Begin with the top edge of the fence panel and then paint all of the verticals. You can now begin to paint each board from left to right, panel by panel from top to bottom. Do it one panel at time and one side of that panel at a time.
HOW TO PAINT OR STAIN AN OUTDOOR FENCE
A fresh coat of paint can update a weather-worn fence or beautify a new one.
Painting or staining an outdoor fence also helps protect it against the elements. Whether your fence is wood, vinyl or metal, we’ve got you covered with our step-by-step guide.
Get how-to guidance for each step to painting your fence:
Paint and stain both protect and enhance the look of your wood fence—but how do you know which approach is right for you?
Mostly, it depends on how much you like the natural appearance of the wood. Stain can change the look of a newer fence without hiding the natural features of a fence’s wood grain. Paint, on the other hand, can dramatically transform the look of a wood fence.
Which Paint Product is Right for Your Fence?
Wood, metal or vinyl are the most common types of outdoor fences. The product you will choose to paint or stain depends on the type of material your fence is crafted from.
A wood fence is the most common type of homeowner fence.
If you are staining a wood fence, consider a high-quality stain like ARBORCOAT ® Exterior Stain, which comes in a wide range of opacities and colors.
For painting, Fresh Start ® High-Hiding All Purpose Primer and Regal ® Select Exterior paint make a great combination for wood fences.
Note that some types of wood, like cedar and redwood, have tannins that could bleed through stains and paint. A special oil-based primer, like ARBORCOAT ® Exterior Oil Primer will help prevent tannin bleed when painting or staining a wood fence.
Helpful Tip
A solid stain will not only completely transform the look of your wood fence, it saves you the step of priming.
Whose Responsibility is the Fence?
Before you start to paint your fence, you may want to make sure that it’s your fence to paint. Many people are not entirely certain which fence is their responsibility and which is their neighbour’s responsibility. So when it comes to repairs and general maintenance of the fence who is responsible for what?
In regards to fence boundaries, the Gov.uk site states that there is no law about who owns the boundaries around your property and which side of the fence you’re responsible for. They suggest checking the deeds to your house to find out if there are any boundary agreements.
Elsewhere, the Boundary Problems website provides answers to many of the frequently asked questions around fence boundaries and responsibility. They suggest that the conveyance/transfer deed may state which property owner is responsible for which fence. If nothing has been agreed, you can set up an agreement with your neighbours.
With this in mind, if your neighbour owns the fence and is unwilling to maintain and treat it then you can offer to do it on their behalf. They must give you permission to stain or paint your side of their fence otherwise anything you do will amount to criminal damage. Alternatively, you can erect your own fence directly adjacent and do as you wish.
Preparing your Fence for Wood Treatment
Old Fence
If the fence has been previously stained and treated, painted or varnished then you will need to strip it back to the bare wood. You can do this by sanding down the fence.
All of the fencing surfaces should be free from any dirt and dry. A stiff bristle brush is a useful tool for getting rid of general dirt and cobwebs, weeds and any bird droppings – to remove algae, lichen, fungi or moss you will need to use a fungicidal wash or a decking cleaner concentrate.
New Fence
Mask off any areas that you don’t want to be treated like any non-wood fence posts. You can use old newspaper to protect these areas. Also, you should add a protective sheet on the grass or again a few sheets of newspaper.
Types of Garden Fencing
There are several types of fence including those with trellises. The most common are lap/overlap fences and closeboard panels. Many timber fences will have had some form of treatment in the factory – these can either be dip treated and or sprayed at high pressure.
When to paint a garden fence?
You want a dry day but not an overly hot or humid day. Working in direct sunlight on a very hot day can make the paint or wood treatment dry out too quickly and not offer full protection. If there is any risk of rain then leave it until the forecast is better.
What paint is best for fences? What fence timber treatment should I use?
There are many products available on the market that can be used to paint and treat fences. There are clear wood treatments, over-the-counter stains, varnishes and timber paints. Look for a very high quality timber stain and preservative that offers better protection for the timber itself or use Microshield Wood Protector – this will allow your wood to age / grey but protect it against water damage.
Consider preservation rather than just colouring the timber for a decorative finish. You want the active ingredients to penetrate deep into the fencing to provide long-term protection. You may want to consider protection against the following:
- Blue stain
- Rot
- Insects
- Mould & algae
- UV-rays
- Moisture
For larger fencing jobs, you may want to consider a dipping grade fence treatment – this concentrated product is available in three colours.
