Painting a fence

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

For anyone who did this themselves how long did it take you and how did you do it? (eg spray, roller, brush)?

My wife and I are waffling on DIY vs. paying someone.

On one hand it feels like a waste to pay for something we can easily do ourselves. On the other it seems like it'd 3-4 week-ends to prepare and paint, juggling around the weather. I don't want to spend half the summer painting. But maybe it's much faster than I think.

Our fence is about 10 years old but has never been painted / stained. Our deck is due to be re-stained, but it's not in terrible shape.

[Table 5]

If it hasn't been painted, I'd stain it. Natural wood looks so much better, and you're not going to have paint flaking off and looking ghetto.

Unless you have some huge property, it really shouldn't take more than a weekend (if not one day). I don't think you can stain with spray/roller though, so I think you have to do it by brush.

[CaptainCrunch]

We always stained our fences it just makes it look better. And rollers and sprays are for sissies, you need to use the old fashion paint brush with a toothbrush for detail work. At least that was the way that we did it in the day.

[Kybosh]

I always trick some neighbourhood kids into staining my fence by pretending that it's much funner than it actually is.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

We always stained our fences it just makes it look better. And rollers and sprays are for sissies, you need to use the old fashion paint brush with a toothbrush for detail work. At least that was the way that we did it in the day.

Did you tie an onion to your belt while you were doing it?

[valo403]

I would suggest that you keep an eye out for a kid who could paint your fence. He would probably learn valuable lessons and skills. Skills that could translate to, I don't know, maybe karate.

[Sliver]

Stain it for sure (I did a natural colour so basically the wood just looks healthy and wet all the time). It'll take two days (one day/coat and you need two coats). We did it last summer and used a sponge-type thing that was super easy. It was basically a board width and you just kind of wipe it on. Fence looks slick.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I always trick some neighbourhood kids into staining my fence by pretending that it's much funner than it actually is.

funner?

So you got Mark Twain, but really "funner"

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by valo403

I would suggest that you keep an eye out for a kid who could paint your fence. He would probably learn valuable lessons and skills. Skills that could translate to, I don't know, maybe karate.

That's why I am waiting for 5 years till my kids are old enough to paint it themselves. I wouldn't want to deprive them of any life lessons.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Rathji

That's why I am waiting for 5 years till my kids are old enough to paint it themselves. I wouldn't want to deprive them of any life lessons.

Why stop waiting and do it then? If you hold out for another 40 years, you can tell hippies it's barnboard and charge them big $ for it for interior decor.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

funner?

So you got Mark Twain, but really "funner"

I'm going to edit another Mark Twain quote to respond to this:

"My posts (nee books) are like water; those of the great geniuses are wine. Fortunately, everybody drinks water."

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I'm going to edit another Mark Twain quote to respond to this:

"My posts (nee books) are like water; those of the great geniuses are wine. Fortunately, everybody drinks water."

and you spelt knee wrong.........

[Buff]

Can you get stain in colours?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Buff

Can you get stain in colours?

Yup, stain comes in transparent, semi-transparent and solid. You can get the latter 2 in pretty much any color you want.

[Rerun]

I watched a crew paint a fence with a spray gun and compressor. It was slick!... and wow did they ever get that fence done in a hurry. If I ever have to paint anything I use a spray gun where possible.

No brushes and rollers for me... too slow... but then I hate painting.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Rerun

I watched a crew paint a fence with a spray gun and compressor. It was slick!... and wow did they ever get that fence done in a hurry. If I ever have to paint anything I use a spray gun where possible.

No brushes and rollers for me... too slow... but then I hate painting.

I've been considering staining my fence this way in the summer, but I'm concerned about stain bleeding over to my neighbours side (they went with a different colour). I wonder if it would still work ok?

I hate staining outside wood because it just drinks in the stain and takes forever.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Rerun

I watched a crew paint a fence with a spray gun and compressor. It was slick!... and wow did they ever get that fence done in a hurry. If I ever have to paint anything I use a spray gun where possible.

No brushes and rollers for me... too slow... but then I hate painting.

It might be fast, but painted wood looks like crap imo. Wood is so naturally beautiful, why cover up its best quality? Sure it takes extra time and care to stain, but man does it look better. Plus it's not going to look like total crap once the paint starts pealing.

A good fence will last you decades....is it that important to save a few hours now?

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Table 5

It might be fast, but painted wood looks like crap imo. Wood is so naturally beautiful, why cover up its best quality? Sure it takes extra time and care to stain, but man does it look better. Plus it's not going to look like total crap once the paint starts pealing.

A good fence will last you decades....is it that important to save a few hours now?

Old stain looks almost just as bad. Washed out and faded. There's no such thing as stain and forget it. Re-staining will eventually be required..

Also why is that some people here feel that you can't spray on stain? Not sure if you can or cannot.. don't know why it wouldn't be possible though.


Edit: I guess you can.

You can apply stain in several different ways: brushing, rolling, wiping and spraying; however, the quickest of all the possibilities is spraying. The procedure will require some additional prep work in order to prepare the spray gun, but when the sprayer is ready, you will work circles around those who choose to brush, roll, or wipe their stains on. The average do-it-yourself homeowner can spray on stain with little difficulty, and, depending on the size of the project, in less than six hours.

Read more: DIY Staining With Spray Gun | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5376968_diy-...#ixzz1sv5Impgt

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Thanks all.

I considered indenturing my 6 and 8 year old. Especially if they get to play with a spray gun. That'd be entertainment gold.

[Hack&Lube]

Trick some dumb kid into thinking you are teaching him karate.