BS: Affordable Fence Stain

Subject: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: Goose Gander
Date: 23 Jun 12 - 03:43 PM

I have a large, redwood fence that requires a protective stain. Olympic Maximum, which I've used in the past, now costs $150+ for a five gallon bucket. Can anyone suggest a cheaper alternative that is reasonably equivalent?

Thanks!

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 23 Jun 12 - 04:18 PM

I can't recommend a product, but you might see if a local library has Consumer Reports' Annual Buying Guide for the last few years to see if they've rated products recently. The guides, which look like paperback books, summarize all the ratings of the past year's magazines.

Consumer Reports accepts no advertising and its ratings cannot be used for advertising.

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Jun 12 - 05:42 PM

They have. Behr solid color siding, deck and fencing stain and Sears weatherbeater siding, deck and fence solid stain are "Best Buys." Remember, these are SOLID stains, not transparent or semi-transparent. But check yourself!

Behr is Home Depot's brand.

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: pdq
Date: 23 Jun 12 - 06:46 PM

Whatever you get, buy the very smallest container you can get first, and try it out on a sample board, not on the finished fence.

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: GUEST,999
Date: 23 Jun 12 - 07:13 PM

GOOD advice from pdq.

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: Deckman
Date: 23 Jun 12 - 07:31 PM

I'm a retired deck builder ... you might notice that in my MUDCAT name. A few years ago, the BEHR company, out of Oregon, was taken to court in a class action law suit for bad products. They lost the cases and wound up paying huge damages to replace peoples house siding and decks.

I wouldn't put a BEHR product on my dog house ... even if I had a dog. ... just my opinion. bob(deckman)nelson

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: pdq
Date: 23 Jun 12 - 07:56 PM

Mediocrity is a cross to Behr.

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Jun 12 - 10:12 PM

Once you have found an acceptable stain/preservative you can always cut it with the appropriate base... If it's oil then use cheap paint thinner... Latex??? Then water... Save you a few bucks and maybe not change your overall outcome...

I make all kinds of stains with paint thinner and oil base paints...

You can find cheap oil base paints in the "clear out" section at box stores for as low as 2 dollars a gallon... Two or three gallons mixed together to give you what you want and paint thinner and you got stain...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Jun 12 - 10:12 PM

I'd listen to the deckman.

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 24 Jun 12 - 06:37 AM

Whatever you do, don't buy 'Creocoat'. It's offered as an alternative to the now illegal Creosote (a carcinogenic product) and nearly kills you with the fumes. They last for days and it's like living inside a fuel tank. My neighbours used it and we vomited for ages and had terrible headaches. Luckily, the stuff is, I believe, quite expensive. It should IMO be banned.

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: bobad
Date: 24 Jun 12 - 08:40 AM

I would recommend Sikkens - I don't know how it compares price wise to other products but, IMO and from experience, it pays to use quality.

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: pdq
Date: 24 Jun 12 - 10:08 AM

The plot Sikkens.

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: Amos
Date: 24 Jun 12 - 10:22 AM

I use Superdeck Transparent coating, which I apply with a Wagner sprayer. Works a charm, lasts a couple of years in the California sun.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: Greg F.
Date: 24 Jun 12 - 04:47 PM

Used Motor Oil. Works a treat.

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: vectis
Date: 24 Jun 12 - 07:18 PM

Used motor oil mixed with stain works well, has to be oil based stain tho

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: Deckman
Date: 25 Jun 12 - 12:43 AM

Another product to consider is "LOG OIL." It's been used here, in the Pacific Northwest of the usa, for well over 100 years. I've been out of the business for some years now, but it always used to be quite affordable. It's first use was the oiling of the logs of log cabins and houses. It came in 5 gallon buckets and 30 gallon drums.

You might check into it ... bob(deckman)nelson

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Jun 12 - 11:59 AM

Does this fence have a purpose, or is it just there because somebody was gulled by a fencing saleman?

A few years ago, my new neighbor (the one with the pieces of hay in her hair) installed a six-foot wooden fench. The result: its shade ruined one neighbor's prized flower bed, and it made my place and hers easier to burglarize, because no neighbors can see our yards.

Our yards were open and verdent, with flowers, shrubs and trees. Fences were small or non-existent, and people made friends while gardening. Then she moved in from Hicksville and ruined it all.   

The people in five different houses can see into her yard from their upper stories, so it doesn't provide any actual privacy.

Now it needs stain, but I'll be damned if I'll stain it. My approach is to stack rotting branches at the base of it, hoping the fungi will spread. If anybody has any good ideas on how to sabotage a fence, I'd appreciate them. (The person who had it installed has moved out.)

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: bobad
Date: 25 Jun 12 - 02:23 PM

Pardon my thread drift but leeneia's post brought to mind this famous, Oscar winning short film by Norman MacLaren: Neighbours

Well, it is about fences.

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Jun 12 - 02:57 PM

I was intrigued by your link, bobad, but after 2:14 minutes I couldn't stand it anymore. I never did get to see how fences came into it.

I used to scoff at people who talked about the pace of modern life, but I guess it's got to me. For me, soccer games are too long, movies are too long, baseball games are too long. I went to see the ballet of Romeo and Juliet, and couldn't wait for it to be over.

Actually, with R&J, I closed my eyes and just listened to the music.

A zinnia like that in the movie popped up magically in my front garden this year. I have no idea where it came from. Mine's red. Fortunately, no fence hides it from view.

Subject: RE: BS: Affordable Fence Stain
From: Goose Gander
Date: 28 Jun 12 - 12:08 AM

Thanks everyone for comments and advice. I found the stain I needed for $90 rather than $150, from OSH.

The fence has a purpose, it encloses our yard and keeps the dog in. It's a nice redwood fence, so it's worth preserving.