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It typically takes three to five days to stain a fence, though most of that time is spent—literally—watching paint dry. The main issue is that you can’t stain a wet fence because the stain won’t sink into the porous grain of the wood. That means you’ll need to wait 24 hours to stain your fence after you wash it and 12 to 24 hours between each coat. Most people spend about an hour staining per 10 to 20 linear feet. 

You should wait three to six months after you buy it to paint pressure-treated wood. It needs time to dry from the chemicals applied to it. The paint will not adhere to the treated wood as well if it’s still wet from chemicals. To test the wooden boards, drip water onto them. If the wood absorbs the water, it’s ready for painting. If the water beads up, it’s not dry enough to paint yet. You can build your deck or fence while the treated wood is still wet, but you’ll need to paint it later.

Rags used with oil-based stains are highly flammable and can spontaneously combust in the right conditions. To reduce the fire risk, throw them in a metal container after use and add rocks on top to secure them. Add an inch of water and seal the container. Take the rags in the container to a hazardous waste factory as soon as possible.

Unlike a sealer, which sits on top of the wood grain, a combination stain and sealer soaks into the top layer. As a result, stains do a better job of protecting the wood from UV damage and rot and last significantly longer. Use a near-translucent stain that won’t alter the cedar’s natural color for the best results.