Staining or Sealing your Western Red Cedar Fence
Western Red Cedar Fences can be stained or sealed. Although a larger number of our customers leave the Western Red Cedar in their natural state which eventually turns the grey color you see all over, Western Red Cedar Fences can be stained and / or treated. If you are considering either or both you should determine what you are actually going to do the process for:
Weather resistance and slow down of rot
Appearance and Weather resistency
Weather resistannce: We carry a line of product called Copperwood. Copperwood is a treated Southern Yellow Pine product that carries a 25 year manufacturers limited warranty against rot and insect infestation. You should consider this product if you are planning on treating the fence. If you already have or just prefer Western Red Cedar Fences and you are planning on treating….DO YOur Homework!Some treatments are not meant for Western Red Cedar and will actually cause more harm then good. Consult with a professional Paint Supplier and make sure you are purchasing a product that is specifically for Western Red Cedar.
If your sole purpose is to prevent the fence from “greying” out then you should consider a semi translucent or solid stain. Some stains that dont block out UV rays will not prevent the wood from “greying” and the wood will actually grey underneath the stain and may create a color that you wouldnt expect. Solid stains generally prevent that.
In Either situation you should consult a Professional Paint Supplier. Sherwin Williams carries a complete line of products that are intended for use on Western Red Cedar.
If you are planning on staining or sealing then ask your installer for scrap pieces so you can test out the colors and treatment prior to taking on the task of the entire fence.
