How to Paint a Fence with a Sprayer

Fences are the first thing people see when they pass by your home or visit you. Therefore,it’s for the best to give your fence some love to impress your neighbour. The painting you fence is not at all difficult if you go about it in the right way. Giving your fence an innovation and brand new look is everyone’s desire. After all, the fence is the metaphor of protection of your household so you need to be considerate of it. First, to start the painting process, clear the surrounding area to avoid the mess. Inspect the fence for any loose nail or screw and remove them. The first step is to add a coating of primer to the fence before starting applying the paint. Now that the fence is ready to use a brush or paint sprayer to paint the fence. You can give a second coat if needed. It also makes the color come out a little more if you decide to apply a second layer of paint.

Prepare the fence for Painting

When it comes to spray painting, the Prep step is always the first and the most critical task. Especially in painting fences, there are a lot of things to do for painting to be safe and sound. We will achieve the fast working and the excellent finish once we spend time preparing the fence for Painting.

Clearing the surroundings of the fence

Cleaning surroundings is necessary to keep the paint off your grass and plants that might be growing near and around the fence for clean up purposes afterward. For this, you should mow the lawn in that particular area. A piece of plywood can be used to save the shrubs and plants from being drenched by the paint. Now, cover the surrounding grass with a large tarp.

Remove loose nails and screws

Any loose screw or nail that might be peeping out of the fence surface should be taken out entirely to give even coating to the whole fence. You should prepare your fence as neatly as possible to make your work much easier. New screws and nails can always be used to reinstall the decorations but for the smooth and flawless finishing off the fence will not be possible without taking this step.

Sand to Smooth

Before starting the painting process, it is necessary that the area to be painted is smooth without any rough areas or splinters sticking out. Best way to do that is by rubbing the fence with sandpaper and smoothing the whole surface. Using Garnet sandpaper for sanding wood is highly recommended for best results.

Wash Your Fence

For removing any residual dust, debris or stuff like algae or lichen, you should use the regular fence cleaner. Use a rag, spray soap or an h3 brush.

An important thing to be noted here is, to know about the quantity of the fence cleaner you should be using and whether you have to dilute the soap or not. There are many kinds of solvents available in the market; make sure you choose the one that is suitable for wooden fences.

Painting fences using sprayers

Optimum solution for all of your issues is SPRAYERS. With a sprayer your efficiency will be much higher and your work will also be much easier. Let’s check the steps of Painting fences using sprayers to reach comfier and more professional painting work.

Setting up your Sprayer

There are various sprayer brands available in the market. Before using any brand, go through the manuals carefully. Mostly, you have to fill the sprayer bucket or cup with your chosen paint. After that, the container or the bucket is to be attached to the spraying gun or pump. These sprayer guns mostly come with different sizes of nozzles, which can be changed according to the surface you are aiming to paint.

If you are not painting smaller areas, use the largest sized nozzle to spray paint your fence. Also, if there are any smaller cracks or crevices where large nozzles cannot reach; use the smaller ones to be more precise. A point to note here is, to use oil-based fence paints that are wood friendly by nature and can endure rough and harsh conditions of the exterior environment.

Prime your Fence with a Primer

After completing the spray painting part, now is the time to apply a primer to your fence. Use a paint brush for applying a coat of primer. Always take care of using horizontal strokes for horizontal panels and vertical strokes for vertical ones. The time it takes for a primer to dry depends upon the kind of primer you are using. Therefore, it is better to consult the primer instruction for knowing about the drying time of the primer you have used.

See more: Best Stain Blocking Primer with Oils for The Superior Results.

Spray your Fence

For best results and smooth, even finishing, keep the nozzle six to eight inches away from the fence you are about to spray paint. Spray paint your fence with steady back and forth movements. Horizontal panels should be washed with up and down motions so that you will have an even surface. And for vertical ones, use back and forth style of spraying.

Once you are finished with spraying one panel, spray another layer at the perpendicular line to your previous movement. This technique will get rid of streaks. Avoid making arcs at the end of each stroke, which may result in getting paint in undesired places.

Applying an Extra coat of paint if needed

After finishing the paint job and the fences dry entirely, scrutinize them. If there are any inconsistencies in the finishing, you may decide to apply an extra coating. With excellent quality paint, a second coat may not be needed. All said, if the paint is a little thin in places, spray paint another layer to give a smooth finish.

For drying time, consult the instructions that came with your paint. Usually, paints need to dry overnight.

Clean Paint Sprayer

Cleaning paint sprayer is necessary to get smooth finishing every time you use the paint sprayer and for optimum gun performance. A cleaning process is straightforward if done correctly. First, take off the cup or bucket of paint from the gun and empty it in case of excessive paint. Clean the bucket or cup with warm soapy water to get rid of any residual paint. The same treatment is needed for the other parts of the gun. Disassemble the gun according to instructions provided with the paint sprayer, clean using warm soapy water and dry thoroughly before reassembling.

Conclusion

Spray-painting your fences is an easy task that anyone can pull off with pratice. Anyone can do it once you follow the steps correctly. You can get excellent results even if you are not a pro. You should prepare the area before starting the painting job to avoid getting paint everywhere. Cover with a tarp or a large enough cloth to cover the area in the paint’s range. After finishing the job, give ample time for the paint to dry off, especially if you decide to apply another coat. Do clean the gun after every use to increase its working life and get a smooth finish after every use.

Peter Levick

I am Peter Levick, with over 10 years of experience in the home improvement industry, I have become a seasoned expert in painting and paint sprayers. Through numerous DIY projects, I have developed a keen eye for aesthetics and a deep understanding of the technical aspects involved. My expertise extends to various paint sprayer systems, and I stay updated with the latest advancements. I bring a meticulous approach to every project, ensuring stunning and durable results. Clients can trust in my craftsmanship and commitment to delivering exceptional work.