Painting – Staining a Wood Fence

Painting your fence is one of the best ways to preserve the look and quality of your fence.  People don’t realize that a new fence can deteriorate very fast without the proper protection from the elements.  There are important steps to follow to insure that the painting is done right from preparation to using the right product for the job.

Maintaining your fence reflects on the overall look of your home and if not taking care of can be a real eye sore to an already beautiful house and yard.

 

Fence Painting Prep

1. Cut the grass and trim the areas around and at the bottom of the fence.

2. Clean and dirt or debris from around the fence.

3. Power wash your fence and treat any mold or mildew with bleach and tsp solution.

4. Scrape off any loose paint and sand where needed.

5. Check for any insect infestation and deal accordingly

6. Remove hardware and hinges

7. Place a tarp, drop cloth or plywood pieces around the fence area to protect the sidewalk, grass, driveway, shrubs, etc.

 

Additional Tips

• Work on the fence in sections.
• It’s easier on you (and better for the paint) if you don’t work in the direct sun or during the heat of the day. Direct sun will make the paint dry too quickly and it won’t be able to provide proper protection.
• If tall shrubs are growing close to your fence, slide a piece of plywood (around half a sheet) vertically between the fence and the shrub. You should be able to wiggle in between the plywood and the fence and lean back on the plywood, pushing the shrub away from the fence so you can get in to paint or stain behind the shrub. The board spreads your weight so no branches break, and when you slide the board out, the branches will snap right back.
• Check the weather forecast! Schedule your project when there is no rain in sight for at least 48 hours.
• Lastly, but not least important, make sure you are in good enough shape for the job. If you have any back or shoulder problem then you may want to hire a professional to do it for you. This is particularly true if you have a big fence: You will be putting a large amount of strain on your back and shoulders.

Products to Use:

If your wood fence has never been painted before it is best to use a solid hyde stain.  The best is to use an oil based stain or a oil hybrid stain as the bond to the wood surface better than any latex or water based product.  If your fence has already been painted than go with a high quality latex paint and prime any bare wood with an oil primer.