I’ve inherited an old cedar fence. It’s tall and long, and I own both sides. I’m replacing the old posts with steel; that takes time, but it’s going well. However, it’s been a really long time since it was stained, and think the boards might last longer with some sort of treatment.
I’m not particular about making it “pretty”. There was what looks like a reddish opaque stain on it at one time, it’s pretty patchy now. I know the classic advice would probably be to pressure wash it and try to strip the old stain, then re-apply a similar-looking opaque stain.
But I don’t want to do that. Don’t like red fences, for starters. I’m OK with it looking old, but I want it to last longer. So I’m looking for an inexpensive treatment that protects in this dry climate. Thinking maybe just thinning some linseed oil with varsol or diesel fuel and spraying it. Old dry cedar is really absorbent; it should soak in deeply. It might not do much for the surface, but that’s secondary.
I’ll probably need 20 gallons or more of stain, and don’t want to pay big box store prices. I’ve seen talk of using recycled motor oil. Intriguing, but really?
Powerwash to get the dirt and cobwebs off. Get a deck sealant (you can get one without color) and a sprayer. Spray the fence and there you go. It will look better and last longer.
Since you want to “make it last longer” and avoid “big box prices” I think a thinned motor oil concept is worth a try. I use Thompson’s for some walkway bridge planking and while it works well, I reapply it once a year. Twenty gallons of Thompson’s at even five year intervals will be spendy. And the dark motor oil (if it works) will slowly overcome the existing red color.
I haven’t purchased linseed oil for a long time but I recall a gallon being a few bucks back in 1985. Used motor oil can be had for free if you start asking around for it. And you might be able to get it in quantity for cheap if you go to one of those quickie-lube places or local full-service gas stations.
I have no first or even second hand knowledge of motor oil being used for your application, but it’s oil so, if adequately applied, should protect wood for a while. And for you environmentally-conscious folks, is motor oil that much worse than Thompson’s when it drips or oversprays to the ground?
BTW: if you are looking for a one-time-only solution, motor oil is not it, but neither is Thompson’s.
If you really want this treatment to last, I’d invest in doing it with marine verethane. It’s NOT the cheapest thing around, but it WILL last a long time.
Hmm.
Motor oil is not a “drying oil” like linseed oil is. But I like cheap. Wonder what it’s like in 10 years. Is it good for the wood?
Doesn’t sound like Thompsons is good for 10 years.
Varathane (marine or otherwise) sound shiny, good on fresh wood and furniture. Expensive and not so good on old fence.
Going to investigate penetrating oil further.
I have a cedar fence that got the Thompson’s treatment right after it was built and 11 years later it looks like new. Looks way better than the longer section of fence that didn’t get treated and is half the age of the treated fence. Long fence got built in winter, did not have the fortitude to be out in the rain painting the damned thing.
I’m in Oregon on the wet side, we get ALL the rain. And snow, and ice, and freezing fog, and blistering heat, and 50mph cold winds outta the Columbia Gorge. I fully endorse Thompson’s!
