DIY Guide: Techniques, Tools and Tips for Painting a Wood Fence

Painting a wood fence is not hard, but it can be time consuming, especially if you don't have the right tools or know-how. Before attempting to paint a wood fence you should first familiarize yourself with some tips and techniques that may make the task easier for you to do. Here is a DIY guide on how to paint a wood fence.

The first thing you should do when painting a wood fence is to get all the supplies you'll need for the project. Usually the supply list is basic and generic unless you have special circumstances like wood planks that need to be replaced, etc. If this is the case, you can always ask anyone at your local hardware store about extra supplies you may need.

Generally you will need the following supplies when painting a wood fence:

• 80-100 grit sandpaper
• electric sander or hand-held sander
• paint roller
• 2 inch paint brush
• oil-based exterior paint
• paint tray
• plastic sheet/ newspaper
• painter's tape
• primer (oil or water based exterior)
• paint stir stick
• gloves

Cover the ground and the area where you are painting with a sheet of plastic or newspaper to prevent messes. If the fence is touching the walls of your house you can use painter's tape to seal the sides so that the paint does not get onto the walls.

If you are painting a wood fence that has never been painted before and the wood is not smooth, you will have to sand it first. You can use an electric sander for bigger jobs, or you can use a hand-held manual sander. The reason you want to sand the wood first when painting a wood fence is to get all the splinters smoothed out so that the paint can be applied evenly. In this step you should wear gloves so that you don't get splinters in your hands.

The next step after sanding will be to apply a coat of exterior primer. Using primer before painting a wood fence will seal the wood so that it does not rot, and the paint will be better able to adhere to the surface. You can do this by using a paint roller brush or a regular paintbrush. When applying the paint in the next step be sure to wash out your brush or roller first. After your coat of primer is dry, you can then proceed to applying the paint.

Open the paint can and stir the paint with the stir stick so that the color is not separated. Pour a little of the paint in a paint tray but do not fill the tray with the paint. Then, take your paint roller and roll it in the paint tray, and then apply the paint to the fence . When painting a wood fence you want to use even up and down strokes to ensure good coverage.

You can determine if you need to apply another coat of paint when painting a wood fence by the way it looks. Usually two coats are enough to do the job. After you have finished painting, be sure to thoroughly wash and put away your brushes and tools. If you have extra paint or primer, secure the lids on the cans and store for future projects.