves stripping away any paint that looks loose or chipped. After removing the peeling paint, your contractor will sand the surface to bring out the wood grain.
Professionals might also use a chemical paint stripping agent to remove all traces of the paint when applying a clear or semi-transparent stain. Once the wood is bare, your fencing contractor will look for mold, water damage, and other issues that require remediation. After they treat or replace the damaged wood, the fence is ready for washing and drying.
The wood must go through a final inspection before staining begins. The surface should be completely dry and free of dirt, debris, and fungi growth. Any leftover moisture or dirt will adversely affect the application of the stain.
The Curing Process of Wood Stain
You’ll have to give the fence time to cure before applying a second coat of stain or using the fence. The type of stain you use will affect the curing process. A lacquer or varnish finish fully dries within 15 minutes. A water-based stain will feel dry to the touch within three to four hours, but it won’t cure for 24 to 48 hours.
An oil-based stain takes longer to cure. While it feels dry within 12 to 48 hours, this type of stain takes 72 hours to finish curing. Gel stains are dry within 24 hours, but they take up to a week to cure.
Trust the Pros to Stain Your Previously Painted Wood Fence
While East Georgia Fence is widely known for our fence installation services, we also provide high-quality wood fence staining. We’ll help you update your existing fence with a solid stain to extend the longevity of the wood. Contact us for service or to request a free estimate for your fencing project.
