Painting Methods
There are a number of ways you can apply paint, stains, and wood treatment to a fence. These include using a paintbrush, a spray gun, or even a roller. The type of fence you have will help determine which method will get you the best result, and you may need to use a combination of tools.
If you have large fence panels a paint sprayer will get the job done more quickly than a paintbrush. Be sure to check the paint or stain is compatible with a spray gun as not all formulas are. You may want to use a brush to finish off some areas if your spray gun does not have a precision setting. This video shows how to use a spray gun effectively.
You may not have considered it but you can use a medium-pile roller to apply paint your fences. It will cover larger areas quickly, but you will also need to use a brush for the trickier to reach spots.
If you are painting a picket fence a paintbrush will give you the best control, helping you get around all the smaller, more fiddly bits. If you choose to use a brush to stain your fence be sure to paint in the direction of the grain.
Job Done
Depending on what type of paint or stain you have used more than one coat may need to be applied. Once you have finished painting be sure to properly clean your tools and put them away somewhere dry.
Top Tips
What paint should I use on my fence? A good quality wood paint or wood stain should be used, use a well know brand of paint such as Ronseal or Cuprinol to ensure a quality finish.
How often should I paint my fence? A drip-treated fence should be treated yearly. If you are applying colour then this should be re-applied every 2-3 years to keep it looking its best.
Is it better to brush or spray a fence? This is down to personal preference; a sprayer will finish the job a lot more quickly than a brush, but a brush will get into the tricker spots more easily.
How long does fence paint take to dry? This varies by paint type but typically it can take between 4 to 12 hours before the paint dries and a further coat can be applied.