Size: Depending on the area that you want to cover with the stain, you will have to choose the pack of the right size for yourself. In the list, we have mentioned fence stain options that come in either 1 gallon packs or 5 gallon packs. So, you can easily pick any option that seems suitable to you. Color: Although transparent fence stain options are also available, they are just not trendy these days as there are so many good color options to choose from. Depending on the shade of wood that you like the most such as Cedar, Brown Sugar, Sienna, etc, you can pick your choice of color to paint on your fence. Base Material: Fence stains are usually made based on oil or water, so there are basically two kinds of fence stains available in the market. The oil-based fence stains offer a better finishing, but are harder to clean off. On the other hand, water-based fence stains are easy to apply and clean, but they require more maintenance. .
Furthermore, there are a few other things that a customer can choose to consider while picking a new fence stain. In case you are interested to know it all, we have provided all the necessary information in the Buying Guide section below, so you can refer to it. For now, let’s just quickly get to the list of best fence stains and start checking out their features.
Best Fence Stain 2023 Chart
Best Fence Stain Reviews
1. Ready Seal 512 5-Gallon Pail Natural Cedar Stain
Ready Seal is sincerely one of the most popular brands in the market right now and is often recommended by the professionals as well. You can definitely use it for your DIY projects as it doesn’t require you to use primer, you can paint this directly. This fence stain provides a natural cedar color when applied, but it’s usually dark when first applied as it reaches its true color in about two weeks. The best part is that you can apply by simply using a brush, sprayer, or roller as well whichever seems convenient to you. In addition, it’s highly efficient as you can directly reapply a second coat on it without sanding or stripping the previous one. If you are concerned about the quantity, this comes in a 5 gallon bucket which is a good enough amount to cover a large fence area. Moreover, it also comes with a 1 year long warranty offered by the manufacturer for customer satisfaction. Best Features:
Oil-based wood stain The quantity is 5 gallons Gives a semi-transparent finish Color is Natural Cedar Comes with a 1 year long warranty
Pros:
Does not require primer Easy to apply No need for sanding before re-application
Cons:
Expensive
2. SaverSystems #1 Deck Premium Semi-Transparent Wood Stain
Moving on to the next fence stain option on this list, SaverSystems is yet another popular brand in the market that you will come across as it offers a wide range of fence stain options at competitive prices. If the fences outside your house are getting aged, rough, and losing their natural charm, this stain will prevent color fading of the wood, and even protect it from other environmental factors such as moisture. You can use it on almost any wood, it will give a nice cedar look to it in just one of two coats of it. On the other hand, it is semi-transparent, so it allows the wood grain and texture to show through, and adds an extra shine to the wood as well. Moreover, it’s a water-based stain, so you can easily clean it up with just using soap and water whenever needed. Best Features:
Water-based wood stain The quantity is 1 gallon Gives a semi-transparent finish Color is Cedar Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Can be washed off with soap and water Works on damp wood Prevents damage caused by water
Cons:
Not very long-lasting as compared to other options
3. STORM SYSTEM Storm Protector Penetrating Sealer
In case you are concerned about adding a protection layer to your fence to keep it safe from water damage, Storm System offers one of the best oil-based wood stain options in the market. Speaking of this wood stain option from Storm System, it’s one of the most popular oil-based wood stains that you can find in the market, that too for such an affordable pricing. It delivers a semi-transparent finishing, so using it on slightly aged wood will give you the best results. This pack of wood stain comes in 1-gallon quantity, and is compatible with any species of wood. In fact, it provides a proper seal to the wood and blocks off any damage that may occur due to moisture and any other external environmental factors. In addition, applying it is so simple and easy as you can use any tool of your choice such as a brush, roller, or spray. Best Features:
Oil-based wood stain The quantity is 1 gallon Gives a semi-transparent finish Color of the wood stain is Sienna Comes with a 1 year long warranty
Pros:
Compatible with all wood species Offers excellent protection to the wood Can be applied with brush, roller or sprayer
Cons:
Requires extra spirits for clean up
4. DEFY Extreme 1 Gallon Semi-Transparent Exterior Wood Stain
Next on this list, if you are looking for a high-end water-based wood stain, Defy is quite a good brand choice to go with. Talking about this wood stain from Defy, it’s a water-based one, so it’s super easy to apply as it doesn’t leave any marks and fills the gaps properly. The size of the pack is 1 gallon , so it should be sufficient enough for most customers. Thankfully, it spreads well and also dries up pretty quick so that you can apply the next coating without waiting too long. Moreover, it’s a pretty unique wood stain as it provides a redwood color, and due to its semi-transparent finish, it’s best to use with new or slightly aged wood. In fact, the stain is quite long-lasting and will easily last for a season or two before needing a reapplication. So, overall it’s totally worth your money. And, it even comes with a 1 year long warranty. Best Features:
Water-based wood stain The quantity is 1 gallon Gives a semi-transparent finish Color of the wood stain is Redwood Comes with a 1 year long warranty
Pros:
Long-lasting and durable Affordable pricing Dries up quickly
Cons:
A little expensive
5. Wood Defender Transparent Fence Stain CEDAR TONE
The next wood stain option on this list comes from the brand, Wood Defender, which is a pretty well-known brand in the market and has a pretty huge customer base as well. The reason why it’s one of the highly recommended brands out there is because it Wood Defender has maintained its reputation by offering amazing services to its customers and by offering high-end wood stain options. Speaking of this transparent wood stain here, it comes in a 5 gallon pack, and offers a Cedar tone to the wood after application. Well, talking about the application process, you might have to wait for a day to let the first coat dry up nicely, so you can go for the second one. Despite that, the quality is superb as it offers amazing protection to the wood against all the weather-based factors, and lasts for a pretty long time. Moreover, it’s water-based, so it is easy to clean as well as apply. In addition, the brand offers a 2 year long warranty for it which is amazing. Best Features:
Oil-based wood stain The quantity is 5 gallons Gives a transparent finish Color of the wood stain is Cedar Comes with a 2 year long warranty
Pros:
Weather-proof solution Application is simple Long lasting
Cons:
Costly
6. SEAL-ONCE Exotic Premium Wood Sealer
Coming to the next option on our list, Seal Once is yet another good brand that is well-known for providing effective protective solutions for wood in the market. This exotic premium wood sealer from Seal Once is an excellent waterproofer, and stain that you can use to protect your fence. Well, since it comes in a 1-gallon pack, it should be good enough for most people. In fact, the solution is quite advanced as there are no toxic chemicals involved, so it’s safe for your pets as well as for the environment too. For the clean-up, you can just rely on the soap and water as this solution is water-based and doesn’t stick like other oil-based stains. Although Seal Once offers plenty of color options to choose from, this stain here is a clear one, and is totally transparent, so it won’t add any kind of tint to your fence. At the same time, this stain is going to provide protection to the wood against UV rays which will help prevent fading. On top of it, it comes with a 1-year warranty as well. Best Features:
Water-based wood stain The quantity is 1 gallon Gives a transparent finish Color of the wood stain is Clear Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Plenty of colors and tints available Non-toxic solution Offers UV protection
Cons:
Takes a bit too long to dry up
7. Woodrich Timber Oil Deep Penetrating Stain
In case you are fond of dark wood colors, and want to protect your fence with a darker shade of stain, Woodrich has a lot of good options that you can check out in the market. As we talk about this wood stain here, it offers a decent brown sugar color to the wood wherever applied. Although it takes a few days for it to reach its final tone, so don’t judge it right after applying. Since it’s a 5 gallon pack, you will have plenty of transparent wood stain to use, so you can almost cover an entire fencing, wood slidings, and log cabins in your house. Apart from that, it’s an oil-based wood stain, so it’s definitely going to last for a long time as compared to other water-based solutions that we have discussed so far. However, cleaning up this wood stain is going to be a task for you. Despite that, the protection it offers is quite commendable. In fact, it can be easily applied using a brush or a sprayer, so that’s pretty convenient. Best Features:
Oil-based wood stain The quantity is 5 gallons Gives a transparent finish Color of the wood stain is Brown Sugar tone Comes with a 1 year long warranty
Pros:
No primer is needed Easy to use Maintenance-free
Cons:
Hard to clean up
8. Sashco Transformation Log and Timber Stain
Sashco is one of the most reputable and well-known wood stain brands in this industry. This Sashco transformation log and timber stain is a premium wood stain option that let you achieve a glossy finish on your wooden fence to restore the log home. This semi-transparent gloss log stain will show the wood grain, and it is compatible with all types of Sashco chinking and caulking products, along with a wide range of stains and coatings. It is great for both new construction and restoration works. Its exquisite color portfolio and stunning oil finish will transform your home into a dream place, as this wood stain is specially designed for log homes. This oil-based stain will penetrate and protect the wood offering a lasting finish. Since it is a 5-gallon (18.9 liters) pack, you will have plenty of transparent wood stain to use, so you can almost cover an entire wood siding, fencing, and log cabins in your home. It is an excellent option for exterior usage on the wood surface that restores the destroyed wood nature with its light brown tone color. Best Features:
Oil-based wood stain The quantity is 5-gallon Gives a semi-transparent finish Color of the wood stain is a light brown tone Best to use with new or slightly aged wood Compatible with difficult stains and coatings.
Pros:
Compatible with all wood (log & timber) species Easy to clean Ideal for both new construction and tough restoration works. Available in plenty of colors and tints
Cons:
Takes a bit too long to dry up. No information is available on its warranty
Buying Guide for the Best Fence Stain
Fence stains are a pretty good solution to use when you want to add a protective layer to any wooden surface, while maintaining its wooden texture and look. However, most people often get confused to pick a fence stain from the market as there are hundreds of options to choose from which can confuse anyone. However, if you exactly know what you need, you can trim down the list and find the best suitable one for yourself in no time. That said, we will be providing you with all the necessary information that a customer should know about fence stain, so don’t go anywhere and read this buying guide until the end.
1. Size
First of all, you should be clear about the amount of fence stain that you will be needing to cover the entire fencing along your house. In our list, you will find fence stain options in basically two sizes, 1 gallon and 5 gallon. That being said, if your requirement is less, you can go for a 1 gallon pack, or get multiple 1 gallon packs too. Otherwise, if you want to cover a large fence area or even a complete wooden house, you will definitely require the stain in a large quantity. Hence, the 5 gallon packs will provide you with a good value for your money in that case.
2. Color
It’s totally a personal choice whether you want to paint your fence with a different color or pick a transparent stain to maintain its natural look. There are a bunch of color options available in the market to choose from such as Cedar, Brown Sugar, Sienna, and many more. Thus, you can discuss it with your family and friends and pick the right color that everyone suggests.
3. Base Material
You must be aware of the fact that fence stains are basically of two kinds, oil-based and water-based. Speaking of the oil-based fence stains, they are quite long-lasting as oil makes it stick to the fence surface strongly. However, if you wish to change the stain in future, you will face a little difficulty removing an oil-based stain as it won’t come off without using spirit. On the other hand, water-based fence stains are easier to clean and remove. Moreover, they are easier to apply for and come for a cheaper price than the latter. However, the only downside is that it does not sustain on the wood for a long time and requires frequent maintenance.
4. Transparency
Yet another thing that you can consider checking about a fence stain is its transparency or its opacity. There are basically three kinds of fence stains available that include transparent ones, semi-transparent, and solid ones. So, the one that you should pick depends on the quality of your wooden fence. If the wood is new, a transparent fence stain will be perfect for it as it will reflect its natural color and texture. On the other hand, if the wood is slightly aged, you should go for a semi-transparent option instead as it will give the best results. However, if the condition of the wood is old and rough, a solid fence stain will provide it a smooth texture and help replenish its look in the best way possible.
5. Warranty
While you are about to spend your money on a fence stain option, don’t forget to pay attention to the brand’s reputation as well. You must invest in a brand that offers good quality products and cares for its customers as well. That being said, checking for the warranty becomes a necessary thing for every customer. Comparing the best brands out there, almost all the top fence stain brands in the industry offer a 1 year warranty, so keep an eye on it.
Conclusion
We have covered almost all the best fence stain options in this article as you might have already noticed. So, as you know, there are plenty of good options, and picking the one is totally your personal preference. However, we have done our part by providing you with all the details about each and every fence stain option. In case you feel confused at some point, the buying guide has a lot of useful information that you can take into your consideration and make the final decision wisely. However, if you are still struggling to find the best one for yourself, here are some of our personal recommendations for you all: For those who are looking for a fence stain that could last for a long time without needing any maintenance, Ready Seal 512 5-Gallon Pail Natural Cedar Exterior Stain and Sealer for Wood is the one that you should go for. It offers a natural cedar shade to the wood and is super-easy to apply as well. Moreover, it even comes with a 1 year long warranty as well. On the other hand, if you want to protect your wooden fence from graying or fading, the SaverSystems #1 Deck Premium Semi-Transparent Wood Stain for Decks, Fences, & Siding – 1 Gallon (Cedar) is definitely the best option for you. This Water-based solution is quite easy to apply, and works on damp wood too. Moreover, it’s pretty easy to clean up, and also comes with a 1 year long warranty. Apart from these two options, we also like to recommend the STORM SYSTEM Storm Protector Penetrating Sealer & Stain Protector. It offers a semi-transparent finish to the wood, and works best for slightly aged wood as it preserves its richness and saves it from exterior damages. Since it’s an oil-based stain, the level of protection is phenomenal, and can be easily applied using a brush, sprayer or roller. In fact, it also comes with a 1 year long warranty. Comment * Name * Email * Website
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