Cedar Fence Restoration in Oakville

The fence: good cedar hiding under a grey skin

This horizontal-slat cedar privacy fence runs along the side of a home in Oakville, right next to the sidewalk, so it is the first thing anyone sees. After a few seasons the cedar had gone silver-grey with dark streaks and chalky patches where the old finish had worn through. The boards and posts were sound — cedar lasts — it just needed a proper fence restoration rather than a replacement.

Step 1: wood cleaner

Cedar that has greyed needs more than water. We applied a wood cleaner first to break down the grey, oxidized surface fibres, mildew and leftover finish. Letting the cleaner dwell does most of the work, so the power washing afterwards can be gentler on the soft cedar grain.

Step 2: power washing

With the cleaner working, we power washed the fence board by board. The in-progress photo shows exactly what this step does: the grey, dirty layer lifts off and the warm cedar underneath comes straight back. We keep the pressure controlled on cedar — too much and you gouge the softwood and leave wand marks that show through the stain.

Step 3: sanding

Washing raises the grain, so once the fence was dry we sanded the boards, top caps and posts smooth. On a horizontal fence this matters even more than on a vertical one: every slat edge catches light, and any fuzz or roughness would show. Sanding also opens the cedar so the stain penetrates evenly.

Step 4: staining

We finished the fence with an oil-based penetrating stain in a warm brown that lets the cedar grain and knots show through instead of hiding them. Oil soaks into the wood rather than forming a film, so it fades gradually and recoats easily — no peeling or scraping down the road, which is what we recommend for every cedar fence in the GTA climate.

The result

From a grey, tired fence to a deep, even cedar tone that looks new from the street. The horizontal lines read cleanly again, the top caps are sealed, and the homeowner has protected cedar that will only need a maintenance coat in a few years.

Cedar fence staining and restoration in Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga

UCO Construction Group restores and stains cedar and pressure-treated fences, decks and pergolas across Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga, Milton and the rest of the GTA. If your fence has gone grey or the stain is failing, see our wood renewal service; for new builds and damaged sections we also do fence installation and repair. Get in touch for a free on-site estimate.