Changing up your look can be a fun way to celebrate an accomplishment, mark a milestone, or even get yourself out of a rut. Similarly, refreshing your home’s exterior can restore it’s appeal while retaining all the comforts of the home you’ve built and grown to love. New landscaping and other cosmetic changes can take a lot of time and money, but painting your fence is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to spruce up your home.
The Necessary Tools
Before you embark on this endeavor, it’s important to make sure you have the right tools to finish the job. In order to paint a fence, you will need:
- Paint Sprayer or Large Paint Brush
- Paint Color Of Your Choice
- Extension Cord (If Using an Electric Paint Sprayer)
Step 1: Clean the Fence
If you don’t clean your fence before you paint it, you’ll just be painting over all the dirt that’s accumulated, and the dirt stuck under the paint will make your fence seem grainy. Use a pressure washer to remove anything that may have accumulated. If you don’t have one available, you can always rent one. Let the fence dry for about two days before moving onto the next step.
Step 2: Put a Sheet Around Areas That You Don’t Want to Paint
This includes areas where your fence may meet the house or the porch/patio. A tarp or a large plastic cover will do the trick. Use electric wiring tape to hold the plastic in place without harming the siding of your house or peeling paint.
Step 3: Prep the Paint
Before doing anything else, read the instructions on any equipment you may be using (such as a paint sprayer) as well as for the paint itself. The directions on the paint will let you know if you need to thin out your particular paint with water. Then, use a thick paint stick to test the thickness of your paint. Thick paint is prone to producing air bubbles, while thin paint won’t provide sufficient coverage with one coat, requiring you to spend more time painting additional coats to achieve the desired color.
Another way to test the thickness of your paint is with a funnel. Using your phone or a watch as a timer, you can scoop some paint into the funnel and time how long it takes the paint to funnel through. The longer it takes, the thicker the paint.
Step 4: Begin Painting!
If you are using a paint sprayer, you will need to ensure that the paint reservoir is full before you start. Additionally, you will want to stand 8-12 inches away from the surface of the fence. Then, move the sprayer evenly across the surface. Keep in mind you don’t want to leave paint sitting unused for more than 30 minutes in the sprayer. The paint will dry inside the nozzle and make it harder for the paint to pass through. If you do lose track of time while taking a break, all is not lost. Simply clean the nozzle before starting again.
If you are using a paintbrush, make sure to paint one coat at a time. This ensures even layers of paint on your fence. Always paint in the same direction. If you start with horizontal strokes, keep going horizontally, and vice versa with vertical strokes.
Step 5: Consult Expert Wooden Fence Builders
If you’ve decided it’s time to upgrade your old wooden fence, A&O Texas Solutions can help! From design to installation, we will be sure to answer any of your questions and will make the entire process as stress-free as possible. Call us today for a consultation!
