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Paint closeboard fence slats before it’s built?

Working_in_pyjamas
Posts: 103 Forumite

I’m having a closeboard fence built and have a few days off work before it’s being put up. I was thinking of painting it before it’s built.
I’m going to be painting both sides as I want the fence to last as long as possible, but it will be different colours as I’ve asked my neighbours what colour they’d like and they’ve chosen a different colour to my side.
I’m not very practical minded and often have a DIY type brainwave only for someone with common sense to point out why it’s not possible or a bad idea!
I’m not very practical minded and often have a DIY type brainwave only for someone with common sense to point out why it’s not possible or a bad idea!
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Comments
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Personally I wouldn't paint it, paint won't make it last longer, preservatives do that.Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.2
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I’ve asked my neighbours what colour they’d like and they’ve chosen a different colour to my side.
I wouldn't paint it and I definitely wouldn't paint it two different colours on either side.
Which side is going to get the posts and rails?1 -
Rdwill said:I’ve asked my neighbours what colour they’d like and they’ve chosen a different colour to my side.
I wouldn't paint it and I definitely wouldn't paint it two different colours on either side.
Which side is going to get the posts and rails?Is there a reason you wouldn’t you paint different colours? I’m definitely painting it as I want it to match the other side and in any case I’ve bought the fence paint now! Just didn’t know if it was impractical/a stupid idea to paint it before it’s been assembled0 -
I think it will be very time consuming to carefully paint one side one colour and the other side another.
You won't be able to 'slap it on' as you would normally do when painting a fence.
I don't think painting it will add any value. And painting two colours could reduce the value if it is not done very carefully.
But hey ho, you seem determined. Post a pic when it's done please.
For the record, if I was going to do what you propose, I would paint the fence panels before I built the fence.
But the job will take an eternity and I still think you're bonkers. 😀3 -
Rdwill said:I think it will be very time consuming to carefully paint one side one colour and the other side another.
You won't be able to 'slap it on' as you would normally do when painting a fence.
I don't think painting it will add any value. And painting two colours could reduce the value if it is not done very carefully.
But hey ho, you seem determined. Post a pic when it's done please.
For the record, if I was going to do what you propose, I would paint the fence panels before I built the fence.
But the job will take an eternity and I still think you're bonkers. 😀
I’m not fussed about adding value, I just want my fence a certain colour to match the other side. I’m sure plenty of people have different colours each side of the fence - it was more about practicalities as it’s a closeboard fence with slats rather than panels which would be much easier to paint first
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Working_in_pyjamas said:Rdwill said:I think it will be very time consuming to carefully paint one side one colour and the other side another.
You won't be able to 'slap it on' as you would normally do when painting a fence.
I don't think painting it will add any value. And painting two colours could reduce the value if it is not done very carefully.
But hey ho, you seem determined. Post a pic when it's done please.
For the record, if I was going to do what you propose, I would paint the fence panels before I built the fence.
But the job will take an eternity and I still think you're bonkers. 😀
I’m not fussed about adding value, I just want my fence a certain colour to match the other side. I’m sure plenty of people have different colours each side of the fence - it was more about practicalities as it’s a closeboard fence with slats rather than panels which would be much easier to paint first3 -
Hi WiP.There's no good reason for you not to do this if you want to. I totally get wishing to sort out the neighbouring side in advance so as not to have to stand in someone else's land doing this!I had a similar situation a good 10 years ago when I put up a boundary fence. I offered to also paint my neighb's side thinking it was the nice thing to do - which it is, of course. I get on well with him - he's a bit of an eccentric - but it just felt weird standing in someone else's property painting their fence. Also, terrified of any drips landing on their newly-laid driveway. And, not a single word of 'thanks' - the guy seemed to expect it...Ain't done it since.Something to consider - you will (I'm pretty sure) need to paint one face and one edge of the neighb's colour on each slat, yes? And the opposite on t'other side.Once up, you can top-up the finish on your side using a pressure sprayer - used carefully. This will help cover and seal the nail heads and stuff.1
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Once the fence is erected there will be gaps, knot holes etc.
When you paint your side of the built fence the neighbours side will look a mess as paint will find it's way through, in my opinion.
Pay very close attention to the top that is also where you will get dribbles down the otherside.
I bet you'll be round the neighbours side touching up the mess that is made.
Then back round your side touching up and so on and so on.
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Jeepers_Creepers said:Hi WiP.There's no good reason for you not to do this if you want to. I totally get wishing to sort out the neighbouring side in advance so as not to have to stand in someone else's land doing this!I had a similar situation a good 10 years ago when I put up a boundary fence. I offered to also paint my neighb's side thinking it was the nice thing to do - which it is, of course. I get on well with him - he's a bit of an eccentric - but it just felt weird standing in someone else's property painting their fence. Also, terrified of any drips landing on their newly-laid driveway. And, not a single word of 'thanks' - the guy seemed to expect it...Ain't done it since.Something to consider - you will (I'm pretty sure) need to paint one face and one edge of the neighb's colour on each slat, yes? And the opposite on t'other side.Once up, you can top-up the finish on your side using a pressure sprayer - used carefully. This will help cover and seal the nail heads and stuff.Yes, that's exactly it - my neighbours are lovely people and we get on well but I'd just feel more comfortable not being stood in their garden for 2 days!I hadn't thought about needing to do one face and one edge, just looked at the fence the other side (which is closeboard) and I think you're right - this is the sort of thing I mean when I posed the question! That in itself would be tricky to do the edge part on a slat that's not fixed to anything. In that case I might paint just the 'face' of the slat and then top up and do the edge as the fance goes up so at least it should be a fairly quick job.1
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Rdwill said:Once the fence is erected there will be gaps, knot holes etc.
When you paint your side of the built fence the neighbours side will look a mess as paint will find it's way through, in my opinion.
Pay very close attention to the top that is also where you will get dribbles down the otherside.
I bet you'll be round the neighbours side touching up the mess that is made.
Then back round your side touching up and so on and so on.
The fence on the other side of the garden is mine too - one side faces my garden and the other a public footpath. I painted my side grey and the other side brown (after the fence was put up as no access issues) and there's no issues with leakages/dribbles - there's no brown on the side in my garden and no grey on the public side. I'm not a careful painter either, I think cack-handed would be a good word to describe me!
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