Pro: Customizability
If you decide to paint your fence, you will achieve your goal of making it different. You can opt for a neutral color like white, grey, or brown, or you can let your creativity fly and paint wacky colors and bright murals. You can paint every other board to make stripes, or write motivation quotes. The choice is really endless. If you're looking to update your wooden fence, painting it is an affordable and fun option. It's a great family project and it gets you outdoors for a few hours until it's done. For some painted fence inspiration, check out this Pinterest board: https://rebrand.ly/PaintedFences. Some homeowners are so creative! It's always great to see some hand-painted art that brightens up a yard.
Con: Flaking
One of the major cons of painting your fence is flaking. Even outdoor paint can dry up and flake when exposed to the elements all year. The sun can be brutal on paint, as can a cycle of getting wet and drying off. Your beautiful paint job can turn into a hot mess in just a few months. It's also important to keep in mind that some woods will hold paint better than others. Certain varieties of wood cannot be painting because they need to breathe. The wood can warp and become brittle. Not only will you have flaking paint, but you'll also have to repair a lot of your backyard fence! Always do your research before painting to make sure your wood can handle it.
Pro: Protection
A nice coat of outdoor paint can increase the lifespan of your wooden fence in some cases. Until it starts to flake and chip, the paint will take the brunt of the weather, thus protecting the wood beneath. If you keep up with applying more coats when you notice flaking and cracking, paint can preserve your wooden fence nicely. However, as we just mentioned, not all woods are meant to be painted. If you paint certain species of wood, the ingredients in the paint can actually eat away at it. There is a wide variety of species that are not paint-suitable including oak, knotty pine, and spruce. If you have a wooden fence made from any of these paint-unfriendly species, the best way to protect it is to avoid painting altogether.
Con: Fading
We've all seen a freshly-painted home, fence, deck, etc. They look fantastic. The colors are bright and it looks like new. However, if your wooden fence is in the sun, it won't stay that way for long. Even the toughest outdoor paint can take a hit after sitting in the sun for days on end. Over time, the sun will start to fade your gorgeous fence. You can always repaint it, but the cycle will continue. For fences that never get direct sunlight, you have less to worry about. You can expect faded spots wherever the sun hits. This can leave your fence uneven and splotchy if some areas are protected by shade and others are not. A partially-faded fence is not the best to look at, especially when paired with chips and flakes.
Alternative: Stain
A very popular alternative to painting your fence is to stain it. Stains seep into the wood rather than sitting on top of it as paint does. Most stains are more natural colors such as browns and reds. The wood will absorb the stain and take on the new darker tone. We say darker because you can only stain the wood to be a deeper color than it is to start. Think about dying your hair. If you're a brunette, you can't just dye your hair pastel pink. Blondes, on the other hand, can. Wood acts the same way. A plank of dark brown wood cannot be stained lighter, but a lighter wood can be stained darker. Stains are also not meant for all wood types so do your research before you buy. Keep in mind that stains will not flake or peel, but fading is likely to happen and more coats will be needed.
We hope this article has helped you to see the positives and negatives of painting your wooden fence. A high-quality fence doesn't need to be painting because it will look fantastic as it is. Palisade Fence Company uses the highest quality redwood or cedar to make your fence, neither of which need any painting to look stunning. Our wooden fences do not need paint to make them stand out. We will custom design your fence to fit your needs. If you want to work with a team of experts, then call Palisade Fence Company today at 916.384.0309. We'll get you the fence you've always dreamed of in as little as one day! We hope to hear from you soon!
