Fence & Deck - How To Guide

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HOW TO PAINT YOUR FENCE & DECK

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Five decades of experience designing and manufacturing paint sleeves, brushes and tools.

Five decades of experience designing and years manufacturing paint sleeves, brushes and tools.

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HOW TO USE A ROLLER SELECTING THE RIGHT ROLLER Using the right roller sleeve will give you far better results as well as saving you valuable time and effort. The general rule of thumb is the bigger the roller the more paint it will load and therefore the faster the job will be.

SURFACE PREPARATION

BRUSH TIP

The key to achieving the best paint finish is to make sure the substrate has been prepared properly.

LOADING THE ROLLER

Use good quality paint formulated for outside use. This means it will contain UV inhibitors and be designed to stand up to the elements.

Pour paint into the tray so that the paint is level with the first grid markings. Roll the roller into the paint to saturate all the fabric. Then roll up and down the tray grid to squeeze out any excess paint.

By following this method your roller gets an equal distribution of paint which makes application easier and more consistent.

Paintbrushes may seem like they’re all alike, but they really aren’t. Cheap paintbrushes will loose their bristles, will quite likely have rough edges that cause blisters and some are even badly out of balance and will be tiring to use. Spending a few extra dollars is well worth it to minimise your aggravation.

USING YOUR ROLLER Always use good equipment. Clean rollers, trays and handles are important to get a good finish. Make sure you follow the paint manufacturers instructions for thinning, application and number of coats.

Before using a new roller sleeve rinse it in water or turps (depending on the paint being used) to remove any loose fibres or dust. This also helps the roller absorb the paint quicker. Spin dry on a roller frame to remove excess moisture.

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GENERAL GUIDELINES PRIOR TO PAINTING •

Before you actually start painting, take some time to clean up your fence or deck. Clean these areas out with your duster brush and cloths.

You’ll also need to get rid of any bird droppings on the fence (particularly on the top of the fence boards). Rubber gloves, a cloth and a bucket of warm water will wash them away.

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Pressure wash the fence or deck to remove any flaking or loose paint. If you don’t have a pressure washer, you can scrub the paint off the fence with a stiff bristled scrub brush and water mixed with dish detergent. Use a paint scraper or a wire brush to remove any bits of paint that remain.

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Check for any insect damage while you’re cleaning up, if you see any signs of termites you could have an exterminator come in or you could just replace the boards that are damaged.

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Make sure there are no leaves, weeds or grass touching the fence or deck. Place plastic drop sheets on the ground along the fence to help keep the grass down and keep paint or stain off the ground.

Sand the fence completely until it’s smooth. Any bits of paint that remain on the fence should be sanded flat. You can use fine grit sandpaper or a power sander. A power sander will make quick work of the job.

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Sweep up the debris on the deck to be sure there are no paint chips that will get under the primer.

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Wipe the wood fence or deck down with a mixture of one part bleach and one part water or a mold killer to discourage the growth of mold and mildew.

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Finally, make sure the boards are firmly attached - if any are loose reattach them.

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Allow the fence or deck to dry completely.

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Clean the areas near the fence and deck on each side that you’re painting.

Additional Handy Items:

• 1/2 sheet plywood

• Good quality outdoor paint/stain

• Stiff cardboard or thin wood

• Good quality 50mm brush (or angled/cutting brush)

• Anti-mold

• Duster brush, wire brush, paint scraper

• Primer

• Plastic drop sheets • Broom

• Cloth

• Extension pole

• Work gloves, rubber gloves

• Paint sealer

• Warm water

• Water hose

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PAINTING A FENCE BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR FENCE UP While some people like the appearance of cedar as it ages naturally (and turns a greyish silver colour) most people prefer the appearance of a painted or stained fence.

The time to start painting your fence is before it even goes up. Paint the boards, stringers and even the fence posts before you build the fence. It’s easier to paint fence boards lying in your garage than fence boards nailed up in your fence. Plus, this way you can easily cover all four sides.

Don’t forget to paint or stain the ends of the boards as well. This is open end grain that will be exposed directly to the elements, and if left unpainted, moisture will very easily work its way down into the boards, rotting them as it goes.

ONCE YOUR FENCE IS UP Work on the fence a section at a time. Start by painting the tops of the boards (the open grain) and then work your way down the front of each individual fence board and one edge.

(You may need to use a small brush to get into the edges depending on your fence design). Move onto the next section and follow the same process.

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Slide stiff cardboard or a thin piece of wood under the bottom end of the boards so you can paint right down to the ground and not worry about your roller getting into the grass or dirt.

Once all the fence sections have been painted on one side and one edge, go back to the first section and paint the other side and the remaining edge. By following this process, when you’re reaching in to paint the edges, you won’t get wet paint all over your hands from the board you just painted.

Any excessive paint or runs can also be scraped off before you start the second side.

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PAINTING A DECK Clean and prepare the surface as recommended by the paint manufacturer.

STEP 1: APPLY PRIMER Primer will fill in any areas where the paint has been scraped away and give the paint something to stick to. It will also add an additional protective layer against water. Apply the primer with a paint roller on an extension pole so you can apply it in an upright position and not hurt your back. After the entire area is primed, allow to dry completely before you add paint.

STEP 2: APPLY PAINT Put a new roller on the extension pole, and apply the paint in the same manner as the primer. If you have some nooks and crannies where it is difficult to reach with the roller, use a paint brush to access them. Allow the paint to dry. If you see areas where the paint did not cover well, add another coat of paint and again allow to dry completely.

After you are finished applying the paint and it has dried, allow it cure for an entire day if it is sunny outside, 2 days if it is extremely humid or raining. If you walk on the deck too soon, the paint will not set and the finish can be damaged.

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How to clean brushes and rollers without polluting the environment An easy to use cleaning system This system is based on the use of two containers in which brushes, roller sleeves and other equipment are first washed and then rinsed. By rotating the containers the solids in the paint are separated from the liquid making it easier to dispose of each component.

By morning the paint solids in the first container will have settled down to the bottom of the container.

The clear water from this container may now be poured onto the garden or any grassed or open area away from streams, rivers or lakes, where it can be absorbed into the ground.

This system will work well for both water based and solvent (oil or alkyd) based paints. For solvent based paints use mineral turpentine and any other paint solvent recommended by your local paint retailer.

Now to dispose of the paint solids at the bottom of the first container.

Follow these steps In the case of water based paints: •

At the end of the job, use a PAL Multi Tool Cleaner to squeeze excess paint back into tray/ tin or onto an absorbent material such as old rags, shredded newspapers or cardboard boxes.

Scrape this out onto absorbent material such as old rags, shredded newspapers or cardboard boxes.

Allow to dry, then place in a plastic bag and dispose of with the household rubbish or take directly to the nearest council tip.

The second container now can be used as the first wash. Use this rotation system until the job is completed.

In the case of solvent based paints:

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Allow to dry and dispose of with household waste.

Follow the same procedures as for water based paints but with these exceptions:

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Wash brushes, rollers and other equipment with water in a 10 litre or similar sized container.

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Use solvents to wash equipment.

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Transfer the washed equipment to a second container filled with clean water for a final rinse.

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Allow the first container to stand at least 24 hours as it will take this long for the paint solids to settle.

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Place lids on the containers or cover in some other secure manner and allow to stand overnight.

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Do not pour the clear solvent onto the ground use it to top up the second container or decant and keep for future use.

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Use the least amount of solvent.

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Five decades of experience designing and years manufacturing paint sleeves, brushes and tools.

Caution Never allow waste water or chemical solvents from washed paint equipment to enter household or storm water drains or sewers. The waste may find its way into natural waterways where it can reduce oxygen levels and threaten the survival of fish and other aquatic organisms.

Planning ahead

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When moving from one worksite to another A plastic pail with a tight fitting lid is ideal for the short term storage and transport of brushes and roller sleeves. Fill this pail about half way with water so that brushes etc are covered. This will save you from having to clean brushes and rollers whenever work is interrupted.

Wrapping a paint brush in cling wrap will prevent the paint drying on the brush for at least an hour or so while you take a lunch break. Similarly put your roller into a plastic bag and tape it around the handle.

It’s a good idea to keep a container of ‘dirty turps’ on hand for cleaning purposes. Kept in the original container and in a safe place, you will be able to reuse the solvent time and time again. Remember not to shake it up as this will disturb the paint solids, which will have settled to the bottom of the container.

Tips for dealing with spills If paint is accidentally spilt, clean it up as best as you can with a cloth or newspaper.

Then wash down with solvent. By cleaning up as much of the spilt paint as you can before washing down you will save solvent and give yourself less work to do.

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