Lots of threads on paint vs. stain, but I’m wondering what brand you like or don’t like? BTW, you simply cannot buy oil based stain anymore due to environmental regs, so if that’s what you suggest, it’s basically impossible now.
How long did you wait after fencing if you used pressure treated fence? Did you do any prep?
TIA!!
I would not use paint on a fence…film finishes do not weather well and require a lot more maintenance. With an opaque stain, you can get the same coloration with less upkeep because it breaths with the wood. It doesn’t matter that oil-based isn’t available…that’s going to become more and more the rule at this point due to VOC regulations. The water borne products are very good at this point. (BTW, an airless sprayer and a small generator on a carry-all on the back of a tractor is a really easy way to initially apply and later maintain the stain on your fence lines)
Relative to pressure treated wood products, they are extremely wet when “new” and really should have about six months out in the sun/wind to dry before you get into staining them if you can afford to wait. The process for pressure treating is done to “Green” wood (very wet already) and actually adds moisture to the wood initially. That take time to leave the wood into the atmosphere.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/lexington-professional-fence-paint-black-5-gal
I used that when I put my arena fence in and did my round pen back in 2008. One coat, over rough sawn lumber and landscape timbers.
Over the last few weeks we’ve been replacing some of the warped/broken boards (yay for ponies that think its easier to jump out of the ring then free jump sigh) and I’m wrapping up repainting everything.
We just got done with a major fence project and opted to go with stain, used a paint sprayer and are very happy with the results. We went with this stain from Lowes in a solid color (ebony), they advertise it as having a 10 year warranty but if you read the fine print they have a 25 year warranty on vertical surfaces (fence). It’s only bee up a few months but so far so good.
See this thread that I started about it earlier this year. Pictures are included in that thread, post 11. (just saw your question about post size in that thread and have answered it) feel free to email or pm me if you have questions.
If you stain, can you just do one coat? I know painting is better with two…even better with primer.
We just did one coat of stain. It was a solid stain and it looks like paint. We will need to go back and touchup a few post that had a little dirt on them.
Overall I would stain again before I ever considered painting.
Very happy with Behr Premium All-In-One
This is what I use:
BEHR PREMIUM® Semi-Transparent Weatherproofing All-In-One Wood Stain & Sealer
I’m very satisfied with the appearance and durability. It claims to last 8 years on vertical surfaces…but I’m right at 8 years with one coat and it still looks quite nice, and seems to be protecting the wood.
I let mine cure for roughly six months before I stained it and did not do anything to prep other than make sure dirt was brushed off. Be very certain the wood is completely dry beforehand and that no rain is forecasted for at least 24 hours. I hand brushed mine. A lot of people seem to like spraying theirs, but since the instructions say that you have to back brush anyhow, I don’t see the benefit of spraying just to have turn around and brush. Each to their own I guess…
The color I chose was Sable. Goes on slightly rust colored at first, but darkens up very nicely within 3-4 months.
That’s interesting because people LOVE to rip on Behr. We used it on our deck and had to redo it every year, but that was a lot of traffic. I wonder if people with staining problems do it when it is too hot/sunny? I know that is an issue (dries too fast). Just a random “out loud” thought.
Sherman Williams has a sale coming up and I also have a $10 off coupon, so I can buy their stain cheaper than either listed above, and I may do that–I really like their paint anyway. Online reviews are so polarized on all the products out there, except the ones that I can’t get around here or in a dark color anyway.
I had toyed with doing this because it is oil based, wicked cheap, and used in KY: http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/lexington-fencecoat-acrylic-lacquer-fence-paint-5-gal-black
Or this to discourage chewing–I am a little worried about chewing with a donkey: http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/gardner-gibson-fence-post-black-beauty-asphalt-fence-paint-5-gal
[QUOTE=TrotTrotPumpkn;7576453]
That’s interesting because people LOVE to rip on Behr. We used it on our deck and had to redo it every year, but that was a lot of traffic. I wonder if people with staining problems do it when it is too hot/sunny? I know that is an issue (dries too fast). Just a random “out loud” thought.
Sherman Williams has a sale coming up and I also have a $10 off coupon, so I can buy their stain cheaper than either listed above, and I may do that–I really like their paint anyway. Online reviews are so polarized on all the products out there, except the ones that I can’t get around here or in a dark color anyway.
I had toyed with doing this because it is oil based, wicked cheap, and used in KY: http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/lexington-fencecoat-acrylic-lacquer-fence-paint-5-gal-black
Or this to discourage chewing–I am a little worried about chewing with a donkey: http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/gardner-gibson-fence-post-black-beauty-asphalt-fence-paint-5-gal[/QUOTE]
A lot of bad reviews on the second one, the first one has somewhat better reviews but not great.
[QUOTE=Let’sTalkAboutHorses;7572817]
This is what I use:
BEHR PREMIUM® Semi-Transparent Weatherproofing All-In-One Wood Stain & Sealer
I’m very satisfied with the appearance and durability. It claims to last 8 years on vertical surfaces…but I’m right at 8 years with one coat and it still looks quite nice, and seems to be protecting the wood.
I let mine cure for roughly six months before I stained it and did not do anything to prep other than make sure dirt was brushed off. Be very certain the wood is completely dry beforehand and that no rain is forecasted for at least 24 hours. I hand brushed mine. A lot of people seem to like spraying theirs, but since the instructions say that you have to back brush anyhow, I don’t see the benefit of spraying just to have turn around and brush. Each to their own I guess…
The color I chose was Sable. Goes on slightly rust colored at first, but darkens up very nicely within 3-4 months.[/QUOTE]
I just clicked on your link and realized you used the semi-transparent. I had used the solid. Interesting! I had peeling issues with the solid.
answered you over on ‘my thread’ and should have done it here, so I just copied and pasted:
aaack! so sorry, Trot trot! ok, here is what our fencer guy used:
http://www.rammfence.com/fence/horse...arn-paint.html
I think? Tractor supply sells something you can compare it to…NOW…what I WILL SAY: those photos are older. the fencer used VERY ‘green’ (think still wet) salt /pressure treated posts…and there has been some peeling. on wood that was NOT too green, its still perfect. so be careful when you paint. let it totally ‘dry out’ first. But, this stuff is amazing, and goes on so easy and cleans up so easy and has a gloss finish vs. a ‘stain’ dullness (which I hate)…JMHO!
[QUOTE=ayrabz;7582204]
answered you over on ‘my thread’ and should have done it here, so I just copied and pasted:
aaack! so sorry, Trot trot! ok, here is what our fencer guy used:
http://www.rammfence.com/fence/horse...arn-paint.html
I think? Tractor supply sells something you can compare it to…NOW…what I WILL SAY: those photos are older. the fencer used VERY ‘green’ (think still wet) salt /pressure treated posts…and there has been some peeling. on wood that was NOT too green, its still perfect. so be careful when you paint. let it totally ‘dry out’ first. But, this stuff is amazing, and goes on so easy and cleans up so easy and has a gloss finish vs. a ‘stain’ dullness (which I hate)…JMHO![/QUOTE]
Bah!! You’re too late!!! LOL. I bought 4 gallons of Deckscapes (SW stain) yesterday. Of course it is supposed to rain today and I haven’t gotten started with staining. That said, this is the back 2.25 acres or so. I am doing the flex rail fencing along the house/road and am thinking paint for those posts to match the “plasticky” sheen of the rails.
I can be a consumer reports for horse fencing and try all the brands and types of stain/paint on my own farm. 
No painted fences, but we use Olympic Base Coat for staining the jump standards and cavaletti. Has held up darn good over the years, making them look pretty white. It is an opaque stain, and latex I believe because I washed the brushes clean after. You just buy it, have it shaken, no colors added, turns out white. You can look inside the can after shaking, looks white there too.
Not cheap, dries FAST, so I was able to do a couple coats the same day. Takes a couple coats to cover well on our new wood. We let the treated lumber dry after making the standards, poles and cavaletti, so it was not wet feeling or so green looking anymore. Must have been NEW shipment to the lumberyard, it was moist feeling when purchased. Then put the stain on when wood “looked dry” after being out on hot, sunny days.
We do put the standards, poles, cavaletti away during fall and winter, so not outside in weather year around. Might make it last longer than fences in keeping a good appearance. Not chalky, does not come off on you or clothes when moving them. Again, Olympic stain is not cheap, but you might find some on sale.
If I run out I was thinking I would buy Olympic for the far line. Seriously, I like the idea of testing everything! LOL.
So far I really like how the Sherman Williams is going on–only time will tell for the rest. Seems to be soaking in nicely for a water-based product. My solid Behr seemed to just sit on top of the deck.
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