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. |