Fence Staining in Lubbock, TX

What staining or sealing a wood fence costs, how long each type of stain lasts, and when to do it in Lubbock's wind and sun.

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Fence staining in Lubbock costs about $1.33 to $2.71 per square foot nationally (Homewyse), and a new fence needs to dry before the first coat.

Lubbock Fence Install is a referral website, not a fence company. We send your request to one independent local fence company. You never pay us; companies we refer you to may pay us for referrals. Some fence companies stain fences and some leave it to painters, so ask when it calls. To start, send a request with the form.

Stain it, or let it go gray?

Unstained cedar is still a working fence. The Lubbock fence company FAQ hosted on KCBD's website says western red cedar darkens to the familiar gray of an old fence, and that fences keeping their "new look" have been sealed with stain. HomeAdvisor counts regular cleaning and staining as part of owning a wood fence, and Thumbtack calls a finish worth the cost because it protects the wood from moisture and weather.

Lubbock is dry, about 18.3 inches of rain a year (National Weather Service, 1991 to 2020 normal), so the steady wear on a fence here comes from sun, wind and wide swings between wet and dry. Stain doesn't make a fence stronger in a storm. It slows graying and surface checking.

One local reason to keep up with it: Lubbock's development code lists "damaged, deteriorated, or unsafe materials" among the materials a residential fence may not be made of. A neglected fence can eventually become a code problem, not just an eyesore.

Stain types and how long they last

The figures below come from finishing guidance the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association excerpted from a USDA Forest Products Laboratory report on exterior wood (FPL-GTR-69). Product labels and brands vary, so treat these as typical, not promised.

Finish	What it does	Typical life on exposed wood
Water-repellent preservative (clear)	Sheds water; little color	1 to 2 years as the only finish
Oil-based semitransparent stain, one coat	Soaks in; tints but shows grain	2 to 4 years on new, smooth wood; less on western redcedar
Oil-based semitransparent stain, two coats wet-on-wet	Second coat goes on before the first dries	Up to 8 years on rough or weathered wood
Latex semitransparent stain	Sits on the surface like a very thin paint	Two coats recommended
Solid-color stain	Hides grain like paint	One coat is adequate, two always protect better; oil-based is often the first coat on cedar
Clear film finish (varnish, polyurethane)	Glossy film	About 2 years at most in full exposure

That guidance also says succeeding coats usually last longer than the first, because the wood takes in more stain.

What fence staining costs

National figures, checked October 2026:

Source	How it prices	Range
Homewyse	Per square foot of fence face, labor and stain	$1.33 to $2.71
HomeGuide	Per linear foot, paint or stain with labor	$2 to $14
Thumbtack	Whole job, painting or staining	$496 to $1,432 (about $842 typical)

Thumbtack's job totals by length: under 100 feet about $477 to $1,225, 100 to 200 feet $698 to $1,792, and 200 to 300 feet $721 to $1,849. Gates cost extra because they're usually brushed by hand around the hardware.

Doing the math on your fence. Homewyse prices the finished surface area. A 6-foot fence has 6 square feet of face per foot of length on each side, so:

Fence (6 ft tall)	One side	Both sides	At Homewyse's range, one side
100 ft	600 sq ft	1,200 sq ft	About $800 to $1,630
150 ft	900 sq ft	1,800 sq ft	About $1,200 to $2,440
200 ft	1,200 sq ft	2,400 sq ft	About $1,600 to $3,250

Shadowbox and board-on-board fences have more exposed edges than flat side-by-side pickets, so ask how the company measures them. If the fence is new and you haven't budgeted for it yet, the Lubbock fence cost guide covers installation prices.

When to stain in Lubbock

A new fence. Thumbtack says brand-new wood needs about two months to dry or weather before it takes stain well. The KCBD-hosted FAQ from a Lubbock fence company says to wait at least two weeks before applying an oil-based stain. The simple test from Thumbtack: water that soaks in means the wood is ready; water that beads up means wait.

After rain. Thumbtack says to let wood dry about 24 hours after rain, or about 48 hours in cool or humid weather.

Season and temperature. Each stain has a temperature range on its label. Thumbtack says fall tends to offer the right weather, and that summer can work where humidity is low.

Wind and dust. The Weather Channel ranks Lubbock among the windiest U.S. cities, with April the windiest month (as reported by KFYO). Wind carries spray onto cars, houses and the neighbor's side, and blowing dust sticks to wet stain. Pick a calm forecast, and treat spring as the hardest season for spraying.

Shade. The Forest Products Laboratory guidance recommends working in the shade, where stain dries more slowly and is less likely to leave lap marks.

How a staining job usually goes

Fix first. Replace split pickets and tighten loose rails. Thumbtack suggests asking whether the stainer does repairs or whether you'll need a fence company first. Storm damage is covered on the fence repair page.
Clean. Dirt and oil keep stain from reaching the wood. Thumbtack notes that pressure washing is common but that too much pressure can damage a weak fence; some pros use a bleach-and-water wash instead.
Let it dry. Same water test as above.
Apply. Brush, roller or sprayer. The FPL guidance says brushing usually gives better penetration, and spraying followed by back-brushing also works. Staining a few boards at a time avoids lap marks.
Wipe the excess. For oil-based semitransparent stain, the guidance calls for wiping off stain that didn't soak in, about an hour after the last coat, so it doesn't dry into glossy patches.

Rag safety. The same guidance warns that cloths and sponges wet with oil-based stain can catch fire on their own. Bury them, soak them in water or seal them in an airtight container right after use.

The neighbor's side and the HOA

Staining both faces of a boundary fence means working on the neighbor's side. Texas A&M AgriLife's fence-law guide advises asking a neighbor's permission before going onto their land to clear brush for a boundary fence, and warns that entering without it could be trespassing. The same courtesy applies to staining their side: ask first, and agree on the color. If you live in an HOA, check its rules for approved fence colors before you buy stain. Who owns and maintains a shared fence is covered in fences between neighbors in Texas.

Building a new fence and want to skip staining entirely? Compare vinyl and corrugated metal with wood on steel posts. For anything else, start at the Lubbock fence company home page.

Common questions

How much does it cost to stain 200 feet of fence?

A 6-foot fence has about 1,200 square feet per side over 200 feet. At Homewyse's national $1.33 to $2.71 per square foot, that's about $1,600 to $3,250 for one side, or $3,200 to $6,500 for both. Thumbtack's job totals for 200 to 300 feet run lower, about $721 to $1,849. Prices were checked in October 2026.

How long should a new fence dry before staining?

Sources differ. Thumbtack says brand-new wood needs about two months to weather, while a Lubbock fence company's FAQ hosted on KCBD says to wait at least two weeks before applying an oil-based stain. Sprinkle water on the boards: if it soaks in instead of beading, the wood is ready.

How often does a fence need to be restained?

Guidance excerpted from a USDA Forest Products Laboratory report puts one coat of oil-based semitransparent stain on new, smooth wood at 2 to 4 years, less on western redcedar, and a two-coat application on rough or weathered wood at up to 8 years. Later coats usually last longer than the first.

Is it worth staining an old gray fence?

Often, if the boards and posts are still sound. The same Forest Products Laboratory guidance notes that weathered wood absorbs more stain, which can make the finish more durable, but it takes more stain to cover. Replace split or loose boards first.

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Last updated 2026-10-24