A Simple Hack To Quickly Paint A Fence With Overlapping Boards

Painting your fence with the right exterior paint can actually help maintain your fence longer. One of several common mistakes everyone makes when choosing exterior paint is not taking advantage of dual-purpose products that enhance the look of your front or backyard, while also protecting your fence from pests, water, or sun damage. A higher-quality acrylic paint will dry quickly and is less likely to chip or peel. If you can find mildew-resistant paints with UV protection, you can extend the life of your paint job anywhere from five to nine years.

If you're ready to paint your fence but the wood boards overlap, you may have some concerns about proper coverage. We have a hack to alleviate those concerns. A paintbrush of appropriate size and a small roller is all you need to perform this hack. Of course, the right paint for the job and a paint tray will also help. 

Before applying any paint, just be sure to prep a vinyl fence surface by cleaning it with a wet cloth and drying it. For wood fences, ensure there are no errant nails or screws sticking out that need to be tightened, holes are plugged up with wood filler, old chipped paint is sanded off with medium-grit sandpaper, and wood primer is applied to your surface before painting. Now, let's get hacking!

Opt for a 1 ½ or 2 ½-inch angle-sash brush, like a Purdy Clearcut Elite Glide, but ultimately, make sure you're buying the correct paint brush for the paint you're using. If this brush seems too small for the job, don't worry, it's perfect for what you'll be doing with it. Take your brush, and use it to get in between the space in your overlapping boards, being sure to get as much coverage as possible. You aren't actually using the brush to paint the entire fence so much as laying the paint surgically along the hard-to-get spaces. Once that's done, use a mini-roller that closely matches the width of your fence boards and apply the rest of the paint. Since you've used your small brush to get under your overlapping boards, your fence should come out looking evenly painted. 

While your paint color is up to you and your personal style, there are colors that traditionally do better on wood fences. Light earth tones like muted browns, beige, white, or gray work best on wood since those colors repel heat that can split and warp the wood. There are times when hiring a painting service to paint your fence makes sense, but for a straightforward paint job like this, knowing this simple hack can save you a lot of money and time.