Getting wood stain off of wood

Melaniep101

Wonder if any of you nice people can help...

We moved into our house last year and are slowly updating it. Our front garden fence (facing the road) and wooden drive gates are stained a dark green. Is there any way we can remove the stain (without sanding it all?). Fence and gates are in great condition so it would be a shame to replace them, but I'm not liking the green. Would a pressure washer get it off?

Thanks in advance.

Melanie

spadoosh

Unlikely on all counts really. The paint has probably soaked into the wood (its supposed to) and as such even sanding you would still see some colour coming through. I would go for a dark brown and lots of coats over the top.

Pressure washer will only clean your fences, again wouldnt bother.

cyclonebri1

You will never get it off, end of. (Well that's the conservative view)

So try to cover it if you find it offensive, 'scuse the pun, ;)

Cover it in whatever stain you fancy, eventually it will blend.

Alternatively, hit with magnum strength bleach, the purists will cringe but to hell, it's only a fence, run off should be minimal if you take care.

The cynic in me says leave it a year, most treatment have naturally faded by then as they ain't up to much.

nickj_2

if it's a water based stain then a pressure washer may remove it , if you don't fancy doing that you could paint them with bedec barn paint http://www.bedec.co.uk/
this can be used over stain with out having to remove it ,

savemoney

I just stained a fence that was stained with dark oak (slightly faded) to green took a couple of coats though it can be done but probably better if wood has been stained a while back.

Melaniep101

Thanks all, will give the pressure washer a go, but looks like we'll be trying to re-stain over the top.