like exterior railings, gazebos and arbors. The trade-offs between paints and stains are the same for fences as for decks (see "Decks," below). Film-forming finishes like paint and solid stains last ...

Exterior wood stain may not make your deck, fence or lawn furniture look like the lustrous deck ... soak into a wood surface and impart color without forming a layer that can crack and peel. While ...