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The best time to stain a fence is when the weather is dry and temperatures are between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Late spring, early summer, and fall are typically the best seasons for this project. You should avoid staining during very hot weather, like in the middle of summer, or when it is raining. Heat and moisture can cause the stain to dry unevenly. Likewise, if it's too cold, such as in winter or early spring, the stain may not be able to dry fully. Before you start, check the forecast to ensure there will be no rain and low humidity for at least a few days.

Stains penetrate wood best when it's cool and dry, so you want to avoid moisture. If the wood is wet upon application, or if it rains before the stain dries, the water will soak into the wood and displace the staining solution. This leads to a flaky and blotchy look, which is the opposite of a sumptuous even coat. Once the stain has fully cured, after about 3 days, rain shouldn’t cause you any problems.

Wood stain is typically dry to the touch within 6 to 12 hours, but it is not fully cured at this point. You should wait at least 24 hours before applying a second coat or a protective finish. For surfaces like decks, avoid walking on them for at least 24 to 48 hours, and wait even longer before placing furniture. The full curing process can take from 24 hours to one week, depending on the type of stain. Factors like high humidity and cold temperatures can extend drying and curing times, so it's wise to allow for extra time in these conditions.

You shouldn't paint a metal fence. Painting doesn't necessarily damage a corrugated metal fence, but these types of fences are meant to flex, and paint can easily chip and break off. Latex paints can address this issue, but those tend not to be very weather-resistant. Certain paints can trap moisture in the corrugation, which can rust the metal and lead to corrosion. And finally, if you paint a copper fence, it won't patina, which is one of the main reasons people buy copper.