Oh Tom is right if the wood has not had anything done to it at all. In fact several folks have said that you should heat the oil stain in the hot sun and make sure the wood is hot and then use it. The problem is the wood has already had other stuff put on it you can not use stain.I am attaching the link to the Behr stain. It is their best product. It states right on it that you must strip off whatever is on the wood and open the pores. Since you have already primed the fence w/ oil based primer you will have to use paint. As for the porch the reason you are having trouble with the peeling is that primer is not intended to go w/o being painted. Since it has weathered for 2 years it really needs to be sanded lightly to remove all loose primer and then reprime with a really good primer. Then paint as soon as it is dry. Use 2 coats of paint. Here is the link for the Behr stain...read all of the directions and you will see what I mean. I sure hope that you get this settled. I would for sure talk to the HD person...not that they are all wonderfully bright LOL. As Tom pointed out his Lowes painter is great. I am sure sorry you are having all this problem. I wish I was there. I would gladly do this for you !! c Here is a link that might be useful: Behr stain

Most any fence is subject to some kind of maintainence by virtue of deterioration or storm damage. That includes most materials. However, if you put in the right kind of support beams, a concrete with quartz pebble panel fence, is as durable as you can get. It is also the most initial cost. Vinyl fencing can be ok, if you get something in an environmentally friendly color. White sticks out like a sore thumb. There is always the possibility of using some of the newer deck materials for a fence, that are composite vinyl materials, which look more like real wood, but are very easy to maintain, and much longer lasting. So far, they aren't specifically offering fencing in that material, but it should only be a matter of time before someone recognizes the suitability. In wood, a custom built fence utilizing decking treated woods, will last as long as any wood material, including cedar fencing. It will cost considerably more than regular wood fencing materials. In Texas, metal posts are best, and to make the fence last longer, a concrete or stone base under the fencing, to keep the wood away from ground moisture, will make the fence last longer. Naturally, any wood fence, will require frequent staining to help protect the wood from moisture, but if the pickets are allowed to go to the ground, water will wick into the wood end grain, and the wood will rot from within, in spite of the staining. (The best staining is NOT from a commercial service. Theirs breaks down in about 6 mos. You need to use a quality product and do it yourself, in 2-3 coats, initially.)

We have a similar situation; a medium sized suburban yard with a mish mash of chain link fence. Replacing it with a privacy fence would be very difficult because a long stretch of it goes right through the middle of 40+ year old thicket of honeysuckle bushes with massive trunks and roots. They are great for privacy in the summer, but do almost nothing all winter. Neighbor has three motion lights that shine right in our windows much of the year! On one section with no honeysuckles we got the rolls of 6' reed fencing and tied it the 4' chain link with wires. It held up well for a few years but the wind and animals trying to climb it damaged it a lot. The wire holding it together is thin and starts to rust and break after a few years too. Cutting it back to 4' when it got ratty helped tidy it up a bit, but obviously a lot less privacy. It is a very temporary solution at best. Since your fence is not even on the property line, I concur that getting a new and more private fence pushed back to the line is a better solution. If that doesn't pan out though... the reed fencing is an option. Ideally you would pair the reed fencing with some type of evergreen shrubbery which will help as well. They help with noise too. We have a massive silver maple and previously had several in our yard and next door. Yews would grow under them, slowly at least. Sweet woodruff is a good groundcover for dry shade too, although it is not evergreen. If you do put in any shrubs, plant them far enough away from the fence so they have room to grow. I have seen our one neighbor out with a scissors cutting off just the very tips of our red-twig dogwoods that stick through the fence. People are strange.

Some comparison pointers: Durability: PVC/Vinyl is much more durable than wood. Vinyl is resistant to harsh weather, decay, rot, and fungus. Maintenance: Very minimal maintenance is required for vinyl fences. On the other hand, wood needs to be periodically cleaned, stained, and sealed; this can be time consuming and expensive. Cost: Vinyl costs much more upfront than wood. For big yards, the initial investment could be high. Aesthetics: Wood offers a classic look and a lot of variety in style, colour, and stain choices. For a more in-depth comparison, refer to: http://bit.ly/2jrQYzp