| Painting your fence every few years is a great way | | | | the opposite side of the fence. When you paint the |
| to spruce up the look of your yard and extend the | | | | backside of the fence, remove the sheeting and |
| life of the fence. Different types of fences require | | | | cover your own side of the fence so that airborne |
| different methods of painting. | | | | paint is stopped before it can travel or become |
| Your previously painted wood fence will need to be | | | | windblown. |
| touched up every year or two, or completely | | | | -Finally, don't over thin your paint or stain. |
| repainted. Either way, these fences often have | | | | Chain-link fencing has a durable galvanized coating |
| offset boards that defy ordinary painting methods | | | | that keeps it trouble-free for years. Eventually, |
| and are usually made of rough lumber. The paint tool | | | | though, even this galvanizing will fail, and the fence |
| of choice should be a sprayer. | | | | will require painting. |
| Prior to painting you should prepare the fence by | | | | Wire fencing can be difficult to paint. Brushing on |
| scraping away any flakes and chips. | | | | paint is usually slow and tedious, while spraying the |
| If your fence is not too large, a handheld cup sprayer | | | | open fencing permits too much wasted paint from |
| would work, these usually have a quart size reservoir. | | | | overspray. The best solution is to use a long-nap |
| For a larger fence, refilling a quart size reservoir | | | | paint roller, about 1" to 1-1/2". The long nap reaches |
| would become tiresome. Instead, consider renting an | | | | into the weave of the wire and covers hard to reach |
| airless sprayer with a suction tube that can be used | | | | corners. Try to get your neighbor to paint his side at |
| with any size container. | | | | the same time. This way, you will see each others' |
| Try to control your overspray by following these | | | | misses and can touch up the paint as you go. |
| tips: | | | | Before starting, use a rotary wire brush to clean |
| -Do not spray paint on windy days. Wait for calm | | | | away loose rust on the fence. You can also use an |
| weather to paint. | | | | ordinary wire brush to clean the surface. When |
| -Check the opposite side of the fence and be sure | | | | everything is properly prepared, wipe down the |
| that there is no car, lawn equipment or other object | | | | fence with a sponge that has been soaked in mineral |
| near the fence. Ask your neighbor to move | | | | spirits. When the fence is dry, apply the paint. Be |
| everything of value from the area. | | | | sure to use a paint designed for covering metal, not |
| -Buy plastic sheeting and staple it so it drapes over | | | | woods. |