I wanna make my fence plain again!

gm_xone

Seems like sanding, using an electric sander with dust extractor (face mask recommended), is the best way to remove the green paint. This should get the vast majority of the stuff off, though as others say there may be some left within the grain.

If you intend to use a clear preservative/coating on your fence (or any exterior timber) it's best to check that it contains some sort of UV protection.

Generally it's often the pigment in a coating which stops the harmful UV energy. In a clear/semi-transparent product there is no or little pigment.
These coatings should contain UV Absorbers, Surface Stabilisers, Antioxidants or something similar to prevent early failure of the product and degradation of the timber.

just talking from experience...!

Very good luck!

Anya

Wow - thanks for that, sounds like you know your stuff!!! Do you know if there is such a preservative available? Or if not does anyone know of any fence treatments that look like a realistic lightish wood colour. We tried an "oak" one once and it just looked yellow!

lipidicman

Anya wrote:

The fences do need to match in our garden, I'm not bothered about what colour the neighbours paint their side. I just don't want one green fence and two plain?!

I didnt mean the colour - I meant that one side is probably the neighbours responsibility. They could take it down and replace it with a wall if they wanted, then you would have a hard time matching it.

It could be worse, our neighbours both sides refuse to do anything and expect us to foot the bill for the lot!