I've got a new cedar fence installed recently, lovely tongue and groove and the craftsmanship looks very good from my amateur eyes.
Unfortunately, I am in a strata community and the fence must be a specific colour (edgecomb gray Benjamin Moore). I know it's more beautiful as is, but I do not have a choice.
How to best apply a solid stain to a new cedar fence?
I believe I should let the wood dry for maybe 4-6 weeks first, doing a water bead test. But then do I need to clean or sand it first? Primer? # of coats?
I'm hoping to do less coats on the interior side so that I can appreciate the wood while doing more coats on the exterior side to satisfy strata.
Any tips welcome. Pics attached with kitties who can no longer escape through the cedar hedges that are gone.