Any advice out there on painting and maintaining a white picket fence? My fence will be 100 feet long, so I hope to be able to spray it. Good idea? I've heard that stain would be better than paint, but stains I've seen are not truly white, like my house. Fence will be cedar; how long should I wait to paint the bare wood? Should I use a primer before stain (says to on some cans); if so, doesn't that keep the stain from sinking in? The problem is that a 100-foot picket fence has a lotta darn pickets, each with seven sufaces (think about it), so to sand and scrape, and paint by hand, is impractical. What can I do originally, then in subsequent years, to make maintaining this fence practical? I've seen a lot of good-looking picket fences out there. What are you folks doing?

 

If you don't already have the fence, check into some of the new fencing that looks like wood but requires no maintenance. Can't recall any brands right now but I've seen several at home shows. More expensive than wood but not having to paint it would be worth the difference! Your lumber supplier or hardware store can order it for you.It's available in several different configurations. Good luck!

 

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Dean A:
Any advice out there on painting and maintaining a white picket fence? My fence will be 100 feet long, so I hope to be able to spray it. Good idea? I've heard that stain would be better than paint, but stains I've seen are not truly white, like my house. Fence will be cedar; how long should I wait to paint the bare wood? Should I use a primer before stain (says to on some cans); if so, doesn't that keep the stain from sinking in? The problem is that a 100-foot picket fence has a lotta darn pickets, each with seven sufaces (think about it), so to sand and scrape, and paint by hand, is impractical. What can I do originally, then in subsequent years, to make maintaining this fence practical? I've seen a lot of good-looking picket fences out there. What are you folks doing?<HR>

Dean, I am in the exact same boat as you. We used a solid color stain (white) and I am NOT happy with it. We did not sand or prime first (that may be part of the problem.) The tannins from the wood are seeping though the stain. I'd like to paint the rest of the fence (we stained only an 8' section so far), but wonder if we can paint over the stain. Can anyone help?

 

I have used Sherwin Williams Woodscapes in white it worked well but the wood was not new. Personally I would spray it. The only other one coat option would be to just put an oil base white primer(A-100) on and leave it at that. Now if you want to go 2 coats just put on the primer and then shoot it with some Super Satin. The oil primer should block all the bleeding even with it being new wood.

 

I agree -- skip the wood and go for a wood look-alike. Don't know where you live, so I can't comment on whether or not the weather conditions will affect (or is that effect?) the product, put there are many good aluminum products which look great and require VERY LITTLE maintanence. Little more cost up front, but last for ages and look great without a lot of fuss.