Why you should consider painting your fence
Giving your fence a new lick of paint might be just what it needs to refresh and update it. By adding some colour to your fencing, it can make a big difference to the overall look and feel of your garden and allow you to match and compliment your decking and exterior furnishings. In this article, we will explore why you should consider painting your fence and questions which may arise if you do decide to paint your fence.
There are many benefits to consider when you paint your fence, and these include:
Aesthetics
One of the main reasons why you may consider painting your garden fence is because of aesthetics. Painting your fencing will have a positive impact on how your garden looks. You have freedom of choice to choose any paint colour, which will compliment other features in your garden. This allows you to have full control of the aesthetics of your garden and create your dream garden.
Moreover, painting your fencing can lighten your garden. By painting your brown timber fences with a splash of white – it can truly transform your garden, and make your interior space feel brighter and bigger, especially when the light on the fence panels bounces off into your kitchen or dining area.
Painting will protect exterior wood
As you may already be aware, over time your fencing may get suffer from rotting or be covered in mould due to the UK’s unpredictable weather. By painting your fence, it can protect your exterior wood as it actually ‘sits on top’ of the fence. Be sure to pick a good quality paint, which will create a barrier between the wood and the wet weather. This barrier should help protect your fence from rot and mould.
Variety of colour options
When you have finally decided to paint your fence, its great to know that you have a variety of colours that you can choose from. Perhaps you’d like to give your fence a timeless feel but painting it white or choose a colour that matches your garden or garage doors. Adding paint will certainly give your fence a unique touch and make your garden stand out.
Cost Effective
Did you know that painting your fence is generally cheaper than staining your fence and requires less maintenance. In comparison to staining, which requires 2-3 coats and more labour work, painting requires less time and labour and reduces costs in this sense.
Now you know why you should consider painting your fence, below you can find general FAQs you may have, which we have addressed.
When is the best time to paint your fence?
Generally, the best time to paint your fence would be summer, because the hotter months will allow the paint to dry and set better. In colder months, you may find that the paint takes longer to dry and there could be a risk of rain once you’ve finished. Whether you choose summer or autumn to paint your fence, we always advise checking the weather forecast beforehand (at least 24 hours) to ensure it doesn’t rain.
What paint do I use?
When you’re planning to paint your fencing, we always recommend choosing wood paint, as it is specifically designed to be used on wood. It’s created for wood, and this means that it is tough and durable for the task in hand.
We also suggest using a primer or undercoat on your fencing to ensure a longer lasting timber fencing and this will help reduce the amount of times you need to repaint your fencing.
At Lawsons, we stock a range of wood paints, undercoats and primers to get you started with your fence painting. Below you will find a few suggestions we recommend.
This white undercoat allows you to get the best results from Macpherson Gloss paint. Its great coverage and easy flowing properties make it the ideal non-absorbent base to achieve optimum impact from high sheen gloss colours.
This white water-based acrylic primer undercoat is quick drying and offers superb opacity and no residual odour. Perfect for interior priming of hardwoods, softwoods, hardboards and as an undercoat for interior gloss finishes.
This brilliant white gloss paint provides a desirable high sheen finish and due to the premium quality alkyd resin in the formulation, that aesthetics will stand the test of time.
What tools do I need to consider?
We recommend using a power sprayer or pump to paint your fence, especially if you have a large surface to paint. However, if you haven’t got a large fence to paint, or your task in hand is small or want to take your time (painting a small area) then you can use brushes.
Here’s a quick guide and a few tips to bear in mind when painting a fence
- Check the weather before you start! Ensure it’s not going to rain for 24hours and it’s not so cold that your paint wont dry
- Clean your fence and clear any grass and obstacles on the way
- Lay protective covers – make sure your flower beds and any vegetation are covered by with a plastic sheet
- Clean your fence – look out for any old nails, or any splinters that need to be sanded down
- Apply the primer and let it dry
- Use a large brush to paint the fence panels with your selected colour, we recommend you start from the top and work downwards. You can also use a sprayer, the choice is yours, however, to achieve the neatest results, brush vertically or horizontally in the direction of the wood grain
- Once you’ve finished, double check your painting and check for any areas you might have missed
- Remove the protective covers and let your fence paint dry
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