How to paint a fence using an airless sprayer

As this is a wooden fence that’s been exposed to the elements, it needs to be thoroughly treated with Resene Moss & Mould Killer prior to painting. 

Decant it into a spray pack following the dilutions instructions on the pack, then spray it onto the fence. Leave it for 24 hours to penetrate the wood.

Once the moss and mould are killed, you need to clean the timber. Apply Resene Timber and Deck Wash ensuring it stays wet for 10-15 minutes and scrub. Then wash off with a hose or use a water blaster on a low-pressure setting. Avoid using a water blaster on a high pressure as it can gouge and damage the timber.

As this fence is made from rough sawn timber, there is no need to sand before painting.

Place down Resene drop cloths to protect the ground and open your paint. Allan is using Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen CoolColour in Resene Fuscous Grey. He’s chosen to use a CoolColour formulation as these are made with special pigment technology that reflects more of the sun’s heat and keeps the surface and your stain or paint cooler. This looks like normal colour colour but won’t get as hot in the summer months.

Give it a good stir and then use a sieve to strain the paint into another bucket. This is one of Allan’s key tips when using a sprayer, as that way he’s sure it’s free of any particles that may clog up the machine.

If you prefer, you can apply Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat first before the topcoats.

There’s a wide range of machines available to either buy or hire, but today Allan is using the Graco Ultra 490. To keep his paint from forming a skin on top while working outside in warm weather, Allan has fashioned a custom–made lid for his paint by cutting a slot in the lid wide enough for the hose to fit into. 

Always flush out your unit first, even if you have previously cleaned it, to make sure it’s clear and running smoothly – and always ensure you have selected the right tip for the job. Refer to the Resene Airless Tip Guide for assistance when selecting, it is a great resource to help you get the most out of your equipment.

Allan has erected a drop cloth attached to two extension poles for his ‘assistants’ to hold behind the fence, which will catch any spray that escapes through any panels. 

Always take care to protect surrounding areas that you don’t want to get paint on.

When spraying, hold the hose behind your back so it doesn’t get in the way. Hold the gun at a 30-degree angle and spray into the edges and overlap what you have sprayed by at least 50%.

You may be satisfied with just the one coat, as Allan is with his fence, but you may find when you’re new to spraying that you need to do two coats for an even finish. 

Whether you use one or two coats, make sure you put enough paint on. You can check this by checking the paint’s coverage on the can – most paints cover around 11-12 square metres per litre. If you haven’t applied that much, you’ll need an extra coat to ensure you’ve applied enough paint to protect the surface and keep it looking good.