How to Paint or Stain Wood Fencing

by Murray Anderson

Tom Sawyer had fence painting all figured out. Tom made painting his Aunt's fence seems like it was such a privilege that only a lucky few could aspire to do it and pretty soon he had more folks wanting to take on the job than he could handle. So if you're another Tom Sawyer you probably don’t need to worry about painting your fence, you'll have others do it for you. However, if you're like most of us sometime you're going to need to paint your own fence.

Painting a fence isn’t difficult. It is a time consuming, repetitive job that unfortunately needs to be done. But, try to look on the bright side, a well-maintained fence will last for years and it will add an attractive design element to your home's exterior. Isn't that better than just ignoring your fence and having to replace it every few years?

Here's all you'll need to keep your fence looking good

Good quality outdoor paint
Good quality 4 inch paint brush
Good quality 1 inch brush (or angled/cutting brush)
Whisk broom
Cloth
Work gloves
Rubber gloves
Warm water

Painting the Fence Before You Put It Up
While some folks like the appearance of cedar as it ages naturally (and turns a grayish silver color) most people prefer the appearance of a painted or stained fence. The time to start painting your fence is before it even goes up. Paint the boards, stringers and even the fence posts before you build the fence. It's a whole bunch easier to paint fence boards lying in your garage than fence boards nailed up in your fence. Plus, this way you can easily cover all four sides.

Don't forget to paint or stain the ends of the boards as well. This is open end grain that will be exposed directly to the elements, and if left unpainted, moisture will very easily work its way down into the boards, rotting them as it goes.

Once Your Fence is Up
Painting a fence is one of those tasks that just have to be done. If you don't protect the wood, the fence won't last. Use good quality paint formulated for outside use. This means it will contain UV inhibitors and be designed to stand up to the elements.

Paintbrushes may seem like they're all alike, but they really aren't. Cheap paintbrushes will loose their bristles, will quite likely have rough edges that cause blisters and some are even badly out of balance and will be tiring to use. Spending a few extra dollars is well worth it to minimize your aggravation.

Before you actually start painting, take some time to clean up your fence. You've probably got cobwebs, seeds and who knows what else in the corners where the spreaders meet the posts. Clean these areas out with your whiskbroom and cloths. You'll also need to get rid of any bird droppings on the fence (particularly on the top of the fence boards). Rubber gloves, a cloth and a bucket of warm water will wash them away.

If any paint is flaking or loose, use a scraper or a wire brush to get rid of it.

Check for any insect damage while you're cleaning up your fence, If you see any signs of termites you could have an exterminator come in or you could just replace the boards that are damaged.

Finally, make sure the boards are firmly attached - if any are loose reattach them.

Painting the Fence
You obviously don't need to be as careful when painting your fence as when doing your dining room, but its helps to follow a pattern or a process.

Work on the fence a section at a time. Start by painting the tops of the boards (the open grain) and then work your way down the front of each individual fence board and one edge. Slide a thin piece of wood under the bottom end of the boards so you can paint right down to the ground and not worry about your brush getting into the grass or dirt.

Paint each section in two steps. First paint one side and one edge of each fence board in the section (you may need to use a small brush to get into the edges depending on your fence design). Move onto the nest section and follow the same process.

Once all the fence sections have been painted on one side and one edge, go back to the first section and paint the other side and the remaining edge. By following this process, when you're reaching in to paint the edges, you won't get wet paint all over your hands from the board you just painted.

Tips
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 fast and it won’t be able to provide proper protection.

A small roller (3") is an option for painting the face of the fence boards. Some people find it's easier on their wrists and shoulders than a brush.

Here's a hint if you got tall shrubs growing close to your fence. Slide a piece of plywood (say 1/2 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/stain behind the shrub. The board spreads your weight so no branches will get broke, and when you slide the board out, the branches will snap right back.

Let's fact it, painting a fence is never going to be as attractive a job as Tom made it out to be. However, a good looking, well maintained fence makes any home look better and having an attractive home is an something we can all relate to.