Are you dreaming of having the classic white picket fence? What about a more natural design? Whatever your preference, a freshly painted fence has the potential to bring new life to the exterior aesthetic of your home.   Some of your daring homeowners love to get their hands dirty and paint your fence yourselves. Others prefer to let the professionals handle it. Either way, everyone wants to have a gorgeously painted fence, and here are some tips to help you get the best result when painting your fence. 

Why paint your fence? 

Aside from adding a fresh aesthetic to your home, the main reason we should paint or varnish our fences is to protect them from the elements. Whether you have a steel fence or a wooden one, both are vulnerable to decay. Steel rusts, and wood rots or get’s pests in it that destroy it. To avoid this, you apply multiple coats of paint or varnish that protect the material and prolong its lifespan, giving you more longevity on your investment. 

When should you repaint a fence? 

With modern technology paints and sealants are relatively durable, lasting up to three years or more. This is when we’d suggest repainting your fence. However, you may notice signs of wear and tear sooner. In this case, we’d suggest inspecting the rest of the fence to check if that area is the only one that needs work. If not, then you may need to repaint the fence sooner. 

Should you get a professional in?

Repainting a fence or doing so for the first time is a fairly simple task. It involves selecting the right paints, preparing the wood by sanding and sealing it, and then applying the paint or varnish multiple times until it is done. Painting your fence yourself can also be far more cost-effective than getting a professional to do it. Professionals charge you labour as well as for materials. But if you do it yourself, you’ll just pay for the materials.    For some, this task isn’t really down their alley, though, and there’s nothing wrong with that. If this is you, then we’d suggest getting a professional in. If not, then go for it yourself. However, having a professional do the job has its benefits.    Contractors and painting professionals know what they’re doing. They can choose the right paints and prepare the fence with little to no mistakes, giving you a perfect fence as a result. Finding a professional fence painter is definitely suggested if you’re able to. 

Tips to follow when you paint your fence

Let’s be honest, it feels good to get your hands dirty once in a while and tackle a DIY project. But it’s also helpful to at least know most of what you’re doing so you can avoid ruining your fence while painting it. Here are some tips to help you paint your fence correctly:

1. Select the right paint

The paint or varnish you choose can have a significant effect on the end result of your project. Good paint can lighten up your property, adding a refreshing and renewed style to your home. In addition, good paints will also offer you premium durability and protection against the elements of your fence.  When you’re shopping for paint, there are a few important factors to consider, including:  

• Colour
• The type of wood you’re painting
• The climate you live in
• Whether or not the fencing wood is treated

 

2. Choose the right colour

Picking a fence paint colour that goes well with your house can really pull everything together. Since your fence is often one of the first things people see, it’s worth giving it some thought, especially if you’re thinking about selling.   Start by checking out your house’s style and colours. You can match your fence to your house’s main colour or pick a complementary or contrasting shade if you’re feeling adventurous. Just be sure to test the colour on a small spot first to see how it looks in different lighting.

3. Prepare to paint 

Have you ever heard the saying, “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail?” Well, when it comes to DIY projects this saying hits the nail on the head. Before you’re able to paint your fence, you need to sand it down so the paint has texture to stick to well.    This doesn’t mean you have to completely remove the old paint, just enough of it so that your paint has enough surface to stick to and so that the wood can be resealed. In essence, you just want to remove debris, dirt, and most of the previous coat. For those of you with steel fences, a primer or rust-resistant product might need to be applied before you’re able to paint. 

4. Treat materials correctly

This links to the point above. If you’re building a new fence it’s best to purchase wood that has been treated so that it already has a level of protection against the elements. In cases where the materials you have aren’t treated, you may need to get a sealer or primer to treat it before painting. This will simply just make it last longer. 

5. Put on the right amount of coats

Painting is a one-and-done kind of task. It’s time-consuming and often requires you to paint multiple coats over the fence to ensure it has the necessary protection against the elements. Take a look at the instructions on the paint you buy, it should have the recommended number of coats on it.    Keep in mind that each coat also needs time to dry with good weather before you apply the second one, so remember to factor this into your project before you start. We’d suggest removing the fence if possible and painting it in a garage if you have one. 

Final Thoughts

There’s a real sense of success and satisfaction that comes with successfully completing a DIY project in your own home. So, if your fence is looking a little bit “under the weather” why not get some gloves on and get stuck in? Follow the tips above and your fence will look like new in no time!