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3 Reasons to Stain Your Wood Fence
A wooden fence is an attractive, economical, and environmentally friendly solution for most homes. It offers privacy and security, and it helps keep pets and toddlers from wandering. Many people like the look of naked wood or paint, but staining often provides the best results. This colorant penetrates deep beneath the wood's surface and highlights the natural grain. Here's a closer look at why you might want to choose stain over a coat of paint or bare wood.
Why Staining Is Ideal for a Wooden Fence
1. Bring Out the Wood's Natural Beauty
Wood grain is the tree's natural texture, consisting of the orientation of wood fibers that create a rich, unique pattern. Each year of the tree's life, it adds a growth ring whose shape and size are determined by environmental effects like drought, rain, fire, insects, blight, and air quality. The growth rings create the grain and act as a scrapbook of the tree's long life. Staining highlights these marks, while paint sits atop the surface of the wood and simply covers them up.
2. Prevent Moisture Damage
Untreated wood absorbs water and moisture from the air, which causes it to expand and become misshapen. Moisture also causes wood to decompose. Fungi propagate in moist environments like damp wood and start to consume the proteins and sugars contained in wood fibers.
This is known as wood rot, and it shortens your fence's life span. Staining it seals the wood against rain and humidity and keeps it in good condition for as long as possible.
3. Protect Against UV Radiation
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun causes oxidation, a destructive process that weakens the wood fibers and causes discoloration. The long wavelengths of the ultraviolet light change and destroy the wood’s lignin, the organic polymers within wood that harden and strengthen its cell walls.
By weakening these rigid polymers, the sun lessens the strength of the fence until it starts to sag or collapse under its own weight. Wood stain protects the wood against sunlight damage and keeps it firm and strong for years.
If you need wooden fence installation or repair, contact the experts at Hinesville Fence. This family-owned and -operated company has served Liberty County, GA, since 1982. They specialize in both residential and commercial fencing in numerous materials and colors, and they're well-known for their quality products and commitment to customer satisfaction. Visit their website to read what clients say about them or call (912) 368-3314 to request a wooden fence estimate.
