Going forward, water your bamboo plants about one or two times a week, especially for the first three to six months after planting. Ensure that the plants have a layer of mulch at all times to keep moisture towards the roots, which prompts successful bamboo growth.
How to Spray Paint a Fence with Old Paint on It
Painting fences may sound like a boring and tedious task, and unfortunately, it is. However, an unpainted or roughly painted fence could ruin the look of your entire house, so you should really take fence painting seriously if you truly care about your home’s exterior.
If your fence has already been painted for a long time, chances are that it has started to peel and look unsightly. In this case, you need to remove the old paint and repaint the fence from scratch if you want to do a good job of it.
Step 1 – Clean Your Fence
Start off by cleaning your fence using the garden hose and liberal amounts of soap. If you happen to have a power washer, you can use it instead of the garden hose, but the latter will work just fine.
Make sure you get rid of any debris or dirt particles attached to the old paint of your fence, so they don’t get in your way while performing the later steps.
Step 2 – Remove the Old Paint
Once the fence is duly cleaned, you will need to start stripping off the old paint. This is bound to take some time, so be patient and keep going till all the fence is dealt with. To get rid of the old paint, you can work with a scraper and sandpaper. Apart from stripping the old paint, you should also deal with any imperfections in the fence itself at this stage.
Hammer in any nails which have started to loosen, and use the sandpaper on any evident splinters. If your fence has any broken or especially thin posts, you may need to replace them with new posts before moving on to the next step.
Step 3 – Smooth Wood and Apply Primer
When your fence has been completely stripped of its old paint, smoothen the wood beneath by sanding it well. Once your fence is as smooth as it can get, give it a coat of primer.
Step 4 – Repaint the Fence
Make sure that the primer has totally dried, and then you can repaint your fence. You should ideally go for a coat of exterior house paint to better withstand the weather, which your fence will have to deal with.
In regards to color, you can decide to stick to the old one or go for something completely different—it’s up to you. Leave the paint to dry for a full 24 hours; put up a “Wet – Do Not Touch” sign if necessary.
Step 5 – Add Finishing Touches
Give your fence a second coat of house paint, leaving it to dry for 24 hours again. Then apply two coats of sealant, allowing enough time for the first to dry. Your fence should now look as though it has just been installed and painted for the first time.
If you follow these steps, repainting your fence should not be difficult. While it is true that the whole process takes quite a lot of time, the wait will be worth it since your fence will look as good as new.
Wood Fence Panels
If you do not have an old fence to paint, you may need to add one instead. Installing a wood fence is a beautiful way to add extra security to your yard. Plus, the installation process is quick and easy. To begin, check out these few steps.
Step 1 – Prepare Your Posts
Before installing the wooden fence, make sure that you have already installed sturdy fence posts. If the posts are older or not sturdy, you can add extra concrete around the posts. If you’ve just installed the posts, you should wait a few days before installing the panels, so that the cement can have time to set.
You also should have already installed the wood backing that you will install the panels on. This backing should go from post to post horizontally.
Step 2 – Purchase the Panels
When purchasing your fence panels, make sure they match with posts you’ve already installed. The best way to do this is to bring a post with you when you’re shopping for panels. In addition, measure the posts and fence already installed, so that you know what size and how many panels you need to purchase.
Alternatively, you can build your own wood fence panels. Though it will take more time and effort, building your own panels will save you money.
Step 3 – Install the Panels
Before installing the panels, recruit a friend to help you complete the project. This person will help hold the panels up evenly. Your helper can also use a level to ensure the panels are straight before you install them.
In addition, you can use a stand under each panel to ensure the panels are an even length from the ground before installing them.
Fasten the first panel to the posts and the wood backing with galvanized nails and a hammer or nail gun. Make sure someone is holding up the panels and supporting them while you’re nailing them down.
Continue doing this until all panels have been installed. Remember to leave room to build a wooden gate if you want an entrance and exit point.
Step 4 – Stain the Panels
If the area you’ve installed the panels could be exposed to rain or snow, you should stain or finish the fence to ensure it doesn’t rot.
Making the Fence Look Old
A new wood fence adds value to your home. To make it look as though it has been a long-time fixture, follow the steps below to make it look old. This does require some elbow grease, and the time it takes will depend upon how much fence you need to treat.
Step 1 – Rough Up the Wood
Use a wire brush and go over all of the wood surfaces. Be sure to do both sides, so you get a uniform finish. Brushing the wood with the brush causes the wood grain to stand out.
After you have done both sides—as well as the gate, if it is made of wood—get out your water hose and rinse the wood. This will remove any loose debris caused by the brushing. Allow it to completely dry, and you are ready to start applying the old and weathered-looking finish.
Step 2 – Apply the Stain
Shake the can of stain to be sure it is mixed well. Remove the lid and begin applying stain to one small area at a time on your wood fence. After you have applied the stain, take one of the old rags and rub the stain in, while removing a lot of it at the same time. This will give your fence a weathered, old barn look once dry. Repeat this process on both sides of the fence.
While allowing the fence to dry, clean your paintbrush. If you notice the stain is too heavy on the wood, you can lightly sand it to remove the heavy areas. You will then be ready for the next step, which is protecting the wood stain finish.
Step 3 – Preserve the Finish
Again, using your paintbrush, apply a coat of clear wood preservative to the entire fence, on both sides. This will protect the stain finish, and protect the wood from rain and other harmful elements. To keep your fence in good condition, reapply a preservative every one to two years.
How to Best Paint a Fence
If you maintain your fence it will last for years. Fences add a great aesthetic element to your outdoor space, and give you and your family more privacy. If your fence is in need of some care, take time to paint or stain it. Painting or staining the wood will help preserve it and boost your curb appeal. Denver painters say, painting your fence in the spring or fall is best because it is not too hot or too cold to be in the elements for a long period of time. Make sure you are prepared before starting your painting project. You’ll need a broom, scraper or wire brush, a cloth, a 5 inch paint brush, 1 inch paint brush and a enough outdoor paint to cover the area.
After you have gathered all the necessary supplies, you’ll need to prep the work space. Clear any leaves, grass and weeds from the base of the fence with a rake and hand tools. You can place a cover or drop cloth over plants and objects you don’t want to drip paint onto. Next begin cleaning and and sanding the fence so you can apply a solid even coat. scrap off any peeling paint and sand uneven areas smooth before applying any paint. If you find mildew or bleach on your fence, dab the areas with a diluted bleach mixture. Also replace any damaged or insect infested fence panels.
After prepping the work space you are ready to start painting. Begin working on each fencing section in two parts. First you need to paint the top edge of each on the board and then you’ll paint the front panel of each board. Finish painting each section before moving onto the next. When you finish painting several sections, go back to the first section of your project and paint the opposite side and remaining edge. By using this painting technique you will not have to reach between the boards covering yourself in wet paint and damaging the paint job.
After you finish painting, you will need to put up “wet paint” signs, or warn the occupants of your house that the fence is still drying. You’ll be excited when your painting project is complete, but make sure to clean up properly so that your next paint project goes smoothly. Clean the paint brushes thoroughly and hang them to dry (with drop cloths below to catch any of the drips).
Stripe painting
Simple and timeless, stripes on a wall are a decorative element that’s easy to do and will always be in demand. Thinner stripes on a wall can give a subtle effect, while thick, contrasting stripes can provide a striking focal point in a room. All it takes is deciding on the colors, number of stripes, and layout before painting. Patterns can vary by being asymmetrical, vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.
Painting patterns on walls can provide a subtle or eye-catching effect. Polka dots, diamonds, stripes, or any single shape painted repeatedly can make for a unique pattern-style wall painting. Have your client choose the right color and shade for the desired effect: light colors for subtlety and dark for visual flair. Then, pencil or stencil the pattern on the wall before painting.
| Also read: 12 Painting techniques to update your old furniture |
How do you paint a wall perfectly?
Here are some tips to get a perfect finish:
- Compute the total area that needs painting and prepare enough paint. Use the rule of 1 gallon covers 400 square feet.
- Strip off all the old paint.
- Always paint the ceiling first, then the walls, then the trim.
- Always use slow strokes. Going fast with a brush or roller will create splatter.
For a more detailed guide, check out these tips on painting interior walls.
Stand out with these wall painting techniques and earn more money.
Knowing how to do these unique and stunning wall painting techniques can get you more work as a painter. But finding clients can still be a challenge. That’s why we’re here to help! Just sign up on Airtasker to start finding local painting jobs and sending quotes to customers.
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