Wanting to learn how to paint a timber paling fence? You’ve come to the right place! A popular fixture in Australian backyards, timber fences sometimes need a little love to keep them looking fresh.
Thankfully, a coat or two of paint can bring them back to life and make them look better than new.
After many months of deliberation over what colour to go with (who am I kidding – it was always going to be black!), we gave our backyard fences a much-needed refresh over the holidays. My one regret? Not doing it sooner!
We’re loving the final result, but what surprised us most was how fast it was to get the job done. So, we wanted to share what has worked for us and answer a few questions you might have about painting a timber paling fence.
Should you paint a paling fence?
Timber paling fences can look great when new. But, as they are generally made using a low-grade timber for affordability reasons, they tend to weather quite quickly. While some love the look of weathered wood once it has silvered off, this might not go with the exterior aesthetic of your home.
Another thing to note is that once timber has silvered off, it can be prone to splitting if not properly treated. This can cause your fence to deteriorate faster and you may need to replace it sooner than expected.
While there are a few options, including staining and treating the timber, nothing provides results quite like a good coat of paint. Not only can painting your paling fence complement the exterior of your home and improve overall street appeal, but it can also help to protect the fence and increase it’s overall lifespan.
For us, painting our fence was as much about achieving the look as it was about protecting the fence. And, as we have had sections of our fencing replaced at different times, it had aged at different rates. So, painting the entire fence line of our backyard gave it a much more uniform and coordinated look.
Do you need to prime a timber fence before painting?
While primer can be a helpful product when painting timber, it may not be necessary for your fence revival project. Ultimately, this will depend on the current age and condition of your fence and the type of paint you use.
Although using a primer may bring some benefits, it also adds an additional expense to the project. And, it can essentially double the effort. If you have a larger property and more fencing to paint – this can be a significant factor to consider!
We chose not to use primer for these reasons, and we’ve had no regrets so far. While only time will tell how long the paint will last, we have managed to achieve an excellent finish, which doesn’t look like it will peel or flake away any time soon.
Which paint is best for a timber fence?
The best paint for a timber paling fence is one that has been specifically manufactured for the job and made to withstand the elements. Many paint brands have products to suit this exact purpose, so it’s worth having a look at the options available.
We chose Hadrian Contractor Fence Finish Exterior in black. This product is made for surfaces such as fences, pergolas, rough sawn timber, pine pickets and treated pine lattice.
We purchased it from our local Paint Spot store and, we always recommend seeking advice from trade suppliers. Usually, the staff at these stores can offer better advice than you might receive from bigger hardware store suppliers.
How do you paint a paling fence?
The first step to painting a paling fence is the prep work – which is always an essential step when painting. For this project, it’s fairly straightforward and all you need to do is ensure you have a clean, dry surface.
If your fences are looking a little worse for wear, scrub them down with a soft bristled broom using a mix of water and liquid detergent, before hosing them off. Otherwise, a quick once-over with a pressure washer should do the job.
If your fence is in need of any repairs, you’ll want to get these sorted before you start painting. This will save you from doubling back later on.
When the time comes to get started, you can choose between a paintbrush, a spray gun or a roller. Here are a few things to consider about each option:
Paintbrush
Most of us feel fairly confident with a paintbrush – and there isn’t much that can go wrong. While it can be a little laborious, a thick brush will help you power through the job faster and provide a good, solid coverage.
Spray gun
If you want to get the job done quickly and achieve the most professional looking finish, you’ll certainly want to invest in a spray gun. Even a basic model will help you finish painting significantly faster, and will give a clean, even coverage.
Paint roller
While we haven’t tested this personally, if you’re more comfortable using a paint roller then why not? Be sure to purchase rollers that are small enough to get into the grooves of each paling. And, as the timber is unlikely to be the best quality, you may need to purchase several roller cover replacements.
Is it better to spray or paint a fence?
In case you hadn’t already guessed, we are definitely team spray gun when it comes to painting a fence! While we had initially began painting the fence by hand with brushes, we were finding it to be quite a slow process, and remembered we had an older spray gun leftover from another project, boxed up in the garage.
We decided to give it a go – and WOW… What a difference it made! Although the spray gun was nothing fancy (a Wagner W100 Wood And Metal Paint Sprayer from Bunnings costing less than $100), it was incredibly easy to use and left a beautiful finish.
Plus, as we needed to dilute the paint with water, we found that we used less paint than we would have if we were to use a paintbrush or a roller. This also helped to keep the costs down, which is always a win in my book.
A good ratio when using a spray gun is 100ml of water for every litre of paint. Using this method, we were able to achieve greater coverage using the spray gun, and it was faster and easy to get into all the little timber grooves.
Depending on your paint, fence and what type of spray gun you use, there may be some benefits to giving it a second coat of paint – or perhaps even small touch ups in certain areas.
How do you paint between fence palings?
When it comes to painting between fence palings, the spray gun once again makes life a whole lot easier. To make sure you’re getting into all corners and avoid too much overspray, keep a good distance and maintain an even flow.
For each paling, we sprayed up then down the entire length: left, right, then centre. When painting the left and right sides, angle the spray gun to ensure that you coat the panel on all sides.
Can you paint an old wooden fence?
If your fence is quite old, you might be wondering whether or not it is suitable to paint. However, a coat or two of good quality paint can actually extend it’s lifespan more than you might realise.
If you have any damaged or broken panels, it’s good idea to replace these before you start painting. Once you’re finished, the new panels should blend in seamlessly with the old.
And, if the neighbours who you share the fence with are reluctant to replace it at the current time, painting can be a great way to refresh the look of an old wooden fence without costing a fortune.
So there you have it! If you have any questions, feel free to send us a message or leave a comment. Thank you for reading, and good luck with your fence revival!
