How to Prep and Re-Stain an Old Fence + Video
This post shows you how to easily remove old stain from an old fence and apply a new solid stain.
Our backyard fence is original to our house that was built in the late 1980s and had seen better days. The stain was orange and worn and we recently replaced the lattice that was on top, typical of prefab fence panels.
I really wanted to replace the whole fence but to save on costs, we thought we could upgrade it by replacing the lattice and try removing the old stain and paint it with a new stain.
BEFORE
We noticed a number of products on the market that remove old stain from a fence that we thought it couldn’t hurt to try them. This post is not sponsored, I’m just in love with these products because they worked so well!
Let me show you how easy it was to remove the old stain and prep this 80s fence for staining.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Supplies:
- sprayer
- Benjamin Moore Remove and Brighten (for previously stained fence)
- Benjamin Moore Restore and Brighten (for
non-stained fence) - stiff bristle brush
- Behr Solid Color Waterproofing Stain and Sealer, we used Cape Cod
- Shure-Line paint/stain pad and holder
- Refill pads
- sash brush
- paint tray
- aint tray liner
Directions:
1
2. Let dry (visually dry, doesn’t need to be overnight). Spray on the Brighten product with the sprayer. Let it soak in for approximately 15 minutes (check the directions on the bottle). Rinse off with a
3. Let dry completely (24 hours best) before applying the stain. Use a sash brush to get into corners and cracks. We tried hard to make sure we didn’t get any paint on our
4. Let dry overnight and apply another coat.
If your fence has not been stained before
If you have an old fence but it wasn’t stained or the stain is gone as far as you can tell, use Restore first (instead of Remove) and then Brighten.
If your fence has new boards added
We replaced a few of the boards that were rotten and replaced the lattice on top. Those boards, because they were new, had lots of tannins in them and as such, the tannin color leaked through the stain after it rained. We had to paint over those new boards again with another coat of stain. So if you have new boards or an entirely new fence, a primer is a must!
Alternatively, you could just use the Brighten product on those new boards.
video:
Be sure to watch my YouTube video on how to stain an old fence below!
I hope this helps you with how to prep and re-stain your old fence. Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments below.
Make sure to pin it for later!
Jamie
Click in Case You Missed:
How to Replace Lattice on a Prefab Fence Panel
Bug Repellent Outdoor Centrepiece
Wow! That looks amazing–like a brand new fence. It gives a whole different ‘feel’ to the yard! xo Diana
Thanks Diana!
Hugs, Jamie
I can hardly believe that that is the same fence! It looks so much better! We a similar bright orange old wood fence in our yard. I considered restaining it, but I decided that the old wood was too much of a hassle to upkeep (it was starting to split in places), so we ended up tearing it out and replacing it with an easier to maintain a concrete fence. It’s amazing what a fresh fence can do for a yard!
Thanks Emma!
Hugs, Jamie
Great information. Thanks for sharing. Did you consider spraying the paint on the fence instead of using a brush and pads?
Hi Chuck,
Yes we did but we were worried the paint would seep over onto our neighbor’s side of the fence and they didn’t want stain. So if you don’t have neighbors to worry about, spray away!
Jamie
Thanks for taking the time to reply, Jamie…With neighbors on 2 of 3 sides, I believe I’ll be using brushes and pads. All the best!
No problem, Chuck. Good luck!
Wondering about the part about the neighbors. Whose fence is this? Is this on your property? If so it’s your fence and staining/maintaining all sides is your choice and responsibility. Expecting them to do anything to their side may just hurt you in the long run if this is technically your properties’ fence.
Hi Ashley,
It’s a joint fence between us and our neighbors to the left and the right of us, as more fences are. And that’s exactly why we hand painted it as opposed to spraying it as no paint seeped through to the other side. Their fence looks exactly the same. And they love our fence! We have lovely neighbors.
Jamie
It’s a year or two later and we’re about to tackle this in our yard. How has your stain stood the test of time? Could you decide to prime the whole fence before staining or would this prevent the wood from absorbing the stain?