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How to Paint a Wood Fence

A wood fence is a staple piece of the property that can significantly impact a home's curb appeal. That's why painting your wood fence is an excellent idea! This project is a simple and cost-efficient way to revamp your fence while also protecting it for years to come.

Sherwin-Williams is happy to offer this comprehensive guide on how to paint a wood fence so that you achieve the look you desire. Read below for step-by-step instructions and helpful tips on choosing the best paint for your wood fence!

Cost: $$
Skill Level: Beginner
Duration: 1 day

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Benefits of Painting Your Wood Fence

Painting your wood fence is an investment in style and longevity, as this project achieves both in one go. Painting a wood fence allows you to upgrade its aesthetic appeal while adding a touch of unique personality to your yard, in turn boosting your home's curb appeal. Plus, when you paint a wood fence, you enhance its durability and resilience to the outdoor elements. Using high-quality wood fence paint from Sherwin-Williams protects the fence from harmful UV rays, preventing rotting from moisture and deterring insects.

What Paint to Use for a Wood Fence

A top-tier wood fence paint, like Emerald^® Exterior Acrylic Latex Paint from Sherwin-Williams, will help you accomplish the stylish and durable finish you expect. This self-priming formula delivers a smooth, uniform appearance that you'll be proud to show off to neighbors and visitors. It also protects your wood fence from blistering, peeling and fading while inhibiting dirt pickup and resisting mildew.

Painting vs. Staining a Wood Fence

Deciding to paint or stain your wood fence depends on how you want it to look and your desired level of maintenance. Painting a wood fence offers a wider range of color options while providing an opaque finish that drastically transforms its look. Staining a wood fence deeply penetrates the surface to showcase the natural beauty of the wood grain but offers fewer color options.

Painting a wood fence does not require you to remove the previous finish but has the chance to peel over a long period of time, requiring touch-ups later down the road. Staining a wood fence requires the removal of the previous stain or paint to allow the product to penetrate the wood pores but is less likely to require touch-ups in the future. So, if you're aiming for a more natural look with fewer maintenance requirements, staining may be the way to go. However, painting your wood fence is ideal if you prefer a specific color or desire a more dramatic transformation.

Tip: Opting to paint your wood fence means you can get extra creative, like choosing black wood fence paint for bold, eye-catching results! If you decide to stain your wood fence, be sure to check out our helpful article on staining exterior wood.

STEP 1

Prepare the Area Around Your Fence

You'll want to provide yourself with a clear work area before you start painting a wood fence. Here are some tips for preparing the area around your fence:

Cut the grass near your fence to clear the way for painting the lower areas.
Remove lawn decorations and furniture close to your work area.
Cover nearby flowers or landscaping you want to protect from paint drips or spills.
Use painter's tape and plastic sheeting to create a protective barrier between your home and work area.

Tip: Painting a wood fence in bad weather isn't ideal. That's why it's beneficial to check the weather forecast before you start this project to avoid working in precipitation and extreme temperatures.

STEP 2

Prepare the Wood Fence

Now that you've prepared your work area, it's time to prepare your fence for painting. First, check and tighten any loose screws or nails. If you notice any significant cracks or areas that need repair, fix them with wood filler and allow time for the filler to cure. Then, use medium-grit sandpaper to create a smooth surface and remove any peeling or flaking paint. Once sanded, clean the fence thoroughly and allow it to dry.

Tip: Paint and primer require a clean and dry surface to function properly and give you the look you want - and the same applies to painting your wood fence. After you clean your fence, allowing it to dry fully is especially crucial since trapped moisture can cause defects as it evaporates from the surface.

STEP 3

Prime the Wood Fence

Applying a proper primer is essential before you can start painting your wood fence. We recommend using Sherwin-Williams' Exterior Latex Wood Primer to help the wood fence paint adhere and hide the previous coating.

Colors We Used

Like what you see? Here are the shades we used for this project.

More Color Ideas

SW 7006 Extra White

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STEP 4

Apply Wood Fence Paint

After priming, it's time to paint your wood fence! We recommend using Emerald^® Exterior Acrylic Latex Paint, an outstanding wood fence paint with excellent weather resistance and a stunning finish. For this step, use a roller on the larger flat areas and a paint brush to get the more detailed sections of your fence. You'll also want to paint from the top down while applying vertical strokes to the vertical panels and horizontal strokes to the horizontal panels for a uniform finish.

STEP 5

Let Dry & Apply a Second Coat of Wood Fence Paint

The next step is letting the first coat of wood fence paint dry completely. Then, go back over the fence with a second coat of paint. Two coats of paint are vital for new and bare wood, while one coat should suffice for previously painted fences, thanks to Emerald^® Exterior Acrylic Latex Paint being a self-priming product. All that remains is cleaning up and enjoying the beautiful new look of your freshly painted wood fence!