How to Protect Your Fence From Sun, Rain, and Wood Rot
A brand new cedar fence looks amazing on day one — but the sun, rain, and rot will start breaking it down faster than you think.
Picture this: You just had a beautiful new fence installed and everything about it is great. It keeps the dog in, gives you some privacy from your nosey neighbors, and makes your backyard feel more like your own little getaway.
Now, we hate to tell you this, but your beautiful brand new fence is going to start to age. It’s what wood does, unfortunately. As it stands tall against unwanted guests, it cannot stand as tall against the sun, rain, and wood rot. It will start to grey, grow organic growth, and rot from the ground up.
Why Wood Fences Fail
Wood is hygroscopic. That’s a fancy word for saying that it naturally expands and contracts due to absorbing moisture. As it absorbs, it expands, and while it dries out from the sun it contracts. This process is what causes the warping, twisting, and cracking to occur.
But rest assured, you can do something about it. No need to panic.
The First Solution
Ask your contractor about pre-stained lumber — specifically Gopher Wood. Getting pre-stained lumber is more bang for your buck, as it arrives straight to you or your contractor’s lot stained on all six sides, ready to be put up.
What does staining do? Staining, when done using a penetrating and conditioning oil-based product like EXPERT Stain & Seal, prevents warping, cracking, and twisting. But it also protects from damaging UV rays and repels moisture absorption — so your fence can remain standing tall and strong for years to come. Two birds, one stone.
The Second Solution
Hire a stain contractor to stain your fence after installation — no problem doing that either. It’s not too late to stain your fence. Staining is typically recommended once the wood’s moisture content is below 13%, but it’s okay if you didn’t get to it right away. Just know: the sooner you stain, the sooner you protect your fence from warping, cupping, and aging.
However, the protection doesn’t stop there. It’s important to note that staining your fence is like changing the oil in your car — it requires minimal maintenance. Depending on what color you choose, you can typically expect to re-stain your fence every 3–5 years. With transparent colors, it could be as soon as 1–2 years, which is why our standard color is Semi-Transparent Chestnut by EXPERT Stain & Seal — it enhances the natural beauty while offering more longevity.
Preventing Wood Rot
We didn’t talk about wood rot — almost forgot! Wood rot happens when wood absorbs moisture from the ground, most commonly below the ground line where you can’t see it. Not only does staining on all six sides prevent this, but we also add a PostSaver sleeve to every post that leaves our facility because we understand how critical this is for long-term durability and upkeep.
Now That You Know Your Options
So, what will you do? Whether you choose to start with Gopher Wood’s factory-finished cedar or stain your existing fence, protecting it from the elements will save you time, money, and headaches down the road.