New Cedar Fence - Seal/Stain or Not?
October 21, 2017 8:28 AM Subscribe
I just (on Thursday) had a beautiful cedar privacy fence installed around my deck between the house and detached garage. The work was done by a contractor who I trust - they have done multiple projects at my house of very excellent quality.
When asked, the carpenter who built it said I could seal it this weekend (to be in the 70s Saturday and Sunday but rain predicted on Monday). I've since done some research and asked around and am getting conflicting information as to whether I should seal it right away or let it dry out for the winter before staining and/or sealing it.
I do like the natural cedar color, but would not be averse to a tinted sealer to "finish it" a bit.
Climate is SE Michigan, and my only available day to do this is tomorrow (Sunday).
When asked, the carpenter who built it said I could seal it this weekend (to be in the 70s Saturday and Sunday but rain predicted on Monday). I've since done some research and asked around and am getting conflicting information as to whether I should seal it right away or let it dry out for the winter before staining and/or sealing it.
I do like the natural cedar color, but would not be averse to a tinted sealer to "finish it" a bit.
Climate is SE Michigan, and my only available day to do this is tomorrow (Sunday).
In my early 20s, I refinished decks and fences for a couple of summers. I worked for a "premium" company that did exterior wood refinishing and only exterior wood refinishing, all I know is what I was taught in marketing, but it mostly seems to add up. We used a water-based sealant with a mild cedar stain that soaked into the wood and provided a few years worth of water and UV protection. On new cedar fences it did darken the wood a bit, but still let it look like new cedar. It only takes about a year (at least in the midwest) for a fence or deck to start to turn silver-grey. I was taught that on the whole, most new fences are made with wood that doesn't need any time to dry or age or open up, but that was a thing that some wood needed to do in the past.
I will say that the job we did could be done by just about anyone with the time to do it, but that renting the proper tools would be key. We fixed a few botched home handy-man jobs, and they were kind of a pain. We used an airless power sprayer that dipped right into the buckets of our water-based sealant. We hit all boards from their corners so that we could hit all surfaces, even the insides of the fence palings. We followed up with a push broom or paintbrush to even out any drips. I've done a few fences and decks for friends since then and I've never had any trouble renting a power sprayer for around $20 a day and I can do a decent sized fence in a few hours if I have someone assist me with the brushing and cleanup.
posted by piedmont at 10:01 AM on October 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
I will say that the job we did could be done by just about anyone with the time to do it, but that renting the proper tools would be key. We fixed a few botched home handy-man jobs, and they were kind of a pain. We used an airless power sprayer that dipped right into the buckets of our water-based sealant. We hit all boards from their corners so that we could hit all surfaces, even the insides of the fence palings. We followed up with a push broom or paintbrush to even out any drips. I've done a few fences and decks for friends since then and I've never had any trouble renting a power sprayer for around $20 a day and I can do a decent sized fence in a few hours if I have someone assist me with the brushing and cleanup.
posted by piedmont at 10:01 AM on October 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
I may have been mistaken about the rental price. I just looked it up and Home Depot wants $100 a day for a contractor model. It may have been cheaper from the local rental company, it may have been cheaper before, or I may just have a terrible memory.
posted by piedmont at 11:32 AM on October 21, 2017
posted by piedmont at 11:32 AM on October 21, 2017
Response by poster: I think it would be a brush by hand job...it's not a long fence...two sides, about 16' per side, 6' tall, front and back. Plus lots of fiddly bits (lattice panels on top).
posted by Preserver at 11:42 AM on October 21, 2017
posted by Preserver at 11:42 AM on October 21, 2017
I've always been of the opinion that cedar should be left alone to age.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:52 PM on October 21, 2017
posted by Thorzdad at 1:52 PM on October 21, 2017
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That being said, it's my preference to just let it go natural. Once it starts to need to be done again it won't look as nice and it will be a constant reminder of more work to be done.
posted by humboldt32 at 9:30 AM on October 21, 2017 [1 favorite]