Most fences around Santa Rosa are redwood, and bare redwood turns gray and cracks in the summer sun. Stain keeps the color and slows the weathering. We wash the fence, let it dry fully and then stain or paint it, and we tell you first if the posts are too far gone to be worth coating.
Wood fences line most back yards in Santa Rosa, and the great majority are redwood or cedar boards on pressure-treated or redwood posts. Many are newer than the houses they belong to, since many in Coffey Park and Fountaingrove were rebuilt along with the houses after the 2017 fire. Left bare, the boards turn silver-gray in a season or two, then dry out, cup and split. A stain slows that down and keeps the warm color. Paint is the usual pick for picket fences in front of the older homes.
A fence is washed first to remove dirt, mildew and gray surface fibers, then left to dry. We pull vines and soil back from the bottom of the boards where we can, tighten or replace loose pickets, and mask or shield plants, walls and paving. Stain is sprayed and brushed in so it reaches the gaps and board edges. A painted fence is scraped, spot primed on bare wood and given two coats. Both sides are done only if both are part of the agreed job.
Before work starts, speak to your neighbor if the fence sits on the shared line, since the other face is theirs to look at and overspray is a concern for both yards. We check the posts at ground level during the estimate. If they rock or are rotten, we will say that the fence may not be worth coating. Fences inside an association often have a set stain color, so look at your rules before you choose.
Fence painting & staining in Santa Rosa: common questions
Does a new redwood fence need to be stained right away?
Not on the first day, but do not wait for it to turn gray. New boards should be dry enough to absorb stain. A simple test is to splash water on them. If it soaks in, the wood is ready.
Can you bring back the color of a fence that has gone gray?
Mostly, yes. Washing and a wood brightener remove the gray layer and expose fresher wood. A tinted stain then restores a redwood or cedar tone. Deep cracks and black stains around old nails will still show a little.
Will you stain my neighbor's side as well?
Only with their agreement. If you both want it done, we can treat the two faces in one visit, which gives the boards the most protection. Sort out between you who is paying before we start.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.