Hey all, landscaper/outdoor contractor here trying to learn the ropes on fence staining/sealing. I've recently completed a couple (quite lovely, in my humble opinion) fence installations using 5/4"x6" (real 1"x5.5") cedar. I personally love the look of weathered cedar and have let my own cedar fence go gray, but one client is very keen on exploring options that will maintain the golden color over time. I'm a bit of a noob in this area... We want to maintain the natural/existing look of the wood as much as possible. (i.e. matte/flat not shiny, and clear not tinted) Seems to be a wide range of opinions here and elsewhere regarding: oil or water-based, method of application (ideally not making a mess of the neighboring garden beds), and longevity (i.e. I want to give the client an accurate representation of how often we should re-apply... every year? 2-3 years?) What product should I use, and how should I apply it?