How often should I stain my Fence or Deck?

 One of the most common questions when it comes to fences or decks is, how often does it need to be painted or stained? Now in all reality the fence or deck will hold up without having been coated with paint or stain, however it will not last as long and you will see mold or rot starting to settle in after a couple years. You will also start to notice it will get darker, and this is due to mildew. Overall if it is never coated it will not last nearly as long. The paint or stain will not only seal and waterproof the wood, It of course adds an appealing look. Some people like the look of the wood and do a transparent stain, others like color and will use a solid stain or paint. Either works well, however applying stain will be a little cheaper and faster to apply.

First things first. If you decide to paint a fence or deck it should be primed first with "Oil Based" primer. Once this is done 2 coats of paint should be applied for best results. If you skip the primer, then you'll start to notice flaking and peeling fairly quickly. Depending on your local climate it may happen within 6-18 months. Overall, in my professional opinion if you want the look of a solid color, go with a solid stain. When you stain a fence or deck, primer is not required. Stain will not only give the wood some color but will act as a primer and seal/waterproof the wood as well. It may also be a little cheaper because you don't need to prime and depending on the stain you use, only one coat of stain is required.

Oil based stains usually on require one coat. Water based stain typically need 2 coats of stain. This may differ though depending on the stain you choose. In reality your climate will be a large factor in how long the product will last on your fence or deck. Decks will usually need to be done more often because of the horizontal surfaces that moisture can puddle up on. Fences don't usually need to be done as often because moisture can usually just run off and dry. Now how often should you actually have this done? Its safe to say every 1.5-2 years for decks and 2-3 years for fences. In all reality climate plays a huge role. Moisture rich climates cause more "wear and tear", High altitude and very dry climates will also break down the paint or stain faster. Sections of a fence or deck may need to be done more often due to their exposure to the elements. 

So, for example, if your back yard is full of trees and vegetation and you're in a moisture rich climate, the fence or deck may need to be done more often because it doesn't get as much exposure to the sun thus it stays damp longer. Compare this to fences or decks exposed to the sun out in the open, they are able to dry faster reducing the possibility of mold and mildew growth. On the flip side of the coin if you're in a dryer climate with little moisture annually, then the fences or decks exposed to the sun constantly will need more frequent attention. In conclusion each product may have a different recommendation on how often you should re apply. Alot of people go over 5-7 years without re-staining or painting the fences or decks or they just do sections at a time year by year. In the end though this will cause more mold and mildew growth and require extensive pressure washing most likely to end up with a desirable result. This of course comes with a higher price tag though for next time you want it done, if you decide to pay someone to do it properly.