advice on fence painting please

[clovergamecock]

I have a treated 3 rail fence that I built with posts and decking for the rails. Can I paint this with a syphon gun and air compressor? If so what stain/paint would you recommend and does it need to be reduced for it to work in a sprayer. Reduce with thinner or mineral spirits?

Painting/staining black if that matters.

Thanks
Wade

 

[Western]

You will want to thin it depending on the paint base, oil, water, Low VOC. Most paints can be run through a sprayer, just know you will have overspray on a fence, may or may not be an issue though.

I would go to a paint store, (we use Sherwin Williams in our commercial business) You tell them what substrate and equipment you have and they will tell you what would work on the treated wood. A true paint store like SW, will have more knowledgeable folks, but many box stores sell paint as well.

 

[EddieWalker]

I agree with Dennis on going to Sherwin Williams for advice, or another specialty store like that.

While faster and easier, I have found that to get the best results from staining anything outdoors, you can't beat using a brush. It's a lot more work, but the results are significant. If you are going to paint it, then you have to use a good quality primer first. You can brush on the primer and spray the paint, or roll the paint. The primer is going to be a miserable job because of how the wood soaks it up.

Sherwin Williams has an excellent primer designed for raw wood. Nothing is going to be better then a specialty primer. Zinsser primer is what I use all the time. It's sold at all the box stores and on the shelf right next to kilz, which is pure junk. The 123 is great stuff!!!!

How long do you want it to last and how important is it to you that it looks good?

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[Western]

Also agree with Eddie, use a good (best) primer, even if using a lesser paint.. A thick nap roller, will be far faster than the brush I think, except for creases where boards join. Filling the cracks and crevices with primer are paramount, start out bad and your job wont last a year in the weather before it starts to separate from the wood..

 

[forgeblast]

My buddy has a sprayer that looks like this, Shop Graco Magnum LTS 17 Paint Sprayer at Lowes.com
you can fit a 5 gallon bucket of stain under it. I have to say for staining outside it was top notch. I sprayed lattice, and three rail fence (the fence has wire fence behind it to keep our dog in), our barn, etc and it covered great. I will be buying one in the future.

 

[brin]

I have a treated 3 rail fence that I built with posts and decking for the rails. Can I paint this with a syphon gun and air compressor? If so what stain/paint would you recommend and does it need to be reduced for it to work in a sprayer. Reduce with thinner or mineral spirits?

Painting/staining black if that matters.

Thanks
Wade

25 yrs. ago I painted our 4 board treated fence using a black asphalt based solid stain I bought in a 55 gallon drum from an outfit in Ky...they sold to all the horse farms that did not want the constant maintenance required with a White Fence...We used rollers and brushes to apply it...It is still on the fence some 25 yrs. later...a bit lighter but still protecting the fence...

 

[EddieWalker]

My buddy has a sprayer that looks like this, Shop Graco Magnum LTS 17 Paint Sprayer at Lowes.com
you can fit a 5 gallon bucket of stain under it. I have to say for staining outside it was top notch. I sprayed lattice, and three rail fence (the fence has wire fence behind it to keep our dog in), our barn, etc and it covered great. I will be buying one in the future.

I have two Graco sprayers, one just like what you posted and another HVLP for cabinets that I use oil based paints. It's a great brand with lots of accessories that works great. Lowes was a little pricey and limited on what you can get. I searched online and found better pricing and different models to choose from. Sorry I don't remember who I used, I just google Graco and what I'm looking for when I want another tip or whatever I'm looking for and go with the best price.


Eddie

 

[Western]

Sherwin Williams is a Graco supplier.

Those are great, I have rented them when I didn't want to flush out one of our commercial sprayers (the one linked above)

Another product to consider Blackrat, Boiled linseed oil, great preservative, will keep some of the "natural" look, but isn't cheap.

 

[zing]

All advice I have been given was to wait a year before painting treated wood. Interested in knowing what others have heard.

I did that with my horse jumps, built them one summer then primed and painted them the next. They are holding up well, no peeling of paint yet and standing up reasonabley well to horse scuffs and my wife dragging them around the ring. One coat of primer and two coats of paint, but since you fence will (presumably) be all one colour you might be able to get them to tint the primer and then get away with only one coat of paint. Sorry, but can't comment on spraying vs roller/brush because have no experience with spray.

 

[Western]

Best to let treated wood dry out Fresh TW is heavy and full of water/chemicals and usually shrink some as well. Do it to early and it will more than likely peel.

Zing, very nice place you have btw.