Painting an already painted garden fence

[MaMaD1990]

Posting here for traffic and some advice please. We bought a house last year and the previous had an obsession with very dark brown. The garden fence is this same horrible dark brown colour and I want to repaint it something light, sage green perhaps. It's in good condition and no paint is peeling. My question is can I paint straight over the existing paint and has anyone tried this before? I'm dreading the thought of sanding it all off!

And if anyone can recommend any paint, bonus!

Look at Cuprinol Garden Shades, might take a few coats but I've used that on the dark wood at the front of my house successfully.

Order it quick though, it was gold dust last year 😉

Colour chart here:

www.jtatkinson.co.uk/cuprinol-garden-shades-seagrass-2-5-litres.html

@AlanThePig thank you! Do you know if it works painting it on top of existing paint? Im planning my trip to B&Q as we speak

Cuprinol garden shades does not go very far on rough sawn wood like fences. It's more for smooth wood like garden furniture.

I would use an actual fence paint. Ronseal does a variety of colours in fence paint.

You can paint over the top of fence panels, it will just take a lot more coats to cover a dark colour with a light one. Make sure you use a stiff brush to remove any loose paint, dirt etc before you start.

Is it a big or small garden? Light coloured fences make small spaces feel smaller, dark colours make them feel larger.

Also, cuprinol garden shades is oil based so you have to do all coats within 8 hours.

You don't have that issue with fence paint.

Is the wood rough or planed?

And I’m wondering if it’s painted or stained. Could you post a close-up photo?

@user1149254825482534232

Also, cuprinol garden shades is oil based so you have to do all coats within 8 hours.

You don't have that issue with fence paint.

I cant see fence paint covering the existing dark wood, thats the issue. The Cuprinol stuff is sold as a fence paint:

Cuprinol Garden Shades has been specially developed to colour and protect sheds, fences and other garden wood

Whatever you use you're going to need more than usual as you're putting a lighter colour over dark, but yes, it will go straight over the existing.

Also, another consideration. Have you thought of embracing the dark and going for black? Would be much easier and it isn't as harsh as you think if you have planting in front of the fences. It makes the green of the plants really pop out.

Ooh, someone I know painted their fence black and it did look really nice. I was a bit when they told me what they were doing, but it looked good.

@user1149254825482534232

Ooh, someone I know painted their fence black and it did look really nice. I was a bit when they told me what they were doing, but it looked good.

It's one of those you think "OH NO" until its done and it does look absolutely stunning.

I can imagine with a mirror here and there and a few hanging plants and climbers it would look amazing.

Not mine I add. I'm currently in the process of pulling out a fence the previous owners painted dark green and it looks awful!

I think it will be difficult. I'm trying to cover a light colour with a darker one at the moment and I'm already on the third coat.

I agree that garden shades isn't a fence paint. Cuprinol Ducks back is the best one I think.

@user1149254825482534232

Cuprinol Garden Shades is a water based product.

I agree that garden shades isn't a fence paint

The instructions on the tin appear to disagree with that. Cuprinol also list it under Fence Products:

www.cuprinol.co.uk/fences/index.jsp

Another vote for black!

You need to paint the fences with a white base coat ( poss 2 ), suitable for exterior wood, before you apply a new colour. You need to kick out the original colour ( especially as dark) before you apply a lighter colour. Same applies on interior walls etc.

Thank you all so much for your replies! It's dark now but will post a close up photo of the fence tomorrow when it's light again. I'll also have to feel my fence up a bit to see if it's rough or planed...can you tell I've never owned a property with a garden before? I LOVE the black idea...I'll put her it to my partner tonight after a couple of glasses of vino and see if he'll swing for it!

If you're going to B&Q, try looking at Valspar paint, it is very good and their fence paint is amazing!
They do an array of colours too! They mix it for you when you have picked your colour.

Oh yes I love Valspar! Didn't know they did any other paint so I'll definitely take a look, thanks!

[quote TwoLeftSocksWithHoles]@user1149254825482534232

Cuprinol Garden Shades is a water based product.[/quote]
My mistake. Probably thinking of one of the other exterior paints I spent eleventy billion hours reading about last year and getting confused with the fact it goes waxy/oily if you try to paint over it after too long a gap.

The 8 hours part is correct.

SUBSEQUENT COATS MUST BE APPLIED ON THE SAME DAY NO LONGER THAN 8 HOURS APART. (Capitalisation is Cuprinol's not mine!)

www.cuprinol.co.uk/products/garden_shades.jsp

It’s Cuprinol ducks back that needs to be completed in one day. I’m not sure it’s oil, or wax? It’s the best fence paint by a mile imo.

My fences are all black.

@user1149254825482534232

Well, we've all learnt something today because I didn't do the `no longer than 8 hours apart' bit. Maybe that's why my garden furniture is peeling...!

We had the same dark brown everywhere and went over it with Cuprinol shades in black ash (a slightly greyed black) and it looks so fab.