How to Stain a Cedar Fence the Fast & Easy Way
After we completed our DIY horizontal privacy fence and after selecting the perfect neutral stain color we finally began staining our fence. We have stained and painted many things over the years but this was our first attempt at staining a fence. Through plenty of research and planning we came up with the easiest way to stain our new fence that would be super fast and consistent. Here is how we stained our DIY horizontal privacy fence the fast and easy way.
Step 1 – Clean the Fence
If your staining an old fence or even a fence that has had a chance to weather at all, you will need to clean it properly before staining. Follow the instructions on a quality cleaner like this one and ensure your fence is cleaned and completely dry before staining it.
Step 2 – Spray the Fence
Since our fence was newly installed we skipped straight to this step. We used our Wagner paint sprayer, which comes ready to use. Simply fill the container, plug it in, and it is ready to go. This sprayer comes with a wide angle nozzle that is specifically designed for spray painting fences. Be sure you cover any plants or other items as overspray will occur.
Using horizontal motion we sprayed light even coats back and forth over each section. We originally had the sprayer set to low and it wasnt putting out enough paint to get in the groves of the wood well, so be sure you try a few different pressures to get the perfect pressure. We always go with the direction of the grain as we spray.
We did 2-3 coats per section just to be sure it was covered completely. We really did not want to see the cedar tone under the stain at all.
Step 3 – Back Roll the Fence
After each layer of spray we rolled the fence with a small roller to really work the stain in and be sure it wasn’t just sitting on top of the wood. This also helps with drips. Stain dries super fast when sprayed so this helps get it into the wood before it dries.
Next you will roll any areas you couldn’t reach with the sprayer or that need touch up. Alternatively, you could use a brush for any part in this step but we are partial to rollers since they are fast and cover more area.
The color we used for this fence is Behr semi-transparent in Tugboat, which we selected after sampling these 6 Behr stain colors for our DIY Horizontal Privacy Fence that we recently built.
Before and After Photos
I am so glad we took the time to sample several colors and pick the color that was just right for our fence. Staining it was a breeze and we love how the color turned out! This color looks beautiful from inside our home and I love that it is neutral enough to work with the existing fence color. Eventually we plan to stain the whole fence in this color!
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10 Comments
Fransic Verso
It turned out great in the end. I wish we have a backyard so we can put a fence like this and a garden. Amazing guide step by step.
Melanie
Thanks for the easy guide – about to start staining all our fences and I am not excited.
Layla
This is awesome. I have a fence I have been considering doing this to, but I always chicken out and think I’ll mess it up! Your tips seem totally doable tho!
Eliza
I’m impressed by people who are great at DIY. The thought of doing it makes me dizzy. Great job!
Patricia Chamberlain
This fence looks so good! We are not handy people at all, but I think we could manage this thanks to your clear instructions!
Brendon
Staining fences by hand is a PAIN — I will never do it by hand again. Thanks for the advice!
sara p
the photos are super helpful, i am going to stain our fence this weekend and hope all goes well.
Stephanie
We have to go through a lot of hoops to paint or stain the fences in my neighborhood with the HOA. But, I think this would be wonderful for all of the other woodworking projects we do around the house! Over half of my furniture is custom-made by my husband and his dad, and staining by hand is always so time consuming.
Kate
I’ve never tried spraying a fence – we usually just paint ours… but spraying looks like it would be so much easier!
Felicia
I’ve heard of sprayers, but never tried one. But in a situation like this, it makes total sense. Good to know of this shortcut!