Fence staining and front door painting in Burleson, TX (76028)

Burleson's older homes sit near Old Town and along the original rail line, with small frame houses and 1960s to 1970s brick ranches. Most of the city, though, dates from the 1990s to now: brick and stone homes with fiber-cement or hardboard on the gables, painted trim and six- or eight-foot cedar or pine fences. Newer areas off Chisholm Trail Parkway add modern farmhouse styles with board-and-batten siding and black or bronze accents. For paint, fences and entry doors take the most punishment here, and trim on brick homes usually needs a repaint every seven to ten years.

Fresh cedar or pine turns silver within a year or two in full Texas sun. That gray layer is damaged wood fiber, and stain won't absorb properly over it. We wash with a wood cleaner at low pressure, follow with an oxalic acid brightener to bring back the wood's color and let the fence dry for at least two days.

Then we spray and back-brush a semi-transparent stain so it soaks into the grain. Pickets that have split, warped or rotted at the base are flagged first, so you can have them replaced before stain goes on. A typical six-foot fence, 180 to 240 linear feet and stained on one side, usually costs about $1,350 to $3,100, depending on wood condition and whether both sides are coated.

• Low-pressure wash so fibers aren't torn
• Oxalic acid brightener after cleaning
• Two dry days before stain
• Spray and back-brush for full penetration

Many Burleson homes have front doors facing west or south, where afternoon sun cooks the finish. Stained wood doors gray and crack along the bottom rail, and painted steel doors fade within a few years. We take the door off its hinges when possible, strip or sand as needed and refinish it flat on sawhorses for a smoother result.

Wood doors get an exterior oil stain and a UV-resistant marine-style varnish, or a sanded bonding primer and a 100% acrylic enamel if you'd rather paint. Fiberglass and steel doors get a bonding primer and a door enamel. We rehang the door the same day whenever the weather allows.

The older frame houses near Burleson's historic downtown often have original wood siding and windows with layers of old paint. We test for lead before sanding, scrape by hand, prime bare wood with oil primer and fill gaps around windows with a paintable sealant.

These homes look best with crisp trim colors and a well-chosen porch ceiling. We can suggest combinations that suit the era without making the house look dated.