Setting (and respecting) boundaries
It’s not just a healthy thing to do in relationships – it’s good practice for painting your fence, too. Before you get started with a splash of new colour, it’s important to make sure that you have legal ownership for the side of the fence that you’re planning on painting.
Now, this can be easier said than done, because the specifics of fence ownership are often quite fuzzy. The official gov.uk website says that there’s no specific law that automatically assigns who owns what side of a fence. It suggests checking the deeds to your home, which could provide a few further details. If the documentation doesn’t provide you with any answers though, you can set up a formal agreement with your neighbours.
Make sure not to neglect this step, even if you think they’ll be fine with it. If you start painting a fence you don’t technically own, then it can basically amount to criminal damage.
Watch the weather
Timber fence panels are surprisingly fussy about the conditions in which they can be painted. Ideally you’ll want a dry day, but one that’s not too hot or overly humid (always a delicate balancing act here in the UK). If the temperature is too hot or humid, then working in direct sunlight can make the paint or wood treatment dry too quickly, which can lead to a less-than-stellar final result.
You also won’t really want to be painting your fence if it’s raining, for obvious reasons – even light rain has the potential to really spoil the finish of your fence. And if you’re using a sprayer – watch out for wind!
Make sure that you’ve got the right paint
OK, so we recognise this one might sound a little obvious. Like most common mistakes though, often it’s only blindingly obvious when someone else does it. It’s easy to get distracted by the perfect colour – make sure you’ve not snapped up anything like gloss paint, which generally isn’t going to do wonders for your outdoor fence.
Instead, really you’ll need a tough paint that’s specifically designed for exterior use, so take care to check the label! For outdoor spaces, it’s also a good plan to apply a layer of wood primer before you apply the first coat of paint. It’s not compulsory, but it’ll achieve an even better, longer-lasting result.
Get your tools together
Just as with the paint, you don’t want to get started and find you’ve not got the right tools. Best case scenario, you might have to pause the job and dash out to get new tools. And if you’re at a delicate stage in the process, that could have an impact on the final quality of the results – you might end up with a paint job that’s dried unevenly, for example. So, before you get started, it’s a good idea to check that you’ve got:
Painting tools
- Paint brushes and rollers
- Pressure washer
- Scrubbing brush
- Paint sprayer
- Ladder
PPE (personal protective equipment)
- Safety goggles
- Dust mask
- Old clothes, or dedicated painting gear
That’s just to get you started though. You might like to make your own preparations! And if you ever need to replace any boards – whether it’s before, during or after the job – you’re in exactly the right place.
We provide a range of dip treated garden fence panels, and pressure treated fence panels, which are exceptionally well-designed to protect against rot and infestation. They’re durable and reliable, and our pressure-treated fence panels come with a 10 year anti-rot guarantee, saving you time, money and effort from having to reapply treatment on an annual basis.
With fencing, concrete posts, timber gates and more, we can provide you with everything you need to start building your dream outdoor space. If you’ve got any questions, feel free to contact our friendly staff by dropping us an email or calling us on 01772 336 476. We’re always happy to help!
