5 Things To Remember When You Are Painting Your Fence

While not all us may be skilled enough or have the time to paint an entire house, just about every homeowner can benefit from being at least somewhat capable with a paint brush. Whether it be brushing up a discoloured spot in the interior or exterior of your home, there are some jobs that you’re probably better off doing yourself rather than calling in a professional painting company.

One of them may be painting a fence. Most of the time it’s a job you can get done within a few hours if you know what you’re doing and generally it’s pretty straightforward. The benefits of keeping the paint on your fence is good condition are numerous; it acts to protect the wood and prevents decay. If you are planning to paint or repaint your fence, here’s a couple of key tips to make sure everything goes smoothly!

Use Drop Sheets If Necessary

Often you’re fence will be positioned near tiles or concrete, which you just can’t afford to have paint spill onto. Invest in some drop sheets and make sure every square inch is covered before you begin work.

Get the Right Kind of Equipments

Different equipment is appropriate for different paint jobs. Being a smaller, rougher and uneven surface than for example house interior walls, you’ll by wanting to have a small paint brush handy that can get to those hard to reach places (between 2-3 inches). Depending on the length and width of the boards, you might even want to use a roller. Taking it to the next level, a spray gun can be used to save time however is not necessary.

Clean the Fence

This is probably the single most important step of the process and can determine not only how good your fence will look after the job’s done and how long it will last too. Being exposed to the elements, your fence builds up grime, dirt and who knows what else - and painting onto such a surface is a good way to waste an afternoon. Take to it with a cloth, or use sandpaper to remove dirt before you even think about getting the paintbrush out.

Choose the Appropriate Stain for the Job

You’ll need to purchase a paint that is appropriate for the climate that the fence is exposed to. Generally, it’s a good idea to go with Dulux Weathershield Four Seasons varieties are a good option, but different areas have different climates and you might find that there are more appropriate produces depending on where the fence lies and how much sun/wind it has to deal with.

Picking out a nice colour is also part of the job. Try to find a shade that complements the colours of your garden. Generally, darker shades are a safe option but it never hurts to consider all your options.

Paint With Care

You should always paint carefully and with a game-plan in mind, rather than just going to town so to speak. It’s a good idea to paint the edges and the top first, so any drips move down along the fence. Paint in the same direction as the surface of the timber so that you aren’t painting against resistance and don’t be afraid to go over the same area with multiple strokes - just keep it consistent!

In terms of the number of coats, it’s best to consult the paint bucket - generally you’ll want to apply 2 coats minimum.

As always, don’t rush the job, get the right tools and you shouldn’t have any problems. Remember to pick a day with decent weather so you don’t have to deal with rain or too much wind. Good luck! Call If you need more information or want to talk to a professional paint, call Joyce Painting today at 03 5940 0247.