Fence painting is a common service requested by homeowners all over Cumberland County, from older brick ranches near Terry Sanford down to newer builds out in Hope Mills. Wood takes a beating around here between the summer humidity and those sudden spring thunderstorms that roll right off the sandhills. World Class Painters answers the questions we hear most often on the job site so homeowners in Fayetteville, NC know what to expect from Fence Painting.
Should I paint or stain my wooden fence?
This is usually the first question people ask World Class Painters. The choice comes down to what is already on the wood and what kind of look you want for Fence Painting. If it is raw, weathered cedar or pressure-treated pine, a semi-transparent stain lets the wood grain breathe and will not peel when moisture tries to push out. But if you want a solid, uniform color that matches your trim or you are covering up an old, mismatched job, Fence Painting with paint is the way to go. Once you paint a fence, you are committing to painting it down the road because it will eventually weather and peel. Stains just fade gracefully and are easier to reapply later.
How long will a painted fence actually last in this North Carolina weather?
If you prep it right and use high-grade exterior acrylic latex, Fence Painting will easily last five to seven years before needing a major touch-up. Skip the prep, though, and you will be scraping flakes off your grass by next summer. Local humidity and pollen season are brutal on exterior finishes. Mildew loves to cling to damp shaded fence lines, especially if your yard backs up to a wooded lot near the Cape Fear River basin.
Do I really need to pressure wash before painting?
Yes, absolutely. Do not skip this step or your Fence Painting project will fail because the paint will not bond. Dirt, pollen, mold, and old oxidized wood fibers create a barrier that paint simply cannot stick to. World Class Painters advises homeowners to rent a decent pressure washer or hire a professional, but keep the pounds per square inch (PSI) reasonable so you do not gouge the soft pine boards. Once you wash it, you have to wait for the wood to dry out completely. Slap paint on damp wood and it will bubble right up within a week.
Can you paint a fence when it's damp or raining?
No way. Fayetteville afternoon showers are very common during summer, and Fence Painting right before a storm is a guaranteed waste of time and money. The wood needs to be dry to the touch, and you need a good window of clear weather for the paint to cure properly before night-dew settles in. Spring and fall offer the best working temperatures, though World Class Painters can usually squeeze in solid exterior work during mild winter weeks too.
Should I use a brush, roller, or sprayer?
Fence Painting requires a combination of all three methods if you want it done right. World Class Painters usually uses an airless sprayer to get maximum coverage quickly into all those rough wood crevices, but we always follow behind it with a back-brushing stroke. That forces the paint deep into the grain and pores of the wood. Rolling works fine for flat board-on-board fences, but it takes a long time and misses the gaps.
How much prep work is involved with an old fence?
Fence Painting involves more preparation than most homeowners expect. If the fence has loose, peeling paint from a previous owner, you have to scrape all of that off. Leaving loose edges under new paint just creates a weak spot. You will also want to replace any rotten pickets or rusted-out hardware before a single brush touches the wood. Painting over rot is just hiding a problem that will cause issues later.
For homes and businesses in Fayetteville, World Class Painters provides Fence Painting services.