Fence painting
A repainted fence changes the whole yard and costs little. The long part is the prep. Rush the cleaning and sanding and you'll see the paint flaking after the first winter.
What you'll need
- Decor Plus universal paint or exterior stain; for sheet metal, Decor Plus matte or gloss metal paint
- Decor Plus quick-dry anti-corrosion primer, for the metal parts
- Wire brush and sandpaper, 80 and 120 grit
- Brush and roller, or a spray gun
- Masking tape and dust sheets
- Gloves, goggles and a dust mask
Step by step
- 1
Check the forecast
You need two or three dry days and temperatures between 10 and 25 °C. Don't paint in strong sun. The paint sets before it levels out and you're left with streaks.
- 2
Wash it and let it dry
Wash the fence and wait until it's dry all the way through, not just on the surface. Take flaking paint off with the wire brush, and rust down to clean metal.
- 3
Sand and repair
Go over it with 80 first, then 120. Fill the cracks in the timber and replace rotten boards now, not next year.
- 4
Prime
Anti-corrosion primer on metal, wood primer on new boards. Without that coat the paint peels within a year, however good it is.
- 5
Two thin coats
Paint top to bottom, along the grain. The second coat goes on once the first is fully dry. Two thin coats outlast one thick one.
Useful tips
- On metal fences with profiles and ornament, spray goes on more evenly than a brush.
- Keep a small tin of the paint you used. You will need touch-ups, and the shade won't match if you buy it next year.
