Ten years ago, I had a cedar fence installed. After a lot of research, I determined it just wasn't worth the effort to stain and maintain every couple years, so I just let it weather naturally. I figured if I got 10 years out of it, the savings in time, energy, and product costs was equivalent to getting a new fence.

Well, I was right on the money because that's about how long it lasted. Much of it blew down in storm this summer, so I recently replaced it. I don't have any illusions about keeping it looking perfect, but I'm willing to invest some time and effort into it this time so that it holds up a little longer. Anyone have any tips for new cedar? Not just for now but for when I need to prep and redo it a couple years from now.

My past research led me to the Defy line of epoxy-fortified stains. I've used this on our pergola a couple of times. The results have been very good, but with all the necessary prep work, this has proved to be a very demanding project...and a pricey one at that. Can't imagine doing this for the whole fence (both sides).

The fence has been up for about 6 weeks. Does it need to dry longer (until spring)? The horizontal top pieces have already started to discolor.

Should I clean first with an oxygenated bleach to get rid of the mill sap and open up the pores?

cedar can have oils in it that need to season out or can mess with the paint / solid color stain.
Might be best to wait for it to turn slightly grey

My neighbor put some really beautiful cedar siding on the front of his house and tried sealing and painting it right away and it all started peeling flaking in 6 months.
Looked best with the clear sealant. I had hoped that was how it was staying.

He painted it bright noon time Summer Sky blue.


Paint every picket a different color.

I've always had luck with the "Flood" line of products.

The only other hint I can offer is : Do NOT use an airless sprayer to stain / seal your fence. I was waterproof for a week... take a shower, it just rolls off. Weird.

Just do what I did-- buy a 5-gallon bucket of Thompson's water seal-- the one I bought had a slight redwood tinge to it.
Put it your attic.
Post about it 4 years later.

maybe look into some durable oil finishes, such as teak oil, and find out about adding color/stain to your liking...

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Sometimes it is what it is...
and then there's times when it's really better.



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just have an annual whitewashing contest