How to paint a fence

Step 1: Fence Preparation

If your fence is brand new and unpainted, you’ll need to remove any dirt or flaking timber.Move away any furniture and pot plants. Tie back any trees along your fence line.
Mould can be cleaned off with bleach or an anti-mould solution.Remove dirt and flaking timber using sandpaper or a wire brush.

Stir your paint with a flat stirrer.If you don’t have a paint stirrer, use an old ruler.
Lay drop sheets to protect your tiles or concrete.

Paint the board that runs along the bottom first, being careful not to pick up any dirt from the ground.We recommend painting in weather between 10–30°C.
Paint the valleys that are hard to reach. Be sure to paint all the sides of the valley with an even coat.To save time, use a roller when painting the boards.
Paint the vertical timbers. It’s best to paint vertically up and down a couple of boards at a time to get a smooth finish.Allow a minimum two hours of drying time. Wait a little longer under cooler or humid conditions.Depending on your colour choice, an undercoat or third coat may be required.

A spray gun is a great way to save time when painting a fence.
Check the spray gun instructions to see if the paint needs to be diluted.Once you’ve filled the canister, spray the paint up and down the surface of the fence, keeping the nozzle pointed directly ahead.Check over the fence to make sure any overspray won’t damage your neighbour’s property.
Take your finger off the trigger at the top and bottom. This will prevent you applying too much paint in one spot.Work your way across the fence from top to bottom until you’re finished.Don’t use the spray gun when it’s windy. This can result in overspray.
Just like a brush, allow enough drying time between coats.