Restore Your Fence | $200 Weekend Project

Today I'm showing you how to clean and stain a cedar fence so it lasts for 50 years. This gear cost me about 200$. To purchase C2 Paint and C2 Guard (used in this video) 👉🏼 c2paint.com/homerenovision and use discount code: HRVDIY for 20% off
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[@krunal7558]

Here is tip jeff, put that can in home depot bucket before you spin that wood piece with the drill. You would have save that 20% of stain. Perfect everytime .

[@Silverdragon517]

I was thinking the same

[@SewingMamaJulie]

Great idea!

[@MBMCincy63]

Or dump half in the bucket then spin in can to get bottom, and dump and continue to mixing the bucket.

[@willdonaldson4634]

But that's why he included a discount code!

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Ended up doing this for the deck. Cheers

[@MrsGussDoughboys]

I would have used a garden pump sprayer. Pool shock liquid is bleach but 5 times stronger for a couple dollars more, adjust strength accordingly with a touch of dish soap and water. I had used it on my deck before switching to Fiberon

[@AlexKunstar]

Yeah by the time he scrubbed two sections you could have sprayed a nice coat or two on the whole thing.

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Thanks for sharing

[@00700556]

As a guy who owns a pressure washing and wood restoration business, I would never recommend you put bleach on wood. It literally burns the wood fibers. A dedicated wood cleaner is much better….

[@artc8577]

@@AlexKunstar And spray the fence with water before treating with the sprayed on bleach.

[@Gramps83]

Spraying stain is a bad idea when you have a neighbor on the other side of the fence. My neighbor poisoned my dog and her new puppies when he spray stained the fence. He covered the dogs in stain and killed them all when they licked the stain. Idiot.

[@iphoneography]

As I get older, I rather enjoy these type of weekend project. Satisfaction guaranteed.

[@x.avaly.x4523]

I’ve been in construction since I was a teenager. Mostly worked on remodeling historic homes. I’ve done it all & I still learn something every damn time I watch one of these videos. Jeff-you are the man, brother! More than anything though, you remind me not to over-complicate this stuff & the simpler the work is, the more I enjoy it. So I’m sending every bit of my respect & gratitude from Cape Cod. You are one hell of a tradesman.

[@dilahlaird]

Amazing how many people commented here about a sprayer... did you even watch the video? He mentioned a sprayer twice, he's trying to use tools everyone should have access to, or be able to gather cheaply. Thanks for all the great videos Jeff!

[@HotRedMonkey]

Jeff heres a tip, drill a hole in the paint can's lid big enough for the drill bit to go through. Then attack the piece of wood on the other side. Close the lid and mix. 😅

[@LorentzInvariance]

This is on my spring list, so perfect timing on the video. Even for a simple job, it’s always nice to just watch one of your videos and get some confirmation. Great work, and a general thanks for the years of great stuff.

[@silaroo5320]

I think this has to be one of the best videos I’ve seen. Seriously Jeff you are the best. Really enjoyed watching and learning from you. Thank you -I especially love the commentary while working. God speed.

[@noumansyed2761]

I used the garden sprayer for application, much easier to use covers all the groves also and works really good.

[@hippiechick3829]

You used the spray to apply the stain? Or the cleaner? I like this idea!

[@noumansyed2761]

@@hippiechick3829 I used garden sprayer to apply the bleach cleaner and used paint sprayer to apply the stain.

[@Charlie.Lockwood]

Great content Jeff, you're channel has helped me a ton on DIY projects. Staining my fence is on my honey-do list...once the weather heats up

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

That is awesome!

[@123mjolie]

Jeff your daughter is a lucky girl!! Hope she remembers Father's Day!!!

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

I’m a lucky dad. Cheers!

[@DergEnterprises]

I just bought a house (20 yrs old) last month that has a huge cedar fence and huge cedar back porch. Not one single effort was done to preserve the beauty of the cedar. When it warms up, I'll be doing this method. I own both sides of the fence. Thanks for the instruction.

[@jonnyfive5000]

Did this and the scrub helped take out the black stains on my gate. I applied with a Sponge tho and found it helped keep bleach from splashing around and getting on me and my clothes. Hoping the weather is good and I’ll stain and seal it today.

[@ejmedina7065]

Thank you Jeff!! Looks great!!

[@sir.gandolf]

I do something similar to clean my house and buildings, but I find it easier to put the bleach water in a pump sprayer, I think it is easier then trying to use the brush to apply. Just go back with a brush if necessary, then rinse/finish with garden hose or power washer, bleach is amazing for cleaning.

[@yusufkaydawala]

Thanks Jeff. We applied this to our backyard and the result is impressive. We ended up renting a power washer since the multiple round of scrubbing is hard work 😊 We went with C2 Guard as you recommended. It is expensive compared to big store competition. Hope the price is worth the performance. We underestimate our paint requirement by 3x

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Nice work!

[@ajvlogslife8887]

Thank you Jeff. Ill do this to make some money this summer.

[@shrek2183]

Very articulate.Excellent job brother

[@TheGibby13]

Looking good Jeff! Used to use diesel and used motor oil as a stain, would be even cheaper but not everyone changes their own oil

[@darrelmartin8261]

Nice

[@maxmanx1294]

Great preservative!

[@TheGibby13]

@@13ChroniclesOfDagger sure did

[@Biimer]

Lol i do same

[@katherinekelly5380]

Totally agree - I love the colour of new cedar, really don’t like the gray colour Your daughter probably loves her dad is taking care of this for her ❣️♥️

[@hammerhog22]

Hello Jeff! I realize my comment will probably be to far down the list to read but I just want to say a huge thank you for all that you do to help us DIYers. I love how real you are and how realistic everything is. You approach everything with an open mind and try to explain everything as best as possible and doing it all without crazy expensive tools! I tried the pressure washer technique you mentioned but I had no reference so I ended up with some of the wood being fuzzy. Do I just quickly give that a sand before staining? Also I Live in Nova Scotia and since I am not close to Ottawa, do you have a second recommendation for stain that I should buy? I’m close to a Home Depot if that helps at all. As well with the floor of the deck do I follow the same technique or will you be doing another tutorial on the deck your building right now? I understand if you don’t see this or get a chance to get back to me. Thank you again for everything! I love your channel and you’re amazing!!

[@funstuffonthenet5573]

I did this a long time ago and it worked quite well with a brush.

[@AbbreviatedReviews]

The 'fence cleaner' that I got instructed me to wet the fence, spray it on with a pump sprayer, then scrub with a brush. That sounds like extra steps, but I think you avoid having to do a thousand bucket dips or saw your brush to bucket size.

[@AlexKunstar]

Yeah... There's not much of a reason to dip in a bucket.. Spray it on with a pump sprayer, then agitate it if it's even necessary.

[@MrCjogobyu]

Use a backpack bug sprayer to apply the deck wash. Saves more than half the time as well your back!

[@Gramps83]

Spraying stain is a bad idea when you have a neighbor on the other side of the fence. My neighbor poisoned my dog and her new puppies when he spray stained the fence. He covered the dogs in stain and killed them all when they licked the stain. Idiot.

[@teresaevans4840]

​@@Gramps83😢 so sorry 😞

[@AC-MAIN]

Great to see you are from my home town! Any other recommended similar stain as the C2 GUARD that we could get on Vancouver Island? Love the vids. Thanks for all the great advice over the years!

[@designmasters1073]

Down here in Texas we do a lot of burning our wood for a rustic look, then hit it with Thompson water seal. I did a style that's very old technique that the Japanese used to water proof all natural and it's called "sugi ban" It's almost black lacquer after it's burnt and repels water. I did a custom wood floor once using this i think you should check it out..

[@ourkid718]

Could you put the deck cleaner in a pump sprayer or backpack sprayer and evenly spray it across the fence without having to use a deck brush?

[@pyramidwoodworks]

my first thought as well haha

[@montezuma17900]

yeah watching him try to brush this was painful. ive been a painter for over a decade...pump sprayer costs about as much as that brush and bucket ($30 ish).... wouldve taken him less than 10 mins to spray the fence down. do it as many times as needed to kill all the mold and bring the color back.... wait a few days then instead of buying a $20 deck brush, get a couple gallons of thompsons water seal and fill the pump sprayer back up and hose down the fence with that, back brush with the grain, done. my parents bought and installed a cheap cedar fence 4 years ago and we used thompsons on year 1, and the fence STILL looks great this year (to my surprise)

[@rjrinaudo5597]

A garden sprayer is far more practical than a brush especially on a “shadow box” or “board-on-board” fence.

[@donnasmith-rn2qh]

My husband uses a sprayer (hand pump type) to spray our fence with a cleaning solution and it works great! Pressure treated, not cedar.

[@gergemall]

Thanks Jeff . You’re my mentor.

[@tdayuk]

Sir, love watching your video's smart, funny and simple descriptions. Please keep making the videos & I love discovering your new stuff. I'll keep subscribing :)

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Cheers!

[@suefitzhugh4493]

Always love your videos, have learned so much. I have new unfinished cedar garage doors that I tried to stain/sealer a darkh brown but because they had been sanded, the stain wouldn't absorb. What do I need to do to the wood before applying the first coat of stain/sealer to open the pores?

[@SoundDesignMusicProducer]

Hey Jeff great tips thanks for that. What do I do if I have peeling old stain on my fence before I want to re stain it with this product/technique?

[@stevemanos2505]

hi Jeff - on an unrelated topic, I was searching for how to install home window tint. Of course, I searched your content first but didn't find anything. Just an idea for a future video. Meanwhile, keep up the great work!

[@ERCAssociates]

Bleach breaks down the lignin in wood causing damage to cells of wood. Yes, it’s instant results, consider other alternatives such as wood brighteners or other cleaners designed to safely brighten and clean wood which also preserve the life of the wood. Also, you can pressure wash from a safe distance without etching the fence, and the brush isn’t always as necessary. If you are a DIY weekend warrior however, bleach is a cheaper option and probably a better result than greyed out cedar. Apply chems top down on vertical surfaces, rinse from bottom up with water

[@walleyeye]

Could you not use a paint sprayer of pump style sprayer to apply the cleaner?

[@babbsfangirl8254]

Thank you for the video. How do I calculate how much stain I need?

[@normajohnson6352]

Neighbor sprayed fence with 30 second outdoor cleaner from home depot, hosed off. I was impressed with results

[@angetodac]

great job and explanation...

[@Kankudai]

Outstanding video thank you

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers

[@NoName-jz5re]

Spray bleach with sprayer. Leave for 1 hr and then pressure wash. Ay part left over or still dirty scrub with hard brush and dawn washing liquid and clean with power wash. Oil based strain is very good. My fence is good since 4 years, while fences with water based is faded chipped and peeled.

[@Dwplayground]

When do u think I should clean the paint brush after staining with c2 guard if the project is 2 different days? And what should I clean with? Mineral spirits? Should I clean the brush at the end of the day? Thank you!

[@user-cw2hj3ih3k]

Everybody is moving to alkyds for outdoor lumber applications but it's still a little pricey. it's an oil emulsion in water which is meant to mimic solvent based application features, including penetration. Still limited by the surface tension of water it achieves better penetration than conventional latex coatings. However, it's a misconception that they do not form films. The films being 1-2nm, even more if you choose to double coat the board.

[@weekendwarrior3420]

Any chance of using your airless sprayer to get it on the fence?

[@tomg9061]

Doing a full ground up rebuild of the 20yo PT fence that came with my house I bought a few years ago. If I can get PT at half price where I am vs cedar and van stain it the same color what makes the cost of cedar worth it?

[@robkerf]

Wouldn't applying the bleach with a garden sprayer then scrubbing be a better way?

[@good-to-know]

There is a penetrating strain product that is much easier to apply. You don't have to worry about overlaps or drips. No prep for recoats. It's Outlast Products Q8 Log Oil.

[@bbay1977]

OMG I was thinking the whole time in my head " Up......Down". I could even hear him with the thick ascent saying them words as well. RIP Mr.Miyagi or better know as Pat Morita. 😢

[@Jlamb022]

Jeff or anyone, if using a pressure washer can you just fill the jug with the bleach solution and what nozzle would you recommend? Cheers

[@PrincessDeeDee67]

I think you could have used a pressure garden weed sprayer or a cheap electrical paint sprayer to spray the bleach onto the wood....a lot easier than the decking brush on a pole and less waste....sometimes other tools or equipment can be used for things that they were not originally intended. Work smarter and easier.

[@AntEloftheHouseofEl]

You could save your back using a pump sprayer. Or, because I'm into detailing, I use my snow foam cannon! I get a nice, thick coating that clings to the surface. I put one coat on and leave it until its almost drying out, then put on a second coat and work it with the pressure washer gently. Spotless in less than half the time.

[@Evian1990]

Do you have a link to buy that paint mixer? It looked like it worked great!

[@TheDeathblowX]

They use cedar instead of PT because all the PT fences split and warp horribly because the PT is so wet today and it dries too fast in the sun. I installed a cedar fence and finished it with Ready Seal. My fence looks new, but the PT fences in the neighborhood that were installed last summer are all warped and crappy already.

[@saurabhbanerjee9205]

Thanks for the wonderful video!! would it not rot if the neighbour does not do it. I plan to do this on my face of the fence, but absolutely certain my neighbour will never do it. Thanks !!

[@stephaniestrom9240]

Love the video! If you were using a pressure washer would you use cleaning solution or just water?

[@noahgrayhek1100]

Just curious, but if you apply the penetrating sealer stain on one side of the fence, what happens if you don’t do it on the other side as well? Will that cause problems down the line? If one side is protected and the other isn’t, when that unprotected side starts to decay will not reach your side eventually?

[@holdemNE1]

Green Treated pine is made to repel water. Therefore stain and sealer never really soaks in. You just can't get the sam look as cedar no matter what you do.

[@BlaineShillington]

Jeff, can you put the bleach in a pump sprayer in stead and skip the scrubbing? Ours has mildew, so i'm hoping that will be enough

[@tool717]

In Ottawa , well that's pretty cool Jeff .

[@edbrown7919]

Does the behr penetrating stain and sealer work too? There’s a water based or oil for that one

[@MaryCumbersnatch]

Would a pressure washer work just as well?

[@diabolox1272]

Can we do this on pressured wood ????

[@MH-kj9hh]

Could you use a power washer? I need to stain my fence, it's rather old (probably 5-10 years old) and was never stained, I was thinking about getting a soap attachement for the hose, soaping it down and then using a powerwasher. Would something like that work instead of brushing?

[@thicomsauerland]

Wieder was gelernt. Thanks

[@Animalsarecute504]

Would you suggest / recommend using this process and stain on a deck or will the foot traffic ruin it ?

[@jill552]

I thought if you did only one side, it wasn’t effective. Particularly if you seal. I was going to do both sides to try and save my fence from the landfill. What do you think about post caps.? Too bad the nice ones are cost prohibitive for your whole yard and the plastic ones only come in black and sometimes dark brown. BTW. Love your videos.

[@sisleywang5365]

Is it possible to use a roller to apply the stain? I am going to finish mine😊

[@kelomoigberale6611]

Can you use a sprayer to apply the stain faster and better or you recommend using a brush?

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

You can use a pump sprayer too

[@kelomoigberale6611]

@@HomeRenoVisionDIY so do you recommend using paint spray or pump spray?

[@MBMCincy63]

Shivering black 🔔👍, if I ever have a fence, I will know what to do to protect it. Thank you.

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Cheers

[@x1984x]

You can get a decent electric pressure washer at lowe's or harbor freight for around $100. Also could you apply the strain with pressure pot or air sprayer?

[@mobboss918]

Hudson sprayer was my thought too

[@DanielDickin]

Don't have Harbour Freight in Canada

[@luisbernal4698]

Exactly

[@jeanninehayes1267]

If you have a pressure washer do you use a bleach cleaner or will the washer itself do the cleaning job?

[@thilagveera8681]

My front porch deck paint is peeling off. Can i stain them or should I repaint, what steps to follow either way

[@DAKneesy]

You should use a pump sprayer with chlorine bleach (for pool, dawn dish soap and water). So much easier.

[@JasonPeltier]

Great stuff! So I've been commissioned to make some outdoor signs for cabins with cedar slabs. I was looking on the C2 site and they have a clear version of C2 Guard. I'm assuming that's the one I would use? Thanks for creating this great channel. Your videos are always appreciated and so easy to watch.

[@davidbieritz1595]

Would a pressure washer would work, instead of a brush?

[@b3arwithm3]

How much sqft coverage did you get with 1 gallon of penetrating sealer? Thanks

[@twospeed368]

I'd be interested in follow up videos or images to projects like this showing the completed project when dry and then maybe a year on. Would help clueless folks like me understand what I'm getting after all the work.

[@markothwriter]

I use hemp oil. Only have to re-stain with clear every 15 years or so.

[@happilyevergreen]

Any suggestions for a similar product that’s available in NS?

[@The_CoreyBrown]

Could I not use a pump sprayer, and agitate afterwards... or is thee a concern of over saturating the wood?

[@jeffbidniy6552]

Can you show how to finish and patch concrete outside?

[@brendaleach7273]

How do you clean your sprayer afterwards

[@brittany09]

Can you use a sprayer for the bleach?

[@jonathanduran8669]

If you use a pressure washer do you still need the cleaner product?

[@TheRealRobM]

Jeff! where else can I buy this C2 stain in South Western Ontario? the website doesn't say. I had a new fence and about 800sq ft of deck installed last summer. I need to stain this spring.

[@hickorysocks2628]

Dude I hope you know that none of us deserve you 😭❤️

[@southsidetom]

Rent a gas pressure washer at your local HD. A half day rental is $60. I rent one every spring to clean and recoat the deck. Made a cheap fold up ramp and pull it into a small SUV. E Z!

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Great tip

[@mindlessmistro]

does sealing only one side of the fence cause problems? I'm just thinking if the neighbor's side still absorbs / evaporates water, will the fence warp? Or even rot faster?

[@Jhope22]

Hey Jeff, watched your previous video on decks where you recommended Olympic Ascent Clear sealant and now you are recommending C2 Guard... Huge price difference. Also not readily available in GTA. Why the switch from Olympic to C2?

[@AB-ev3pi]

Thanks!

[@bobsoft]

In BC there is only one place listed that sells C2 Guard. Over $100 a gallon

[@brentworks84]

Can the same methods be used to revitalize a pressure treated deck / fence? Similar age as what you were working on (and area). No previous protection applied.

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Yes, absolutely

[@tomg9061]

Do you need a stain conditioner with cedar?

[@stonestreer06]

do i need to use the deck cleaner if my fence was built a week ago?

[@jasonsgroovemachine]

Dunno if you answered this in the video and I missed it or not but why not just get a garden sprayer and spray the thing instead of the brush?

[@jeffreywilliams2171]

The reason they don’t make the brush that fits a bucket is because it’s not meant to absorb water as you just found out. Use a garden pump sprayer.

[@eamonnmckeown6770]

IAllegedly suggested having the builder come back and finish the fence/backyard for new builds if they are having trouble selling new builds. Might be easier to push them into a ' free ' incentive than secure a straight price reduction.

[@dianapichardo2856]

Can i use a sprayer? If so, which one (affordable please!)

[@aidanmfowler]

Try a product called 30 second cleaner. Seems like it would be easier than all that scrubbing

[@LeverPhile]

You still need to brush the gunk off

[@msk3905]

Yeah way too much work, i used to use 30 second cleaner but now use a safer product from cleaner today called wood ox cleaner 2000 cleaner, i spray on my cedar outdoor shower then hose off looks like new. I leave outside alone because house is on cape cod so seasoned cedar blends in with home.

[@mram7715]

Question……would this paint stain prolong the life of pine 2x6? Thanks

[@ranaabboud9572]

Hi, thank you a lot for this channel it is very beneficial. I have a quick question not related to this subject. Can I glue drywall to a concrete wall that seperate my basement from my neighbor's. My house is smi-detached. What product you advice to use?

[@maxmanx1294]

Why would you use furring strips to install & finish?

[@maxmanx1294]

I meant, why wouldn't you use furring strips? Why do you want to glue?

[@DergEnterprises]

I'm not a carpenter, but I wouldn't recommend that, even with green/purple board. I would stud out the wall and create a moisture barrier first. There are other ways, but I don't know them, talk to a carpenter.