2. Preparing The Surface
White fence..did we make a mistake? Help.
Hi all, we’ve got a small sized garden (approx 8x10m) with a downwards going slope at the back..
Initially we thought we might leave it as it is, as we just moved in and lawn is newly laid and looks like a nice mini football field.
But recently we got an idea to plant the slope up with cottage-style plants and turn this empty space in a wonderful almost evergreen and constantly blooming country garden..
Not sure why, but we started by painting the fence in cuprinol’s pale jasmine and noticed how clean the fence started looking..but comparing it with the previous brown stained fence version I’m not sure anymore if we did a right thing.
Second night in row I can’t sleep properly as I’m so confused and scared that our plan won’t work. were even not sure if we will manage to grow plants on that slope.
Please help us by providing your thoughts and ideas for our garden..do you think we’re going the right way? Or should we repaint the fence? Would we be able to create a nice display at the back and a bit on the sides? I’m seriously freaking out.
Garden is west facing..and I’m adding some photos for your judgement, even though it’s not finished yet. Thanks a lot in advance!!
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eve
Original Author
7 years ago
Hello everyone!
So I posted once and for some reason it didn’t save. hence posting again!
It’s been a while since we started out white fence project and after so many opinions and great advice received I just wanted to share our garden so far 🙂 I still need to do some tidying up, but here it is as of now ☺️xx
Why Paint Your Fence?
There are a number of reasons why painting garden fences is a crucially important part of bringing your home to life.
- Offers protection from wind, sun and rain
- Wood doesn’t last long on its own and can rot easily without adequate protection
- Can rejuvenate your outside space
- Maintenance is low and with the right application you shouldn’t have to paint for a number of years
- The style options to paint your fence are very flexible, using varying colour schemes or even adopting its natural woody tones
- Staining or painting helps reduce water getting inside the fence, giving it an extra layer of protection
Is It Better To Stain or Paint A Wood Fence?
Staining
- Stains still show the grain of the wood as they soak into the wood, which can create a softer, rustic look
- Allows the wood to breathe
- Can often be cheaper than paint but may not have the same coverage
- Re-application is an easier task
- Shows its wear a lot less
- It may look less pristine than a newly painted fence
- Stain needs to be at least 50 degrees to dry properly
- Less durable than paint
Painting
- Gives the fence a full new look with a bold solid colour finish
- Providing extremely effective protection
- Can be applied on top of surfaces that have already been painted on
- Will cover a greater surface area than stain
- Paint smothers the wood
- Will crack and bubble under weathering which is more noticeable than a stain failing
Ultimately, the choice of finish you opt for is completely up to you, with equally high-quality fence treatments available in both paints & stains.
The Best Paints & Stains For Painting A Garden Fence
Cuprinol Ducksback
Overall, if you are looking for a specific colour, this may not be the one for you. However, if you simply want an attractive and cost-effective paint to update your garden fences, Cuprinol Ducksback is the perfect paint for you.
Sadolin Classic
An extremely popular exterior woodstain, Sadolin Classic is ideal for fences, sheds and decking. It deeply absorbs into the fence for comprehensive weather protection. Crucially, Sadolin Classic comes in a number of pre-made colours and is available to be mixed in almost any colour with a paint mixing service, giving you fantastic flexibility. It is slightly more expensive than other wood treatments, however it is in our experts opinion the best woodstain on the market. For added durability you can topcoat Sadolin Classic using Sadolin Extra.
PICK A COLOUR AND WE WILL MIX IT!
Sadolin Classic Woodstain Tinted Colour
£33.33 exc. VAT
£39.99 inc. VAT
Zinsser Allcoat Exterior
Our final suggestion for an exterior fence paint is Zinsser Allcoat, which is the ultimate exterior paint. Not only is it available in almost any colour, but it also comes in satin, gloss & matt finishes, plus it can be applied to almost any exterior surface. It truly is one of the most versatile paints available in the UK. It is perfect if you have multiple exterior projects that you want to undertake at the same time, allowing you to perfectly match all of your exterior surfaces. It is the most expensive exterior fence paint on our list, but with a 15-year performance it offers brilliant value for money in the long-term.
Zinsser Allcoat Exterior Satin Tinted Colour
£19.16 exc. VAT
£22.99 inc. VAT
