Paint for a wooden fence: which one to choose
Recently, wooden fences have become a rarity - they are everywhere exchanged for fencing from corrugated board. But it is precisely this fact that attracts more and more attention to them, and more and more homeowners, trying not to be "like everyone else", again use the tree. Its only drawback is instability to various atmospheric and biological influences, however, paint for a fence made of wood can minimize it.
It also allows you to combine a fence, a house and outbuildings into a single harmonious ensemble, painting them in one color or shades that are combined with each other. The main thing is to choose and apply the right paint so that it protects and adorns the structure.
The content of the article
Paint selection
The main requirements for paints and varnishes used for painting wooden products in the external environment are as follows:
- Moisture resistance and ability to protect wood from moisture penetration inside;
- Resistance to ultraviolet rays, including resistance to color fading;
- Antibacterial properties;
- Frost resistance;
- The durability of the coating.
Not everyone paints for wood they are suitable for a fence in the same way as, for example, for painting wooden walls in a house.
Note. On the package must be marked that the composition is intended for outdoor use.
To choose which paint paint a wooden fence, you need to know which compounds are generally suitable for this job. By the type of basis they can be divided into four types.
Oil paints
Younger people may not know what it is. And some representatives of the older age, on the contrary, have no idea how else to paint the fence, except in oil paint. Indeed, a couple of decades ago, it was almost the only tool intended for outdoor woodwork.
Nowadays, not all manufacturers produce it, since demand has fallen significantly. And there is an explanation for this: color instability, a rapid loss of decorativeness compared to more modern compositions.
Alkyd Enamels
If the cost of painting a wooden fence matters, but I would like to use better materials, alkyd enamel would be a good choice.
The alkyd resins, drying oil, acids and alcohols that make up its composition give it the following important properties:
- The ability to form a waterproof film on the surface;
- Resistance to high and low temperatures, their sharp fluctuations;
- Protecting wood from pests;
- A sufficiently long service life is up to 4-5 years, during which the fence can not be repainted.
Note. All these properties will fully manifest themselves only if the application rules are followed: only on a clean and dry surface and with drying of each layer.
Acrylic paints
Today it is one of the most effective materials for a wooden fence - painting does not create a film on the surface, does not close the pores of the wood, allowing it to breathe, and at the same time perfectly protects it from moisture and other atmospheric influences.
The binder of the paint is acrylic resin, and the solvent is water, so it is considered an environmentally friendly product. It meets all the requirements listed above. For example, the brightness of the original color lasts for five years or longer.
One more advantage acrylic paint - the ability to mix paints with each other and with special pigments, getting any desired shade.
Stains and impregnations
The fence does not have to be painted. It can be treated with a transparent or tinting antiseptic, which will protect it immediately from all troubles, including woodworms, fungi and mold. And also from fire.
Tinting impregnation can be:
- Translucentgiving wood a beautiful shade but not hiding its texture. Such compositions are called glazing.
- Coverslip - opaque, hiding underneath a picture of a tree and all surface defects.
The first is used when it is necessary to preserve the natural appearance of the enclosing structure, for example, so that it is combined with a wooden house. The second will help you to do it yourself do the old unpresentable fence, eliminating visible flaws.
Note. Compositions with antiseptic and flame retardant properties contain toxic substances. Be careful when using.
Oil, wax
If the first place for you is naturalness, environmental friendliness and durability of the coating, and not how much it costs to paint a wooden fence, choose a composition based on natural oils and wax. Most often they contain linseed oil, pine resin, beeswax, turpentine, tar and other natural components that penetrate the structure of the tree and reliably protect it from aggressive environmental influences.
Such a product is expensive - an average of about a thousand rubles per liter. But it serves at least 10 years. Moreover, its consumption does not exceed 50-80 g / m2. Possible tinting.
Staining technology
To make the process go “without a hitch” and please the result, let's learn how to paint a wooden fence. In this matter, everything is important, from the choice of paint and tools to adherence to technology.
Tools
Paint is traditionally applied with a brush or an airbrush is used (see Types of spray guns: how to choose the right), which greatly simplifies and speeds up the work. It is better to take a natural brush, as hairs often fall out of artificial bristles, sticking to the surface. As for the shape and size of the brush, they depend on the type of fence.
Tip. For example, for a picket fence, besides the usual straight line, it would be nice to have a corner with a beveled edge - it is more convenient to paint the ends with it.
If the fence is new and made of well-polished wood, you don’t need anything else - you can immediately start painting.
If the old one, most likely you will need additional equipment for preparatory work:
- Hard metal brush;
- Coarse sandpaper;
- Hard putty on wood;
- Putty knife;
- Broom or hair brush.
Why all this is needed and how it is used, read in the next chapter.
Training
Before painting a fence made of wood, it must be inspected for peeling old coatings, rot, mold, chips and other damage. Even if it is perfectly preserved, it must at least be cleaned of dust, dirt, cobwebs, bird droppings. This will require a broom, and sometimes a bucket with a rag.
If the fence needs repair, do the following:
- We replace decayed or broken shtaketins with new ones;
- We clean the old paint with a metal brush and sandpaper;
- We remove the falling knots;
- We clean the surface of dirt and grinding dust;
- We close up all the chips and pits with putty, wait for it to dry and polish the repaired areas, aligning them with the surface.
But now you can paint, because the paint will lie well and will stay exclusively on a clean and even surface.
Painting
It is unlikely that anyone needs to explain or show how the application of paint to the surface occurs. But it’s worth mentioning some of the nuances and technological requirements.
- Apply paint or any other coating only on dry wood. Therefore, if you washed the fence or decided to prime it for reliability, wait for it to dry.
- For staining, it is advisable to choose a calm, non-hot and dry day. At sub-zero temperatures, painting is generally excluded, and in extreme heat the composition will dry too quickly, without having time to show all its properties.
- When installing a new fence, it is more convenient to paint the posts after installation, and the girders and cladding boards before installation. At least one layer. In this case, there will be no untreated places, and it is simply more convenient to paint the ends when they can be turned facing you, rather than trying to stick the brush into a narrow slot.
- Apply paint to an already standing fence from top to bottom with an even layer. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that there are no smudges - most often they are formed at the places where the board is attached to the run, on the heads of nails or self-tapping screws.
- When stained in two layers, the first must be allowed to dry. Drying time depends on weather conditions and the type of paint, it is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging.
Conclusion
To paint a wooden fence is a simple matter. Much more time and effort will be spent on preparation: the choice of paint and tools, cleaning and repair. But the most important thing is paint. The video in this article will help you make a choice.
