We do more staining work in Arvada than anywhere else in the metro, and the reason is simple: Arvada's orientation gives most backyards full western sun exposure. That afternoon sun, combined with Colorado's thin atmosphere at 5,600 feet, degrades surface-film stains in a single season. The stain cracks, peels, and then moisture gets under the film layer and accelerates wood rot. We stopped using film-forming stains in Arvada five years ago.
Now we exclusively apply penetrating oil-based stains with integrated UV absorbers. Brands like TWP (Total Wood Preservative) and Armstrong-Clark soak into the wood fiber instead of sitting on top. When they wear, they fade gradually instead of peeling — which means re-coating is a one-day power-wash-and-reapply job instead of a three-day strip-sand-recoat nightmare. Our Arvada clients on annual maintenance plans get fresh coats every 2.5–3 years, and their 10-year-old fences still look better than their neighbor's 3-year-old fence with a failed film stain.
Materials, Methods & Local Know-How
For new cedar installations in Arvada, we use kiln-dried Western Red Cedar at 15–19% moisture content. That's drier than what most lumber yards stock (usually 22–25%), and the difference matters. Wood that's too wet when installed will shrink as it dries in Arvada's low-humidity climate, creating gaps between pickets that weren't there on install day. We source from mills that kiln-dry to our spec, and we moisture-meter every delivery before we unload it.
Arvada's Olde Town district has specific historic preservation guidelines that affect fence design. The Olde Town Design Guidelines restrict front-yard fencing to 42-inch maximum height with an "open" design — meaning at least 50% transparency. We build custom picket fences with 1×4 dog-ear pickets on 3.5-inch spacing, which hits the 50% open requirement while still defining the property line clearly. The design has to be submitted to the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority for approval before we start.
For the newer communities — Candelas, Leyden Rock, West Woods — we deal with 30+ different HOA covenants. Candelas alone has three sub-associations with slightly different fence specs. One requires 6-foot cedar with a cap rail and no visible post tops. Another allows composite but restricts it to two approved color families. We maintain a database of these requirements and pull the correct spec sheet when we bid your job, so there are zero revision requests from your HOA after install.
Arvada Fencing Questions
Why do fence stains fail so fast in Arvada?
Arvada's full western sun exposure and Colorado's thin atmosphere at 5,600 feet destroy surface-film stains in one season. The film cracks, moisture infiltrates, and rot accelerates. We use penetrating oil-based stains (TWP, Armstrong-Clark) that soak into the wood fiber and fade gradually instead of peeling.
How often does a fence need re-staining in Arvada?
With our penetrating UV-block stains, re-coating is needed every 2.5–3 years. The process is a one-day power-wash-and-reapply — no stripping or sanding required. Our annual maintenance plan clients consistently outperform neighbors with film-based stains.
Are there fence restrictions in Arvada's Olde Town?
Yes. Olde Town Design Guidelines limit front-yard fences to 42 inches with 50% transparency. We build custom picket fences with 1×4 dog-ear pickets on 3.5-inch spacing to meet this requirement. Designs must be approved by the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority.
What moisture content should cedar be for Arvada's climate?
We use cedar kiln-dried to 15–19% moisture content. Standard lumber yard stock runs 22–25%, which shrinks in Arvada's dry air and creates gaps between pickets. We moisture-meter every delivery to verify.