Preserving the Wood on my Privacy Fence?

[BCapes]

I have a 6 foot privacy fence made of pressure treated 1X4's, 2X4's and 4X4 posts. It is 5 years old and has turned gray due to the UV rays from the sun.

I plan on preserving the wood for a second time and am looking at the best product to use. I had originally used the Olympic Waterguard because of the Consumer Reports ratings but was hoping this time to use a longer lasting product!

Any Suggestions? Thanks in advance!

[champ223]

Cabots makes some good stuff. If you pressure wash it first you can get some of the grey out before you recoat it.

[1Stratos]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by champ223 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Cabots makes some good stuff. If you pressure wash it first you can get some of the grey out before you recoat it.</td></tr></table>

+1

[Blue Steel]

I use CWF...lasts about 3 years on horizontal boards, 5 years in vertical

[baggerslimm]

Cabots is very good.. Also flood is a great product also.. You can go to the dollar store and buy some mean green in gallon jugs to wash everything first.. Good luck slimm

[jseasor]

your probably not going to believe this, but take a bug sprayer and fill it with bleach, use 4 parts bleach to 1 part water. spray on the fence. the bleach will bring the wood back to its normal color..... no pressure needed...

[jomo924]

on CWF,,,, i use the 5year and spray it on and have since my stockade fence was installed almost 6 years ago and i reapplied at 4 years but fence looks like fresh oiled cedar right now and shows no sign of greying,,,,,,,,now if only the ends of my "backer" boards werent splitting i would be a happy guy

[tat900]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by jseasor &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">your probably not going to believe this, but take a bug sprayer and fill it with bleach, use 4 parts bleach to 1 part water. spray on the fence. the bleach will bring the wood back to its normal color..... no pressure needed...</td></tr></table>


If you have any shrubbery or plants around your fence the bleach will kill them

[BCapes]

Thanks guys. I do believe that about the bleach!!

I hope it does kill some of the stuff behind my fence! Makes me wonder why I ever used the expensive weed killers when all I had to do was bleach them!

[ClaySlayer]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by BCapes &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Thanks guys. I do believe that about the bleach!!

I hope it does kill some of the stuff behind my fence! Makes me wonder why I ever used the expensive weed killers when all I had to do was bleach them! </td></tr></table>

Seriously, clean and roundup at the same time!!!

[dward51]

If you are wanting to restore the original natural color of the wood, any home improvement store should have a product that will work. You just use a pump "bug" sprayer to put it on and then lightly pressure wash it off. After it drys you can use a wood protectant or stain of your choice. If you go with a protectant and don't want it to grey again, make sure it has a UV protectant in the mix. You do need to be careful around plants with the runnoff as it's pretty harsh on them.

[secdawgs]

Be careful with pressure washing, some pressure washers will cut that wood like a knife. I would start in a inconspicuous place first.

[dward51]

Yes, be careful with a pressure washer on any wood. Use a wide fan tip and start a good distance from the wood until you get a feel for how well the wood will stand up to the flow.

[Painter1]

You have gotten some good advice already so I only have a couple of tips to add.

You dont need a pressure washer if you can get a decent spray from a garden nozzle for the bleach/Simple Green wash. PW may do more harm than good.

If you want longer life (less maintenance) buy a "solid color stain" but stay away from the acrylics (latex) as they are just cheap house paint. Get a good quality oil based solid color stain. Now here is the important part. Have the paint store shake the can(s) <u>twice</u>. The prime ingredients are heavy & sticky and must get well mixed. Roll the stain on the fence from the bottom up and keep a brush handy for hard to reach places. Ask for a 6 inch "weenie" roller; easier to use (1/2" to 3/4" nap). Skip the roller pan and use a bucket with a small grid. Don't be afraid to put on a heavy coat. Figure about 160SF/ gal.

If you want to restore woods to look like newer cedar here is a trick. Get some "wood bleach" from the paint store. This has no relation to chlorine bleach. Use the wood bleach AFTER cleaning the wood with Simple Green or similar cleaner. Use WB per instructions and you will get a paler wood that needs prompt treatment. Figure 160 SF/gal again and buy 1 gallon of "cedar tone" semi-transparent (oul based) stain and 1 gallon of clear. After vigorous shaking at the store (see above) mix the 2 types together in a 3.5 gallon roller bucket (check the inside can bottoms for residue. Apply as directed above and you will have a nice "strawberry blonde" finish. TWP (Total Wood Preservative) is the best product I have used.

Mike