How to Paint Fences with Your Paint Sprayer

Staining or painting your fence will help preserve and protect it from the sun and weather. 

 

 

Prep/Getting Started

Before starting any staining or painting project, clean the fence as thoroughly as possible. Allow surface to dry completely before beginning.

Safety Notice: Whenever operating equipment it is important to take proper safety precautions, be mindful of potential hazards, wear protective clothing and eyewear, and stay alert. Always refer to the specific instructions and safety procedures for the spray equipment you are using.

Clear – Move any outdoor furniture away from the area to be sprayed. Remove any items that may be hanging on the fence, such as plant hangers or trellises. Make sure to have plenty of space for your tools and equipment.
Protect – Protect anything on the other side of the fence from overspray. Cover all nearby shrubs, bushes and plants with plastic tarps. You may want to talk to your neighbor first if you’ll need access to their yard and be sure to protect items on both sides of the fence.
Clean – If you are re-painting the fence, you may need to scrape off rough or flaking areas and sand along the grain of the wood. Whether painting or staining, wash the fence with a pressure washer. Allow surface to dry completely.
Safety – Protective items are essential for your safety. This may include: gloves, eyewear, clothing, spray sock (hood), hats, footwear, dust masks and respirators. If you’re painting in the vicinity of any appliances turn them off. (See Safety Precautions in your Sprayer Operation Manual.)

Step By Step

Before you start spraying be sure all the surfaces are properly prepped. Any surfaces you do not want painted should be covered or blocked using a spray shield. Avoid spraying on windy days.
Select the spray tip that best meets your needs for the material (stain) you are spraying and the surface to be sprayed. Typically using a narrower spray pattern width, such as an 8 inch width and using a smaller hole size such as a .013 tip will give you the best control. Be sure the hole size selected does not exceed the maximum capacity of your sprayer. (see tip selector.)
When spraying lighter materials like stains, select the lowest pressure setting that enables you to maintain a good spray pattern. Lower pressure settings will give you better control and a finer finish.
Apply stain or paint by spraying along each board lengthwise, with the grain of the wood.
See - How to use a paint sprayer: Spray Techniques for more spraying pointers.

Clean Up

Remove all coverings from shrubs, bushes and plants on both sides of the fence.
Move any furniture or other items back into place.
Don't forget to move any of your neighbor's items back to their original location.
Clean your airless paint sprayer after each use. Follow the directions in your user’s manual for Power Flush™ cleaning with water based materials or use the bucket method of cleaning for Graco 190ES and solvent based products. For more info see Power Flush Video (wmv 1.4MB) or refer to your Sprayer Operation Manual.

Suggested Tools & Equipment

• 2 empty buckets – For priming sprayer and clean-up.
• Stir sticks.
• Paint strainer bag – Helps eliminate tip plugging and provides a better finish.
• Prep items: tarps or drop cloths – plastic sheeting – masking tape.
• Paint / Stain – If using paint from multiple containers it is recommended that you transfer / mix paint from multiple containers together in an empty 5 gallon container. This is known as “boxing” the paint and ensures consistent color even if small differences in color exist between paint batches.
• Paint brush for touch-ups.
• Graco or Magnum Paint Sprayer (see comparison chart or sprayer selector).
• Spray Tips (see tip selector) – A wider spray pattern for large surfaces and narrow size for smaller surfaces.
• Tip Extension(s) – For hard to reach areas that would otherwise require a ladder.
• Pressure Roller Attachments.
• Two – 8 inch or larger adjustable wrenches.
• Additional airless hose sections if needed.
• Spray shield.
• Pump Armor for storage after use and TSL for Graco 190ES .
• Cleaning rags.
• Cleaning brushes – Stiff nylon (small and large) for clean-up.
• Safety and protection equipment such as: Safety glasses/goggles – dust masks/respirator - spray sock (hood worn over head to keep off overspray)