Inexpensive wood treatment for backyard fence?

Question

I have a fence which will turn gray in a few months and age with water damage, unless I treat it, but there are a few complications. Having just purchased this new house, money is an issue; the treatment needs to be inexpensive and ideally easy. Second, I share the fence with neighbors to each side and to my back. What should I do?

I want to treat the entire fence, but the neighbors may not all agree concerning the type of treatment, if at all, because then they would have to treat the rest of their fences the same way for the fence to look the same in their yards; that requires them to get agreement from their neighbors, and the cycle repeats ad inifinitum through the entire subdivision.

Answer 1

I am in the process of doing this to my fence also. You can get a 5 gallon bucket at any Lowes or Home Depot for around 80 to 100 dollars of wood sealer. The price will very depending how many years it is guaranteed to protect ( they run from 3years to 5 I believe) and I also think choosing the clear versus the tinted ones also is less expensive.
You can also save by just using the cheap multipacks of paint rollers. You can find 3packs at any walmart for around 2 dollars.

I would ask the neighbors if they would like to join you in doing this since it would benefit them as well and cut the costs for all of you. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Here is an ultra-cheap treatment that works. Get a small can of creosote, say 2 pints/1 litre and add it to a sufficient volume of used motor oil. Stir well and paint on. Turns the wood black and smells for a while but eventually it dries off. The dark colour fades to a gray after several months.

Answer 3

Why are you opposed to allowing the wood to develop its own patina?
Should it become necessary to replace a board in the future, it will never match the wood you have treated.

Answer 4

oil base stain - home depot - semi transparent to solid... buy it bu the gallon or 5 gal