Does Composite Fencing Fade?
When choosing a new garden fence, appearance and longevity are often just as important as strength and privacy. Timber fencing is known for its natural look, but it also fades, discolours and weathers quickly when exposed to sunlight and moisture, leading to treatments and a fresh lick of paint.
That leads many homeowners and specifiers to ask: “Does composite fencing fade?”
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Thu, 28 Jul 2026
The short answer: Composite fencing will undergo an initial fading period in the first few months of being exposed to the elements, after which the colour will stabilise.
In comparison, composite fencing is designed to resist fading far better than timber, maintaining its colour and finish for years with minimal maintenance.
Why Does Composite Fencing Fade?
Most composite fencing boards on the market will fade in the first months of being exposed to the elements. This is a natural process and is largely due to the way composite materials are engineered.
When the fencing is manufactured there are natural wood oils called tannins present in the panels. As the fencing is exposed to the elements, particularly rain and wet weather, these tannins will start to leach out of the boards in a process sometimes called ‘extractive bleeding’.
As a result, your fencing will look slightly lighter than it did when it was originally installed.
It may take 8 to 16 weeks for the natural wood oils to wash out. In some situations, especially if the fencing has been installed in a dry summer, the extractive bleeding process may take as long as 6 months.
When the tannins start to leach out of the fence panels, 'watermarks' may appear on your fencing. You may notice these tannin marks after a period of rain. This is nothing to be worried about and they should disappear after the boards have been wet and dried several times. If you’d like to get rid of the marks quicker, you can hose down your fencing with water and let it dry several times.
How Composite Fencing Resists Fading
Composite fencing is manufactured from a blend of recycled wood fibres and plastic, creating a material that is far less porous than timber. The fencing panels have integrated colour pigments and UV stabilisers.
This technology provides:
Outstanding UV resistance
Long-term colour stability
Protection from moisture absorption
Ease of cleaning and stain resistance
As a result, any minor tonal changes that occur typically happen only within the first few months, after which the fence stabilises and remains consistent in colour.
Maintenance Tips to Preserve Colour
Composite fencing requires very little upkeep, but following a few simple steps can help preserve its look:
Rinse occasionally with warm, soapy water to remove dust and debris.
Brush off organic build-up such as algae or moss with a soft brush.
Avoid harsh chemicals, they are unnecessary and may dull the surface.
There’s no need to sand, stain or paint composite fencing as its colour is built into the material.
While no outdoor material is entirely immune to natural weathering, composite fencing is highly resistant to fading thanks to advanced UV-stabilised pigments, far outperforming traditional timber.
