Use a Paint, Stain or Preservative to Beautify and Protect Your Fence

You may or may not wish to finish your fence. A fence built from pressure treated lumber or species that are naturally rot resistant will last slightly longer if finished, but will have a long lifespan without finishing. A fence made from material that is not rot resistant must be finished or its lifespan will be severely reduced.

When finishing pressure treated wood, it is recommended that you allow the wood to cure for six months to a year, depending on humidity and weather.

There are many types of finishes that can be used outdoors. Paints are available in latex and oil varieties. Stains are not only available in latex and oil, but there are transparent, semi-transparent, and solid stains. There are also sealers that show off the natural qualities of the wood without changing the color. Which you choose will depend on the fence material and your own personal tastes.

For the best results, put at least one coat of finish on the materials your fence is to be built from before you begin construction, especially if you are using a wood product that is not rot-resistant. If you are using paint, a primer can be used for this step. This will allow you to protect portions of your fence that will not be accessible when the fence is assembled.

If you are using a primer, it is recommended that you have the primer tinted to match your paint. This will reduce the number of coats of paint necessary later, saving you both time and money.

Stains penetrate the wood, providing more protection than paint. Stains are also less prone to peeling than paint. Oil-based products last longer than latex products. When oil-based products are used, clean-up requires the use of mineral spirits or turpentine. There are also more environmental concerns related to the use of oil products. With latex products clean-up requires only water and there are fewer environmental concerns. Attempting to clean up oil based products with water or latex based products with turpentine or mineral spirits will result in damage to brushes and rollers, so it is important that you do not confuse the two.

While latex can usually be used over top of an oil product, the reverse is not always true. If you have used a latex paint or stain and wish to switch to oil, you will have to use a product specifically designed for such use or remove all latex paint or stain. Your home store or paint retailer will be able to supply an appropriate product.

Choose appropriate tools for applying paint or stain. Most brushes can be used with either latex or oil products, but some discount products can only be used with latex. Be sure to read the instructions on the packaging, or check with the staff of your retail supplier to ensure that your tools are compatible with the product you are using.

Once you have decided on a product, paint or stain should be applied evenly and according to the instructions on the product packaging. This will vary with the product, but some rules of thumb are not to paint or stain when it is too hot or too cold and to avoid applying finishes in direct sunlight if possible, and to ensure that all surfaces are clean and dry.

The finish should cover the narrow sides of the boards as well as the face and back. This will not only give a more even appearance, but extend the life of the fence. Since rollers do a poor job of applying paint in hard to get to areas like the spaces between fence boards, a high-quality brush is recommended for at least the first coat. Many professionals prefer to use a sash or trim brush for this, since the angled bristles make it easier to avoid drips and reach into difficult areas.

A paint sprayer is also an option. There are do it yourself models available, or you can rent a professional model that requires a compressor. Better sprayers have interchangeable nozzles for different thicknesses of paint. It is important that the sprayer be designed for the paint or stain you are using, so it is important that you read the instructions for your particular sprayer.

When using a sprayer it is important that you use a backer to keep over-spray off of items on the other side of the fence. Use even passes, keeping the nozzle of the sprayer an adequate distance away from the fence. This distance varies with the sprayer, but is usually 6 to 12 inches. Several even passes will give you an even coat.

No matter which method or material you use, properly finishing your fence will extend its life and improve the appearance of your property.