If your fence has been stained or painted before, you might need a little extra prep. If stained, just clean, rub down and test the new stain on a small, out-of-the-way area to see how it looks and how well it goes on. If painted, scrape off any flakes with a decent paint scraper and give it a good rub down before painting. If you have fence panels with large, flat areas, you can use a 9-inch roller to speed up the painting process. But for most panels, a 4-inch roller is perfectly adequate.

The best paint to use in this scenario is a specialist fence or exterior paint. There is also the option to choose from stain or paint, depending on what type of finish you want. Next, you need to clean your fence — especially if it's an older fence. Use a stiff hand brush or wire brush to remove any dirt and debris from the surface. Key specs – Finish: Smooth; Volume: 10 litres; Drying time: 3-4 hours; Coverage: 12-16m² per litre; Coats required: 2; Weather protection: 15 years; Available colours: 27 Key specs – Finish: Matt; Volume: 5 litres; Drying time: 5 hours; Coverage: 4m² per litre; Coats required: 1-2; Weather protection: 2 years; Available colours: 4 Both types of product usually contain anti-mould elements and an ingredient that will help waterproof your fence panels, to stop any moisture from getting in and rotting the timber. When Should You Paint Your Fence Panels?

Protecting wood for two years, One Coat goes on easily and is showerproof in as little as one hour (climate dependent), and as One Coat only requires, well, one coat, you can have the whole job done and dusted in next to no time, leaving you to go and do something far more interesting instead.

Next, you’ll want to ensure the surfaces you’re painting are as dry and clean as possible, so clean off any dirt and cobwebs with a good stiff brush. This will make sure you give your fence a solid, even coat, free from gaps where water can soak in. Do I need a specific type of paint brush?A single fence panel should take you around 10-20 minutes to complete using this method, depending on how many edges you have to paint.

Available in six natural wood colours, One Coat is formulated for use on new or previously stained rough sawn wood and can be applied using a brush or by spray. A five-litre tin is capable of covering six standard fence panels. Just make sure that you follow the instructions: wear gloves and a mask and take care to cover nearby surfaces from unwanted paint spatters. Next, get your roller — start at the top of a section and work across and down. This will help smooth out any drips that might land below where you are painting. To finish your fence prep, give the fence a rub down with sandpaper to get rid of any rough areas. This is not so important for rough-sawn fence panels, but if you have a smoother timber fence, i.e. a slatted fence, then make sure to rub down for improved adhesion.

The best paint for fences to buy in 2023

The other benefits of this paint is that it can be applied directly onto even rusty metal using a paint brush or roller – although you need to remove all loose rust and flaking paint first – and it gives up to eight years of protection from the weather.

Timbercare costs less than half the price of most other exterior wood treatments, but it’s still water-based and safe around plants and pets – the trade-off here is that it also takes five hours to dry, so you’ll want to make sure you apply it when there aren’t any rainclouds on the horizon. There are several options to consider when painting a fence. We take a closer look at each one, its pros and cons, and how best to apply. If your fence panel is still wet when you start painting, the paint won't adhere properly to its surface. This can cause unsightly bubbles, and the paint simply won’t do its job properly.

Find out how to paint your garden fence

It’s time for the fun part. Let’s get painting! Choose fence paint with a tough and durable formula that has been specially designed to be used on exterior wood. Whether you use a paint brush or paint sprayer is up to you. Key specs – Finish: Matt; Volume: 5 litres; Drying time: 1 hour; Coverage: 6m² per litre; Coats required: 1; Weather protection: 2 years; Available colours: 6 Alternatively, you can use one of the best pressure washers, but you will need to wait for at least 24 hours for the fence to dry before recommencing the paint job.