How to: paint a fence or gate

Start by cleaning the wooden garden fence to remove dirt, dust and any green deposits. Use warm water with a mild cleaner or a special cleaner for outdoor wood. For green deposits, you can use a specialised product like Algimouss AlgiAlgues.

Then lightly sand the surface. This not only ensures that you get rid of any unevenness but also helps the stain adhere to the surface better. Don't forget to de-dust the wood after sanding.

Apply the stain to your wooden garden fence with a flat brush or a roller. If you are handy with a paint sprayer, you can also spray it. The best direction to work in is along the length of the boards.

Usually, you will need to apply two to three coats of stain to ensure that the wood is protected well enough. Consider the amount of coverage or darkness you want as well as the specific recommendations for the product you are using. Any doubts? Then, feel free to ask our experts for advice. 

Finally, make sure that each coat is completely dry before you apply the next one. Also, try to time your work so that you avoid having the hot sun on your fence immediately after application, for example.

Inspect the fence to see if there is a lot of rust or other damage, for example. Then treat it - if necessary - with a rust converter or rust-preventing primer. If the fence has been painted before and you see any flaking paint, remove that too. If the paint comes off easily, you can just peel it off. If it's more of a challenge, there is always paint remover to do the job. 

Next, clean and degrease the surface thoroughly to make sure the paint will adhere well.

You only need this step if you want to work with a special adhesion primer or multi primer, combined with an adapted topcoat. If you use a one-pot system, e.g. Trimetal Steloxine Decor Satin or Brillant, or Hammerite Ultima, you can skip this part and jump straight to the last step.

Adhesion primers are specifically designed for metal (or other surfaces to which paint can't adhere easily, such as PVC). So the name says it all: it helps to improve the adhesion of the lacquer. It also helps ensure a smoother end result. 

Apply two to three coats of primer using a brush and/or roller. That may seem like a lot, but it is important to follow this recommendation in order to achieve sufficient outdoor rust protection. Again, it is certainly not a bad idea to check the technical specifications of the product you are using, or ask for advice.

Now it's time to top off your coat of multi-primer with an appropriate lacquer. Or, if you chose a one-pot system, you can start painting now 😊

For best results, apply several thin layers of paint with your one-pot system, letting each layer dry completely before applying the next. If you are working with a regular lacquer on top of an adhesion primer, applying one more layer will suffice. 

Choose a paint that is suitable for outdoors to ensure durable results and optimal resistance to weathering.