Fence paint.

HillStreetBlues

My garden fences were painted last year but already in some places it's washed off.
Is there an additive that can be used in water based paint to make it more hardy?

MCT56

I'm not aware of any additive. My suggestion is to always buy the more expensive oil based stuff. It lasts longer and will save you money, time and effort in the long run. The climate in the UK doesn't help.

ArbitraryRandom

Someone else might have better experience, but that's exactly why for outdoor wood like fences I would lean towards a protective stain/oil based product which penetrates the wood and acts as a physical moisture barrier. 

That said, I've had some fences installed in the last 6 months and was talking to a local guy about getting them sprayed this summer - he said he's had good results with Bedec Barn Paint (which I believe from google is waterbased). 

twopenny

I tried Ronseal fence paint on some things and it was ok on new wood but poor otherwise. For a saving of a couple of pounds not worth it.
Ive tried Johnsons and that washed off quickly.
I've used Ducksback and that is good and lasting. My only problem with it was you can't touch up. If the wood has hardened it wont take.

The best has been a good quality fence panel that has been pressure treated well and left as natural.

YoungBlueEyes

A fellah told me years ago that the very best thing to paint garden fences with is used engine oil. Have you got a garage near you? They'll all but give it away because it costs them to get rid of it. 

Farway

YoungBlueEyes said:

A fellah told me years ago that the very best thing to paint garden fences with is used engine oil. Have you got a garage near you? They'll all but give it away because it costs them to get rid of it. 

That was always used if we ran out of creosote, not as easy disposal as pouring it down the drain of course

These eco days, maybe painting fences with old oil is frowned upon? And these days some oil is not the same, some is magic stuff that hasn't seen the inside of a refinery.

YoungBlueEyes

Sure you'd hardly know what to do for the best would you. Is reusing it more eco than disposing of it? What if, in reusing it, it's now open to the elements for years to come?  I bet the right answer is not to reuse it. 

I miss the lovely smell you got from sun-warmed creosote-painted fences. 

But none of that is useful so I'll shurrup now.

Slinky

YoungBlueEyes said:

A fellah told me years ago that the very best thing to paint garden fences with is used engine oil. Have you got a garage near you? They'll all but give it away because it costs them to get rid of it. 

My Dad used to mix old engine oil and creosote to paint my panel fence. We installed the fence in 1996, and it was still fine when we moved in 2019. It's probably still there now. We moved on to using 'creocote' which wasn't as full on as the original mix, but was probably not quite as carcinogenic.

Nobbie1967

I’ve used Ronseal Fencelife plus on a number of fences and it seems to last pretty well. Certainly doesn’t wash off once it’s dried. What state was the fence in before painting?

531063

YoungBlueEyes said:

A fellah told me years ago that the very best thing to paint garden fences with is used engine oil. Have you got a garage near you? They'll all but give it away because it costs them to get rid of it. 

Yeah, old engine oil and paraffin mixed together

workingboy

My fence is showing signs of drying out and previous coatings are fading.
Read that to thin oil based fence paint would be to use paraffin rather than white spirit allowing it soak in better ?