Painting Garden Fence on One Side?

Frank99

Does painting a garden fence on one side help to protect it, i wanted to paint my fence on both sides in the summer but the neighbours have a large shed next to their side making it impossible to access from their side.
I also have security brackets on the fence and trees above the panels which i would need to remove to slide them out.
How much protection does painting one side give, it is 5 years ducks back which i use, the tub claims it absorbs into the wood which makes me wonder if doing one side would be better than nothing.

Jeepers_Creepers

It's just as you say - it'll help, but not be as good.

These 'fence paints' only do one thing in any case - 'protect' the wood from outside water. They don't preserve the timber at all. Anywhere water can get through - and that's usually along the top and bottom rails - it'll soak in and cause rot.

Fence paint helps to delay this and looks good. The latter is its main purpose.

If you want to preserve the fence, then you'll need something like Everbuild Lumberjack Wood Preserver - they make a nice solvent-free version. Load up your garden sprayer, and concentrate on where water would end up and settle - these rails, for example, and down the vertical rails where the slats disappear behind.

Then apply the 'fence paint'.

Because the Lumberjack is clear and non-smelly, your neighb might be happy to allow you to spray it onto the fence behind their shed - they literally will not notice it?

ryan7

Obviously better to do both sides however your neighbours hut will offer some shielding from the elements. I wouldn't worry about it. 

TELLIT01

If the shed is so close that it's not possible to get in to paint it, there probably isn't too much of a problem with weather either.

Slinky

Mickey666 said:

The fence panels will almost certainly already be treated in some way and should last about 10 years, probably a lot longer if you don't mind them looking a bit tatty.

At around £30 a panel that's £3 per year.  Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. 

I'd stop worrying about them and save your money on any further treatments.

We painted our very elderly fence panels with Cuprinol Muted Clay. The fence hadn't been painted in years - probably since it was installed. The difference it's made is huge - the fence looks years newer and much more light is reflected around the garden.  Our adjoining neighbours liked the effect so much, they've done theirs the same colour, as has next door but one.

fenwick458

Frank99 said:

How much protection does painting one side give, it is 5 years ducks back which i use, the tub claims it absorbs into the wood which makes me wonder if doing one side would be better than nothing.

about 50%

but saying that, if the other side is butted up tight to another surface and doesn't get much exposure, then it probably won't make much difference