Painting a wooden fence helps preserve the wood and makes your home’s exterior look more attractive. Whether the fence is new, faded by time or you just want to change the color, the Real Milk Paint Co. offers solutions for how to paint a wooden fence that include milk paints in a wide range of colors to suit most every decorating style from lodge and country to farmhouse and cottage.
Unlike oil-based paint or acrylic paint, Real Milk Paint requires no primer when you use it on raw wood for easy use, and the water-based formula uses nontoxic ingredients with low odors for a pleasant painting experience.
What to Consider When Painting a Wood Fence
When deciding how to paint a wooden fence, consider a few important things before you commit to a plan. First, figure out how long you want the paint to last.
For instance, Real Milk Paint sticks well to raw wood, so removing old paint or stain can make your new fence paint job last longer. Also, measure the area of fence you wish to paint so you can stock up on the paint and supplies you need for the task.
Additionally, set aside some time for repairs if any portion of your fence requires a fix before you start painting, and be sure to clear away all the grass and weeds and protect areas you don’t wish to paint by taping down plastic drop cloths.
Lastly, set aside ample time to complete the job. It helps to plan painting a wood fence when you see clear weather ahead for a few days to better help your paint job cure before bad weather strikes.
How to Paint a Wooden Fence
Once you have the milk paint and supplies you need, clear and cover the area around the fence. Tape tarps and drop cloths over areas you don’t wish to color, then get started on your project.
Prepping the Fence
Before you start to paint a wood fence, prepare it for Real Milk Paint application. If the fence is already painted, clear off old color with a paint scraper or you can settle with Milk Paint Remover or Soy Gel Professional Paint Remover.
These paint removers attack old paint so it bubbles off the surface, letting you wipe it away rather than scraping it. If you’re dealing with a raw wood surface, clean it thoroughly with a powerful wood fence cleaner such as Tri-Sodium Phosphate by the Real Milk Paint Co. Next, remove any iron stains on the raw wood with Oxalic Wood Bleach.
If there are dents and divots in the wood itself, use Real Wood Filler and a putty knife to fill in those spots for an even result. Since Real Milk Paint sticks well to wood without primer, you can paint as soon as the fence dries from the cleaning and repairs you made.
Painting a Wooden Fence
There are three ways of painting a wooden fence: brushes, rollers and sprayers. Each has pros and cons, and due to that, you may find yourself using all three.
The last thing to do before you begin is to mix up the amount of Real Milk Paint you need for the area you wish to cover. Our paints come in powder form, so you need to mix them with water, recommended at a one-to-one ratio of milk paint powder to water.
Real Milk Paint Additives
If you don’t have time to wait for Real Milk Paint to settle after you mix it, add our Anti-Foaming Agent. This additive breaks surface tension, which can help brighter pigments mix better for even application.
Since you’re painting outdoors, using Outdoor Additive with Real Milk Paint can help it keep knots and other stains from bleeding through your fresh paint job. This additive also helps protect against mold and mildew for added peace of mind.
In order to ensure your fence stays in excellent condition for years to come it’s best to finish the freshly painted fence. Milk Paint if left unsealed will slowly wear and fade from the surface. By sealing the paint with an oil finish, like Outdoor Defense Oil, it protects the paint from wearing away.
Say goodbye to blisters, chipped paint and cracking or peeling paint as this finish can take on the ravages of the weather. It’s worth noting that the milk paint will change color with an oil finish. So, doing some color tests beforehand is recommended.
Painting with Brushes
Painting a wooden fence with a paintbrush is usually a pretty straightforward job. Start with a wide paint brush that provides smooth, even coats like chip brushes by the Real Milk Paint Company.
These brushes come in various sizes, giving you the tools necessary to cover broad swaths of panels and get into tight nooks and crannies with the colors you select. Keep in mind that natural bristle brushes leave behind brushstrokes but foam brushes don’t when deciding the look you wish to give your fence.
Once you’re ready, just dip your paint brush into the mixed Real Milk Paint and begin applying it with broad, even strokes until it’s all covered. Let it dry a bit, then coat it again until you get the depth of color you desire.
Painting with Rollers
Painting a wooden fence with foam rollers speeds up the task but doesn’t offer the precision of brushes. Simply pour some paint in a pan designed to load up your paint roller, then apply the paint to the fence in smooth rolling vertical strokes and motions.
Smaller roller sizes can fit into hard-to-reach areas, but you probably also need foam or chip brushes to ensure you adequately cover the entire surface. Once you complete the task, allow the wet fence to dry completely, then add a second coat as needed.
Painting with Paint Sprayer
When painting a wooden fence with a sprayer, you may need to experiment with consistency to get the perfect flow. Sprayers transform your mixed Real Milk Paint into an aerosol that can quickly coat surfaces with thick, even color.
One drawback of painting with sprayers, however, is overspray. Be sure to protect surfaces surrounding and behind your fence before using a paint sprayer so you don’t end up with unwanted color.
However, Real Milk Paint is 100% natural and will biodegrade if it does get on any plant life. Paint jobs with sprayers usually look good after a single coat, but you may want to add another, depending on your preferences before letting it completely dry.
Paint a Wood Fence With Real Milk Paint
Knowing how to paint a wooden fence with Real Milk Paint can help you improve the look of your home with just a little bit of effort. Whether you use rollers, paint brushes or paint sprayers to get the job done, these time-tested colors by the Real Milk Paint Co. comes in many decorator shades and stays put on wood for beautiful endurance and performance. Shop now.
