Thursday, September 21, 2017

How Should You Seal Cedar Fence

By Brian Murphy


Beautiful cedar fences are highly decorative and really durable. Even so, if you want them to remain beautifully reddish, you need to protect them properly. So, here are some things you should know about how to seal cedar fence and why. First, sealing will protect the wood from sun, rain and mildew, affecting your fence appearance and health.

These lovely red pigments will soon fade away, if the wood is not appropriately protected. This means that your beautiful reddish fence will soon become lighter, and, in time, even grey. Sealants can contain UV filters, and those filters will protect your fence's color from fading. Oil-based sealants can contain more or less pigments, and can be transparent or semi-transparent.

Transparent sealants contain low levels of pigments. You can use clear ones instead, but most people agree that small pigment levels emphasize reddish color cedar is famous for. Some clear sealants might lightly change the basic color of the wood, or make it a little darker, especially if they contain linseed oil or some other ingredients that can affect the final result of this procedure.

Find a few leftover pieces of wood and take them to your home supply store. This is the best way of checking the appropriate nuance of your choice. Some might look great at first sight, but... In any case, you should understand that a little bit of pigments in might provide far better protection, and would not affect the color too much, maybe it will only emphasize its beauty.

It's hard to say which application method is the best. Some people use rollers, some find it easier to use a sprayer. In any case, you will also need a brush, for making corrections, as well as for achieving better results. Sprayers might be more expensive solution, because they use more material. On the other hand, using sprayers is easier and quicker, so, it's up to you.

Some types of sealers cannot be used with all sprayer types, and some have to be diluted first. Make sure to read the instructions carefully, or to ask for an advice in your supply store. In any case, you should protect your hands and eyes, especially when using sprayers for this purpose. Also, you should consider protecting the opposite side of the fence and your neighbor's lawn, as well as yours.

If you have just recently installed a new cedar fence, wait for a while before staining it. The wood needs some time to set first. Six to eight weeks should be quite enough. In any case, don't wait for too long. During hot summer months, the color will fade more quickly. Prevent the fading before your fence becomes grey.

If you have an old cedar fence that became grey, there is a way for renewing its appearance. A good pressure washer will be perfect for this job. Simply use it to remove this grey patina from your cedar fence. Different stains can be removed with mild bleach solution. Wait until dry, and apply two sealant coatings. Make sure the first one is dry before applying the second.




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