It’s time to give your fence a much-needed makeover, but you can’t decide whether you need to stain or paint your fence. So, first of all, what’s the difference and what’s best for your fence? You apply both formulas in the exact same way, they can offer similar protection, and they both come in solvent- and water-based variations with high and low VOC levels, yet they fall under separate categories.
So what’s the difference between paint and stain?
Paint being applied to a fence
Let’s start with paints
Let’s start with paint. This formula is a high-build finish that covers the grain of the wood, making it impossible to see the natural beauty of the wood. However, it comes in the widest range of colours of any wood finish, and some paints can be applied to multiple surfaces, including metal and plastic.
If you’re looking for fence paint on a budget, a quick glance over Ronseal Garden Paint might be worthwhile. It’s important to note that the viscous formula can vary greatly in terms of price. Of course, there are value-for-money options, but there are also a variety of luxury paints that can often set you back close to £90 for a 5-litre tin.
What makes an expensive paint worth every penny is the quality of the pigments and ingredients they use when making the formula. Don’t feel like you’re paying an extortionate amount of money for a brand name – it’s the quality of the formula.
You should look at repainting your fence with an extra coat annually. Of course, it can all depend on weather conditions, but once every couple of years should do enough to keep your fence looking as good as new, rather than leaving it for an extended period of time and letting it become worn and damaged.
If you want to take a look at our in-depth guide on how to paint your fence, click here.
What do stains do?
Stains are popular because they show the grain of the wood, whereas paint doesn’t. Some stains really hit the value-for-money marker, such as Cuprinol’s 5 Year Ducksback – which can be picked up for just over £15 (5-litre version).
One thing to be aware of with stains is that they don’t come in as many colour variations at the cheaper end of the spectrum. If you want a very out-there and unusual colour to help it stand out, you’ll do well to find it with a value-for-money stain. Cheaper paints such as Garden Shades, on the other hand, come in an array of colours.
The more diluted stain formula is less likely to blister, peel, crack or flake because it isn’t particularly thick, but it will feel the effects of weathering slightly quicker if it’s not topped up annually with a fresh coat.
Cuprinol 5 Year Ducksback Stain in Silver Copse
What’s best for my fence then?
They’re both great for fences. If you already have a tin of paint or stain that’s suitable for exterior wood with adequate weather protection, use it!
However, if you need a few pros and cons to help make a decision, here they are:
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| Stains | Help enhance the grain of the wood. | Will require a new coat every 12 months to maintain the fence. |
| Paints | More colour choices. | Cover the grain of the wood, making the fence look less natural and more uniform. |
Pros and cons table
Our choices for paint
The value-for-money option
Nothing screams value for money quite like Ronseal, and this tradition certainly continues with their 5-star-rated Garden Paint. This water-based exterior timber paint is available in over 20 vivid colours, while also being rainproof within 1 hour of application.
This product goes in with the bold claim of up to 5 years’ colour protection, which will prevent your painted timber from losing that natural shimmer and shine. Another huge plus for the budget option is that it has coverage of up to 12 m² per litre, which is fantastic for a product in that price range.
The multipurpose paint tin offers a handy guide on the reverse of the tin on how to paint each type of wood. The instructions for fences are extremely simple: just use a stiff brush to get rid of any dirt before applying.
The premium option
Osmo Garden Colour is definitely one of your go-to choices if you’re looking to splash the cash on a quality paint. With outstanding coverage of up to 16 m² per litre, the robust water-based formula also boasts weather and UV resistance, with a specialised additive to prevent cracking, peeling or flaking.
The only major downfall of this product (apart from its price tag) is that, for a paint, it’s only available in 14 colours at present.
Our choice for stain
The value-for-money option
Cuprinol 5 Year Ducksback is unquestionably your go-to stain for value for money. The wax-enriched finish is weatherproof within 1 hour of drying and will continue to protect your fence for 5 years. The idea behind the name Ducksback is that the water-repellent finish forces moisture to run off the timber like a duck’s back. I’ve personally used this stain in Autumn Brown, and it really does pack a punch and is deserving of the value-for-money accolade.
Cuprinol 5 Year Ducksback
The preparation for this is the same as for any paint or stain: just give the surface a brush down before applying the formula. This product will require 2–3 coats and is only available in 5-litre tins. A downside to this product is its meagre coverage of up to 5 m² per litre.
The premium option
Our premium pick for stain is none other than Sadolin’s legendary Classic Wood Protection. This all-purpose wood stain is solvent-based with impressive coverage of up to 10 m² per litre. This stain is extremely versatile, as it’s suitable for fences as well as decking, cladding, large fascias and exterior rough-sawn timber.
This product requires between 3 coats for ultimate protection. It’s also important to note that this product is only available in a variety of natural colours, with a plethora of browns available on the product page.
This is another product where the reviews speak for themselves, with the product being rated 5 stars and Doug quoting Ronseal’s famous slogan in their review, saying “it does what it says on the tin” – it’s as straightforward as that.
Sadolin Classic Wood Protection in Redwood on a fence
Expert tip – decking oil for your fence?
Want to apply an oil to your fence for a more natural look and feel? You can actually use Manns Premier UV Decking Oil, and it does a fantastic job!
Manns Premier UV Decking Oil
This decking oil actually contains everything you’d want for fence protection, plus it’s available at a lower price than comparable fence oils!
We hope you found this article informative and helpful. If there are any specific products or projects you’d like more information on, please don’t hesitate to contact our experts at orders@wood-finishes-direct.com or on 01303 213838.
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