Are you completely sold on getting a Trex fence except for one thing: you don’t like the color options? It’s not well known that a Trex fence can be painted or stained just as a wooden fence can. Here we will outline the best paints and stains for Trex, an important thing to know before coating your Trex fence, and why paint or stain may even last longer on a Trex fence.
Going Beyond the Standard Trex Fencing Colors
One of the benefits of Trex products is that they don’t need to be painted or stained for protection. Part of the beauty of Trex fencing is that it’s maintenance free and the homeowner doesn’t have to think about painting or staining it. The composite material of plastic and wood that makes up Trex products is durable and long-lasting.
But Trex fencing is only available in three standard colors from the manufacturer: Saddle, Winchester Grey, and Woodland Brown. A homeowner may want their fence to match their house, deck, or complement their property in some way that isn’t represented in those three colors.
However, people are often worried that painting or staining their Trex fencing will void the warranty, but this isn’t the case. You can put a coating on your Trex fence without damaging it or voiding the warranty. Choosing a custom color for your Trex fence can really level up your property.
Related Read: Top 10 Questions About Trex Fencing
Related Read: Why Trex Fencing is a Solid Choice for Homeowners
Customizing the Color of a Trex Fence
Even if a Trex fence has been in place for years, it can still be painted or stained. In general, if a stain or paint product adheres well to wood, it will adhere the same to Trex products, and sometimes work even better. Paint and stain have the potential to last long on Trex fencing because Trex products absorb very little moisture due to their plastic composition, and thus the coating will not flake or split. While it does depend on the type of paint used, testing has demonstrated that coatings on Trex fencing will last just as long or even or longer than they do on wood.
Two paint companies have evaluated Trex fencing and have suggested the following coatings:
- Behr: Deck Premium Plus Exterior Solid Wood Deck Stain (no primer needed)
- Sherwin Williams: S-W Deckscapes ext. acrylic Deck Stain A15-150 Series S-W Woodscapes ext. acrylic Deck Stain A15 Series
Prepping Your Trex Fence for Paint or Stain
If you install a Trex fence and know right away that you want to change the colors, you do need to wait a little bit before painting or staining it. Trex products do have an expected weathering/fading period, as seen in the above diagram. So, it’s important to wait for Trex to fade naturally, about 12-16 weeks, before applying paint or stain. The reason is that painting or staining a new Trex fence that hasn’t faded yet could cause the new coating to discolor and adhesion could be compromised. However, if this happens, it’s not permanent and can be cleaned off. It’s just more of a hassle and waste of time and product.
Steps to take prior to painting or staining your Trex fence:
- Wait 12-16 weeks for the natural fading of Trex fencing to occur
- Clean the Trex fence surface prior to coating it. Ensure there are no areas of dirt or mold/mildew. Refer to the Trex owners guide for the appropriate cleaning instructions.
- Apply paint or stain to fence, following the manufacturer’s directions
A Trex fence will outlast any wood fence and has proven time and again to be a solid choice for the homeowner who will be at their home a long time, and desire a no-maintenance fence. Choosing a custom color for your Trex fence seems like the cherry on top of a great product. Contact us today to discuss your Trex fencing project.