Can I Paint or Stain My Trex Fencing?

Although Trex Fencing does not require painting or staining, refreshing it with a coat of paint or stain or applying another color is an option if desired. Like wood, Trex is semi-porous so paints and stains that adhere well to wood can also be applied to Trex fencing. Paint or stain can be applied at any time during its life.

After weathering, Trex will retain its colors throughout its life because of the pigmentation process during manufacturing. The three colors: Saddle, Winchester Grey, and Woodland Brown will lighten after a season of exposure to the elements but will continue to stay colorful as it ages. For customers that prefer a darker version of the three colors, applying a paint or stain will achieve that. If a customer prefers to change the color altogether, use a opaque paint that will completely obscure the color underneath.

Consult with your local paint materials provider to determine the best paint or stain products to use.  Generally, any paint that is designated for exterior wood applications will adhere to Trex and achieve the desired effect. Some products even indicate that they work well with composites. As with any product category, paints come in various qualities so it’s a good idea to research the paint products to determine which one will best fit your needs and budget.

We recommend you apply a small amount of paint or stain to an area of your fence that is less visible to test the results. This will ensure you are happy with the results prior to applying the paint to the entire fence.

While painting or staining your Trex fence is not necessary, you can apply the material to refresh the original pigment or to change colors.

Yes. Allow your fence to be exposed to the elements for approximately 12-16 weeks before applying paint or stain. To avoid the paint or stain becoming discolored and compromising adhesion, this waiting period is necessary.

These four easy steps will help you apply your paint or stain successfully:

1. Allow the fence to weather in the elements for approximately 12-16 weeks.
2. Clean your Trex Fence to remove dirt, grime, and other foreign substances. Do not paint over the top of mold and mildew. For additional help on how to clean your fence, refer to the Trex Fencing Care & Cleaning Guide.
3.  Test the paint or stain on a small area where the fence is less visible to make sure you like the results.
4. Apply the paint or stain as specified by the manufacturer.

The length of time the paint or stain will last depends on the quality of the paint and the harshness of the environment around your fence. However, paints and stains on Trex Fencing can last as long or longer than paints or stains on wood. Trex Fencing absorbs minimal moisture so the paint or stain will not chip or split to the degree it will on a wood fence.

Review the paint or stain manufacturer’s instructions before cleaning. Additionally, read the Trex Fencing Care & Cleaning Guide for general guidelines on cleaning and maintaining your Trex fence.

Painting a Trex fence will not necessarily void the warranty because the warranty specifically covers manufacturer’s defects not the effects of external elements on the performance of the fence. While Trex does not cover color as a warranty item, the company has reviewed claims in the past where the color is outside the acceptable range established by standards set by Trex quality control (such as the extremely rare occurrence where color completely blanches out of the product). Color fading or weathering and variances in color between components are not covered under the warranty Therefore, in the case where a consumer paints a fence, it would be impossible to determine if color failure has occurred so Trex cannot evaluate color as a potential exception to the warranty claims but any product failures due to defects not related to color would still be covered under the warranty.

See the Trex Paint Technical Bulletin for the official release from Trex Company.