Problem with new fence / painting

gilla.walmsley · 6 March

Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this! I recently had my side of the fence replaced. When the landscaper asked if I was intending to paint it I said yes (as the other side is already painted) and he replied that therefore he would buy green panels, as they were better for painting.

The fence is in and I've now given it 4 coats of exactly the same product (Cuprinol Silver Copse Ducks Back) as I've used everywhere else - on the other side which has 2 coats, as well as my front garden fence and the back fence. However it looks completely different on the new fence... not only is it noticeably lighter, but it's almost as though the product is too watery and isn't colouring the fence properly. Especially on the "knots" in the panels, which are somehow reflecting with paint on them. Unless Cuprinol have randomly changed their product formula (which seems unlikely) I can only think it's something to do with the new fence itself. Has anyone had experiences like this with new fences or issues with painting?

Existing fence - two coats of Silver Copse Cuprinol

New fence - 4 coats of the same product:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/ha/dk52d0xb7fjo.jpeg

Busy-Lizzie · 6 March

I expect that as it's fresh new wood it's more absorbant than old weathered wood.

gilla.walmsley · 6 March

Interesting - would that mean it just needs more coats do you think @Busy-Lizzie ?

JennyJ · 6 March

Maybe let it weather for a while before adding another coat?

It's possible that the product has been reformulated - the rules about what ingredients they can put in paints and suchlike do change from time to time - and it's also possible that the colour might be a bit variable from batch to batch.

gilla.walmsley · 7 March

I think you're right @JennyJ - I spoke to my fencer and he was trying to help, but couldn't come up with any reason why it would look the way it does. I even wondered if I've also got a dodgy tin of paint, although it looked as normal when I opened it. I'll give it a while. Thanks all for your help

Fairygirl · 7 March

It will need repainting anyway because the paint fades, regardless of the type you use. Rain and wind do as much of that as sun. Weather is a big factor. I certainly don't get 5 years before it needs doing!
It also depends when you put it on IME. I use the same product in black, and if I do it this early in the year [if there's a dry enough spell ] it comes off.

Old wood soaks up paint better than new wood, and needs more coats, but it also depends on the wood - the quality of it and how it's been treated before you paint it.

rowlandscastle444 · 7 March

I have painted my fencing green for years now (although not the same green), and I, too, have found that painting new fencing does not produce the same results as painting old fencing.
Also, I have found that the paint at the top of the tin, is thinner than that lower down, so need to ensure that the entire contents of the tin are thoroughly mixed before use. This may seem obvious to some, particularly as the instructions on the tin probably state this, but you'd be amazed at how many people just open the tin and commence painting without reading instructions.
Furthermore, I have sometimes found that separate slats of the fence are of differing quality. This only improves with age - of the fence, NOT the painter!!😁

gilla.walmsley · 7 March

Oh @rowlandscastle444 that is super helpful - especially the tip about the paint higher up vs the bottom, because I have bought a big 9 litre drum and although I of course mixed it before using, I admit that I didn't do it super thoroughly! Although I am now at the bottom of that drum - it states I should have got 17 coats out of it, but I actually got 12!

Also good to know on the old fencing vs new fencing. I'll keep persevering!

Plantminded · 7 March

I've found that the Cuprinol Garden Shades range gives better cover than the Ducksback range and can be used on concrete fence posts too. There isn't the same named colour in the range but it might be worth getting a sample pot of one that looks similar for a test. Also, additional coats need to be applied within 2-3 days for Ducksback paints and within 8 hours for Garden Shades paints as they contain wax which can repel further coats after this time, just to add to the stress of painting! 😊

When I moved here there were three stretches of unpainted fence of different ages and colours. I used a Ducksback colour on them and they blended in well after two coats, including a newly installed stretch. You really do need to mix these paints well though, not easy with a large drum! The Ducksback colour did last for 5 years though without any fading or need to repaint. I've since changed the colour twice, the last was from the Garden Shades range which are more expensive but worth it I think!

Fairygirl · 7 March

Yes - the G. Shades range is good, but you don't get it large sizes, which makes it very pricey for a fence. I use it for smaller things like my bench.
I also mix colours if there isn't a suitable shade for me. I find the greens too bright, so for fences, I mix some black or dark brown to tone them down.
I still have to use the Ducksback every year, especially on any areas that get rubbed by plants/shrubs, or that are exposed. I have a lot of evergreens or things which have a framework of branches, which hides a fair bit and cuts down on the amount I need.

Plantminded · 7 March

You can get 5l tins of Garden Shades @Fairygirl, just the right size to mix easily and give a good stretch of cover. Anything larger than that would be a disaster waiting to happen for me balancing on a sloping bank!

Problem with new fence / painting

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