"The owner, Anson, came by my house in South Augusta and gave me an honest assessment of my front porch. He pointed out a…"
Mikelden Mitchell
Fence Staining
but it won't fade.
Your Fence Staining Project, From Consultation to Completion
Your project manager walks the full perimeter to measure footage, evaluate pickets, and flag repairs like loose boards or sagging gates. We recommend the right stain type and confirm color on actual wood samples.
1
Free Walkthrough & Stain Selection. Your project manager walks the full perimeter to measure footage, evaluate pickets, and flag repairs like loose boards or sagging gates. We recommend the right stain type and confirm color on actual wood samples.
We pressure wash the fence with a wood cleaner, replace damaged pickets, and reset popped nails. Once dry, stain is applied by airless spray and back-brushed into every picket surface, joint, and end grain.
2
Pressure Wash, Minor Repair, Apply Stain. We pressure wash the fence with a wood cleaner, replace damaged pickets, and reset popped nails. Once dry, stain is applied by airless spray and back-brushed into every picket surface, joint, and end grain.
After the stain cures, we walk the full fence line with you and touch up any spots. Plant protection is removed, the site is cleaned, and we tell you when the fence is safe for pets and full weather exposure.
3
Drying, Final Walkthrough & Cleanup. After the stain cures, we walk the full fence line with you and touch up any spots. Plant protection is removed, the site is cleaned, and we tell you when the fence is safe for pets and full weather exposure.
Honest Reviews from Real Homeowners
"From our first contact to inspection to pricing to crew painting, we have had a great experience!! Competitive pricing,…"
Felice Acker
"Great painting company to work with! They painted the outside of our house and the inside of our house and everything wa…"
Jamie Guidry
"That 1 Painter painted our house's exterior and we are very happy with the finished job. They took three days start to f…"
Susan Crabtree
"The owner, Anson, came by my house in South Augusta and gave me an honest assessment of my front porch. He pointed out a…"
Mikelden Mitchell
"From our first contact to inspection to pricing to crew painting, we have had a great experience!! Competitive pricing,…"
Felice Acker
"Great painting company to work with! They painted the outside of our house and the inside of our house and everything wa…"
Jamie Guidry
"That 1 Painter painted our house's exterior and we are very happy with the finished job. They took three days start to f…"
Susan Crabtree
"Eli and team were timely and professional. The whole process from start to finish was super easy and they did a really n…"
Tara Thal
"Absolutely amazing company! Kyle was our painter and he showed up on time, no messes made, and the paint job looks fanta…"
Ashley Shay
"Professional, punctual very attentive to details. Placed customer satisfaction first! Solid communication and service th…"
Joshua Taylor
"I was very hesitant using paint for cabinets. After researching varied options and after meeting with the sales person m…"
John Serio
"That 1 Painter completed exterior painting on my home and historic boathouse on the Saddle River. They did extensive pre…"
Jeffrey E. Kracht, ASID
"Joe did a wonderful job! Everything looks Great! He stuck with it and got it done over a four day period. Also him and J…"
Yvonne Herschberger
"Excellent work! Very professional, arrived on time and kept me updated. Will definitely hire them again. Highly recommen…"
Meg W
"Manny and his team are excellent. I needed my shed painted and the window and door trim as well as the doors replaced an…"
Teresa Pearce
Number of Territories
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Number of Paint Jobs
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5-Star Reviews5-Star
Reviews5 Star Reviews
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What Fence Staining Costs (2026)
50–70%
Typical fence ROI at resale
FenceFind ROI Guide, 2026
$1,400–$2,200
Typical professional fence staining cost range
Angi, 2026
2–3 yrs
Recommended re-stain interval to preserve fence integrity
industry standard
Fence Staining Portfolio Gallery
Cedar Privacy Fence
Walnut-Tone Fence
Full Perimeter Restain
Picket Fence Refresh
Solid Grey Privacy
Horizontal Slat Fence
Fence & Gate Match
Pressure-Treated Restain
Trusted Paint Partners
Our 3-Year Warranty
Your peace of mind, at the top of mind with our three-year transferable warranty. Covers the painting job, even if you sell the house.
Download Warranty
Fence Staining FAQs
It depends on the stain type, the wood species, and the exposure. As a general rule: transparent and lightly tinted stains need refreshing every 1–2 years, semi-transparent stains every 2–4 years, semi-solid stains every 3–5 years, and solid stains every 5–7 years. Fences in full sun, in regions with heavy precipitation, or with sprinklers regularly hitting the wood will fade faster. The best test is visual: when water no longer beads on the wood, when color looks washed out, or when you see surface graying or fuzzing, it's time. A consistent maintenance cycle is what keeps a fence lasting decades instead of needing replacement at year 10–15.
Transparent stains keep the natural wood look but offer the least UV protection, best on newer, attractive fences where you want the wood to be the visual feature. Semi-transparent stains add color and UV protection while still showing the grain, the most popular middle ground. Semi-solid stains have more pigment, hide age and weathering better, and last longer between applications. Solid stains are essentially opaque, similar to paint, with the longest service life and the strongest UV protection, ideal for older fences where the grain is no longer attractive or for a modern look. Newer fences usually start with semi-transparent; older fences usually move toward semi-solid or solid over time.
Not immediately. New pressure-treated wood arrives with high moisture content and surface mill glaze that prevents stain from penetrating properly. Most stain manufacturers specify a 30–90 day weathering period for pressure-treated wood, and some recommend longer (3–6 months). Cedar fences typically need 2–4 weeks. Applying stain too early traps moisture and prevents penetration, the stain sits on top of the wood and peels within a year. We recommend a thorough cleaning of new fences after the weathering period, then staining once moisture content is in spec. Your project manager can do a moisture reading at the estimate to confirm.
With professional prep and a quality penetrating stain, expect 2–4 years on semi-transparent finishes and 5–7 years on solid stains for typical residential fences. Sun exposure is the biggest variable, south-facing fence sections fade significantly faster than shaded sections, and you may notice uneven aging across the same fence. Fences regularly hit by sprinklers, located in heavy-precipitation regions, or in dense biological growth (algae, moss) need more frequent refreshing. Penetrating oil-based stains generally outlast film-forming acrylics on rough-sawn fence pickets because they don't peel as the wood moves with seasonal changes.
Yes, on every project. Pressure washing removes dirt, mildew, algae, pollen, and weathered surface fibers, all of which prevent stain from penetrating and bonding. We use the appropriate pressure setting for wood (too high damages the surface), often combined with a wood cleaner and brightener that removes embedded contamination and restores even color. After washing, the wood needs to dry to the proper moisture content before stain goes on, typically 24–72 hours depending on weather. Skipping this step is the single most common cause of fence stain failure within the first year, no matter how good the product.
We can, but most projects stain only one side, typically the homeowner's side. Two-sided staining doubles the linear-foot pricing and requires either a cooperative neighbor or written access permission. Staining only one side is normal and fully protective for that side; the unstained side will weather naturally. If your fence is shared and both sides are visible to your property (e.g., a corner lot), or if you specifically want the matched look on both sides, we'll quote both. If you want to eventually stain the neighbor's side, we recommend doing both at the same time, it's significantly cheaper than two separate trips.
Privacy fences are typically tall (6–8 feet) and represent a large visual surface, so the color choice has a real impact on how the yard reads. Warm cedar and natural honey tones blend into landscaping and feel less imposing, the most popular default. Rich browns and walnuts hide age and add visual depth, working well in mature yards with established trees. Solid greys and blacks have grown popular for modern landscaping and make plants and flowers visually pop against the dark backdrop. The wrong color makes the fence dominate the yard; the right color makes it disappear or anchor the design intentionally.
Staining a typical residential wood fence runs $700–$2,500 nationally, depending on linear footage, height, and condition. Installing a brand-new wood fence around the same yard typically runs $1,500–$5,000+ for materials and labor, and replacement projects involve permits, hauling old material, and downtime without a fenced yard. Regular staining every 2–4 years is by far the most cost-effective way to extend the life of an existing fence, often adding 10+ years of service life for a fraction of replacement cost. Deferring stain maintenance is what makes replacement necessary; consistent maintenance is what avoids it.
Yes, and pressure-treated fences are one of the most common projects we do. The key is timing: brand-new pressure-treated wood needs 30–90 days (or longer) to weather and dry before stain will penetrate, because the pressure-treatment process leaves the wood with high moisture content and mill glaze. Once weathered, pressure-treated wood takes stain extremely well, especially penetrating oil-based or oil-modified products. Some homeowners prefer to leave pressure-treated wood unstained and rely on the chemical treatment alone for rot resistance, but pressure treatment doesn't protect against UV graying, splitting, or surface damage, that's what the stain is for.
Most stains are dry to the touch within a few hours and safe for casual contact within 24 hours, but we typically recommend keeping pets away from the fence for 48–72 hours to let the surface fully cure and avoid stain transfer to fur. Solvent smell from oil-based stains can linger 1–3 days outdoors and is more noticeable in still, humid conditions. Your project manager will give you specific timing for the product used and will walk you through any post-stain safety guidance. Once cured, professional fence stains are fully safe for pet contact, kids, and normal yard use.
Fence Staining Resources
Expert tips, how-to guides, and inspiration for your next fence staining project.
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Yes, you can paint over wallpaper, but only if it is smooth, fully adhered, and structurally stable.
Read More →What Is Paint Color Drenching? The Divisive Viral Paint Trend
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