Give your fence a treat this autumn

Giving your fence a fresh coat of paint is an excellent way to give it a new lease of life, whether you’re wanting to try out a new colour or just refreshing a weather worn surface. A fresh new coat of exterior wood paint will help to protect against the upcoming Autumn and Winter elements and help it to look newer for longer.

Top Tip! – Check the weather forecast before you begin to paint your fence, the most important rule when it comes to painting a fence is to do it when the weather is dry and warm, as low temperatures can cause the paint to not adhere properly.

What will you need?

• Sandpaper
• Exterior wood primer
• Exterior wood preserver
• Exterior wood paint
• White spirit – when using oil based paints
• Gloves
• Paint brushes and rollers
• Safety goggles
• Dust mask
• Scrubbing brush
• Paint sprayer

Safety Tip! – We recommend you wear protective gloves, dust mask and old clothes when painting a fence.

Before you start painting, check over your fence and check to see if there are any small cracks or loose panels. Remove any hanging baskets or decorations.

Brush down the fence to remove any dirt or debris to ensure paint adheres to the fence rather than dust or debris.

Prime Time

In order to achieve the best results possible, apply a layer of wood primer to your fence before you begin to paint it. Ensure that it is completely dry before painting.

Top Tip – Before painting the whole fence, paint a small area that isn’t too obvious and wait for it to dry so you can be sure that you are happy with the colour of the fence.

 Time to paint

• When it comes to painting a fence, there is no definite tool to use, you can use a paint brush, sprayer, or roller.
• If using a brush, be sure to paint following in the direction of the timber grains to give a more professional looking finish. Start at the top and work your way down to ensure that you catch any drips.
• If you decide to use a sprayer, then make sure that you choose a paint that is compatible.
• Avoid using a sprayer on a windy day, as you could blow paint into different areas of your garden, and always keep a brush on hand to touch up any small touch ups that may need to be made.

Tidy up time

• The majority of fence paints only need one coat. However, if you feel the need to add a second coat, be sure that the first coat is dry.
• Clean all of your brushes in warm soapy water to ensure that you can use them again in the future. You may need to use a white spirit along with this, for oil based paints.
• If you have any fence paint left over, be careful to seal them correctly and store them in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.