Advice Needed For Staining New Cedar Fence (vinyl, installed, stain)

[Canine*Castle]

I am having a red cedar privacy fence installed next week. The metal posts were cemented in today.

I've looked and looked on the internet for hours trying to decide on what to do after the wood dries as I understand it needs to be stained within a few months if one doesn't want it to turn gray, which I certainly don't. Actually, I'm only going to stain my side although I'm paying for the fence.

Some say acrylic, some say oil-based. Don't use linseed oil because it causes mildew. Yes, do use linseed oil. Don't use Thompson's and on and on until I'm so confused.

Has anyone used the 5-minute fence stain by Precision Products? Their website makes it look really easy and terrific.

Now I wish I had decided on a fence that didn't require maintenance. Actually I did look into vinyl, but it was too pricey for me. I should have inquired about a metal (aluminum?) privacy fence, but it's too late now.

Also, if any of you have had one installed by a fence company, what where you charged per foot for labor and materials? Just curious........ That also is too late now.

Thank you in advance for any first-hand knowledge anyone might have.

[golfgal]

My FIL is a big linseed oil fan. He made beautiful adirondack chairs for everyone in the family. He put linseed oil on them, they are all black with mold.

Keep in mind if you stain a fence, you will have to keep doing that every few years.

[cdelena]

I have had poor results using acrylic based deck products and better results with oil based products.

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by golfgal

My FIL is a big linseed oil fan. He made beautiful adirondack chairs for everyone in the family. He put linseed oil on them, they are all black with mold.

Keep in mind if you stain a fence, you will have to keep doing that every few years.

Do you mean he put linseed oil on them to remove the mold?

Yes, I know I'll have to keep it up. That is why I should have decided on a carefree style fence but my impulsiveness sometimes gets me in trouble.

[K'ledgeBldr]

These products are constantly rated at the top of the heap-

TWP Total Wood Preservative - TWP Total Wood Protectant

Also, read the articles & info page.
The biggest mistake everyone makes about staining a fence or deck- waiting too long. There has been much debate about it over the years, but several studies and tests were preformed and the results typically dictated that the wood should be stained/sealed directly after construction. This study is on that page.
When ever a H/O would ask me about a deck product- TWP was the only product I would recommend.

[Canine*Castle]

Thanks for some good advice. I will look into that TWP and be sure I do the staining soon and not wait too long. I was told to wait up to six months, but I thought that sounded nuts.

[Robhu]

I had posts, rails, and spindles installed around my two sided porch by a well known and respected carpenter in the area. He used treated wood. He told me I should wait about 90 days before staining treated wood. Something about breaking down the material used to treat the wood with. He said if the wood had not been treated and was kiln dried I could have stained it right away.
He also advised using oil based stain because oil based products absorb deeper into the wood. I took his advice and got good results. This was about 3 yrs ago. I will have to restain pretty soon though do to weather and aging but there is no mold or rotten looking places. The wood is still in real good shape.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

Do you mean he put linseed oil on them to remove the mold?

Yes, I know I'll have to keep it up. That is why I should have decided on a carefree style fence but my impulsiveness sometimes gets me in trouble.

No, he 'sealed' them with linseed oil--it doesn't work, at least around here.

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by golfgal

No, he 'sealed' them with linseed oil--it doesn't work, at least around here.

Yep, that's what I read in spite of what people tell me. Thanks for the confirmation that it doesn't work.

[windtimber]

IMHO just let it age to a nice silvery gray. Our decks and fences are 20+ years old, nice neutral color, with no upkeep. Be sure to use stainless steel or other, high quality, super galvanized fasteners. As an earlier poster noted, once you start staining/sealing you have to keep it up forever. In our case we just fix any loosening fasteners, the periodic cracked board, and carry on. By the way, this is in SoDak where it gets hotter than the hubs of h**l in the summer and colder than the well-diggers a** in the winter. There's plenty of adverse weather, in other words...