How to paint or stain fences and gates

Q. We have a new treated dressed timber fence and have applied one coat of Resene Waterborne Woodsman stain over the last two weekends.

With the constant rain, we are waiting until surface dry to apply the second coat. Is there a maximum recommended time to wait before applying the second coat of stain?

A. No maximum time as such but within a few months is great and waiting for drier weather is key.

November 2023

Q. I am looking to paint my fence. I need good mould resistant paint. We have masonry blocks and timber. The masonry is rhino grey in colour and the timber looks like kwila.

A. As long as there is no water ingress issues on the concrete block or kwila then proceed as below.

Wash both substrates down thoroughly to remove dirt and debris. Once dry, prime the concrete block using Resene Concrete Primer (if under three years old) or Resene Sureseal (if over three years old). Prime the Kwila using Resene Wood Primer. Topcoat both areas using Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen or Resene Sonyx 101 in your chosen colour. If choosing a darker colour, consider using Resene CoolColour technology. Application of a Resene CoolColour will reflect more heat than the same colour made using non-cool pigmentation and reduce heat related stress on the substrate; it will not make the painted surface cool to touch.

November 2023

Q. I am looking at repainting COLORSTEEL® fascias - some faded and powdered other parts – in a semi-gloss finish.

A. I recommend you use one coat of Resene Pre-Coated Steel Primer followed by Resene Summit Roof semi-gloss for the best system.

November 2023

Q. We want to paint our cinder block boundary fence black. The fence is probably 50 years old but in reasonable condition for its age. It is not for water proofing at all, cosmetic only.

A. If the wall is in good condition ie; not too powdery or efflorescence then applying three coats of Resene X-200 in your chosen colour will work.

Alternatively, if the concrete block is powdery, apply one coat of Resene Sureseal followed by either two coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen or Resene X-200.

When you’re painting dark colours it’s best to try and paint when the fence is in the shade as painting in direct sunlight can mean the paint can dry quickly, not allowing the paint to stay wet enough to bind to the surface correctly and impact the longevity.

November 2023

Q. I have a 35 long by 1.8 horizontal new corrugated iron fence to paint. The powder coat on one side is not being painted, just the underside which is pale grey. I plan to use a sprayer, which I have purchased. I have not used a sprayer before but will practice with water first, then with paint on a sample. My main question is do I need to use a primer, or can I go ahead with primer/paint in one. If I do have to use a primer, should I get it tinted, given I am planning to paint it black like FlaxPod.

A. I recommend you apply one coat of Resene Pre-Coated Steel Primer first followed by two coats of either Resene Summit Roof CoolColour semi-gloss or Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen CoolColour.

General tips for general spraying:

• Spray in the shade and not direct sun or on a windy day.
• Get another person to gold a large piece of cardboard or similar behind the fence to catch overspray. There will be a lot. Do not park your car within 50m and be aware of surrounding properties.
• The longer the hose, the more pressure you may need.
• Thin the topcoat down 5% using Resene Hot Weather Additive to help with viscosity and painting when warm.
• Stay close to the substrate but no closer than 20cm.
• Wear protective clothing. You will end up spotty from paint.
• Clean up immediately. Do not let paint sit in hose or tips.
• Overlap by 50% to ensure good coverage.
• You will use 20% more paint spraying.
• Only spray up and down slow but steady.

November 2023

Q. I'm engaging a painter to paint a new preprimed laminate pine timber fence. I would like to paint it charcoal (Monument equivalent shade) but he warned me against warping of timber.

Would your best product for this job be Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen or a CoolColour, to reflect the UV as much as possible in the open?

A. Resene Lumbersider Cool Colour is the product to use here. CoolColour technology has greater near infra-red reflection and therefore will reduce heat stress on a substrate when compared to the same colour made using no ‘cool’ pigments. The use of a CoolColour version does not however mean that the CoolColour paint will be cool to touch.

Keep in mind that the use of CoolColour technology will not eliminate all heat stress on the timber, and we do always recommend following the substrate suppliers guidelines etc.

You will need to re-prime the timber also to include a CoolColour primer as it is integral to the performance of the system.

November 2023

Q. We are in the process of building a shiplap pine fence. We would like it to be black. Should we stain or paint it? What are the pro and cons of each system?

A. Being new, either option will be fine - being a dark colour will add stress to the timber and you will see movement in the timber sooner than if it was a light colour.

Stain: Apply three coats on bare timber according to the data sheet. Staining the timber will let you see the wood grain but does require maintenance every two years. It is easy to apply.

Paint: Apply one full coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat followed by two full coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen (three coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen in lieu of the primer coat is fine if not using a CoolColour system). Depending on weathering, you should get about seven years before first recoat. Painting hides most of the wood grain to give a more uniform finish.

The CoolColour™ topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology. Dark colours may cause the rapid drying of damp timber with the ensuing danger of warping, though this effect will be lessened when a CoolColour™ is selected in place of a standard colour. Prime the bare timber with two coats of Resene Quick Dry then finish with two coats of the CoolColour topcoat. The two coats of primer are to give a solid white base colour prior to topcoating as this will maximise heat refection of the system. The CoolColour benefit is achieved with the CoolColour topcoats.

September 2023

Q. What roller sleeve am I best to use for a fence?

A. We recommend sleeve #15, which is designed for fences.

September 2023

Q. I want to paint an old fence in Windsor Grey CoolColour. I have sprayed with Resene Moss & Mould Killer and then I water blasted. A lot of the fence has never been painted and some of it is green - I think stain not paint as there is no flaking. I was just reading through the questions and answers here and realised I have probably water blasted too hard. I have only water blasted one side of the property so far. What products should I use on the fence?

A. After washing the Resene Moss & Mould Killer off and leaving to thoroughly dry, we recommend applying one coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat, followed by two topcoats of either Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen or Resene Sonyx 101 semi-gloss in your desired colour.

Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen would be the most popular option as the lower sheen level hides more imperfections. This is also the same paint we use in our Resene testpots.

August 2023

Q. I’m about to paint two fences using Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen. One fence is two months old, one is 8 years old, both have never been painted. Do they require undercoating when using Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen.

A. Both areas require a three coat system to achieve the correct film thickness. For the new fence, you can either apply three coats of Resene Lumbersider (as this is also a self-primer on timber less than six months old) or alternatively apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry followed by two topcoats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen.

For the old fence, we recommend one coat of Resene Quick Dry followed by two topcoats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen.

August 2023

Q. I wish to paint new powder coated fencing to change its colour. I would like to use Resene Sonyx 101 as a finish coat. What undercoat can I use?

A. We recommend to use one coat of Resene Pre-Coated Steel Primer, followed by two topcoats coats of Resene Sonyx 101 semi-gloss waterborne enamel.

May 2023

Q. We were trying to paint our fence with a spray gun and accidentally got some overspray on the neighbour’s exterior wall (weatherboard). It has been a couple weeks now, so it has dried. What might be the best way to clean it off, or will the wall have to be repainted?

A. Depending on the size of the droplets, a very sharp window scraper may work without damaging the painted surface. It could be a slow process. Otherwise, the only other alternative is to sand to smooth and recoat, as a thinner or cleaner will damage the painted surface.

May 2023

Q. I am about to have a traditional wooden boundary fence (1.8m high x 20m long) built. I have a few questions I suspect you get often.

• How long should the timber be allowed to dry before it is painted or stained? How would I know when it is dry enough to paint or stain? Moisture test?
• Is it easier to paint or stain the timber before or after the fence is built? The answer to this question may depend on the answer to the first, especially if the timber needs to be weathered for several months.
• Paint or stain - personally I like the look of stain over a painted fence - but will consider paint if that provides the best overall protection.

A. Firstly, I can go over the differences between a paint system and a stain to help you decide what effect you like the best and then go from there.

Stains are fully penetrating and sit inside the grain of the timber and are designed to erode rather than fake off with age and sun exposure, they are much easier to apply and need fewer coats up front. However, they are regarded as maintenance products and an additional coat is recommended once every two summers. For a fence, I recommend the waterbased version, which is very user-friendly. I would only recommend the solvent-based version for hard timbers or on a walking area like a deck.

It is best for the fence to be weathered for around four to six months prior to staining. If you can't wait this long you can use Resene Timber and Deck Wash to help open the grain to coat earlier. Treat any moss and mould present at this time too with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. Stain can tolerate a slightly damp surface but where possible dry is always best.

Paint is more labour intensive initially, as it requires one coat of primer/undercoat followed by two topcoats and is a slower process, however, once the paint is on it will last a lot longer than stain before needing maintenance.

The longevity of the paint system depends on if all sides of the timber is sealed, for example, you may paint your side, but the neighbour may choose to leave their side bare timber - in this is the case I would recommend stain as the moisture from the exposed side can slowly loosen the adhesion of your paint system. To paint, the timber needs to be completely dry and it's always best to do the one coat before the fence in built.

May 2023

Q. I have a large rough sawn tanalised pine fence to paint. Would you recommend stain or paint? Does stain colour the nail heads (flat head galvanised) or do they stay as they are?

A. Resene stains are fully penetrating and sink into the grain but won't cover the nail. Stains are easy to apply but are a maintenance product that require additional coats to be added every two years. For best results, the timber should be a little weathered (approximately 3-4 months) before staining for the first time.

Paint is more work upfront with a system of one primer/undercoat and two topcoats but can be painted on brand new timber straight away. Maintenance coats aren't needed and, depending on the colour, can last 8-10 years.

March 2023

Q. Should we stain or paint our new timber fence? Can we use a spray gun with stain? We are thinking of Resene Waterborne Woodsman Tiri, would it need to be CoolColour?

A. You can paint or stain your fence. Stain is more maintenance but less work up front, whereas paint is more work upfront but less maintenance long term.

To stain we ask that the timber is weathered for 4-6months. This opens the grain on the timber and allowed to stain to let sink in properly. If you cannot wait this long, we recommend washing with Resene Timber and Deck Wash prior to help the grain open.

For a colour like Resene Tiri I would go with CoolColour technology, please ask for this when ordering. CoolColour helps to reflect heat but does not eliminate all heat related risk and will not render the fence cool to touch.

Unfortunately, we don't recommend spraying the stain, the viscosity is not at the right level to make spraying an effective method.

Brush or roller is best. Personally, I prefer to brush.

March 2023

Q. I am considering using Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen on an exterior pine timber fence. Would I need to prime the wood first before using Resene Lumbersider and if so what would I use?

A. Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen is self-priming on new pine, we recommend three coats. Personally, I like to use undercoat so if you would prefer to do that, apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry and two coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen.

So same number of layers (film thickness) – you can choose whichever method works best for you.

March 2023

Q. I would like some advice on which product I should use to paint/stain a residential wood paling fence and how long I should wait after the fence is built before I paint it?

A. If you decide to paint, you can start straight away. I'm assuming the timber is pine rather than a native timber. We recommend one coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat followed by two topcoats of either Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen or Resene Sonyx 101 semi-gloss.

For a stained finish, we recommend leaving the timber to weather for 3-4 months if you can. This will help to open up the timber so it better accepts the stain.

Treat any moss and mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer and wash with Resene Timber and Deck Wash. This will help open the grain and allow more stain to sink in. Once dry apply two coats of Resene Waterborne Woodsman, followed by a third coat one year later.

March 2023

Q. I am repairing/patching a cedar gate. Can I use Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen straight on any new cedar?

A. Any bare Cedar will require a primer. Our recommendation is Resene Wood Primer followed by two topcoats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen.

March 2023

Q. I have used Resene Waterborne Woodsman stain on four fence lines and two pagodas. Grass beneath the boundary post and rail fence has died, and strips of grass along both sides of the other fences also. The pagodas were stained in late December and the grass under them is also yellowing. This has been from rain and irrigating spray. Can you tell me how long the herbicide or whatever chemical in the stain causing the issue will last in the soil, please? We want to plant shrubs where the grass and weeds have been killed off. I also have a bare patch of grass now where I knocked over a paint brush container that had a brush in water.

A. The only possible issue are biocides that are present in the stain. One of the biocides is Diuron which at much higher concentrations is also used at herbicide. The Diuron is usually locked into the stain and only an extremely low level is released as the stain erodes/weathers. Normally there is no effect upon adjacent vegetation/soil, but it is possible.

The availability of herbicides in the soil solution depends upon the solid pH and presence of calcium and magnesium ions. A high pH soil or liming of soil can see desorption of the available diuron, other studies have shown that diuron does not leach and is effectively bound up by the soil particles, however this is dependent upon the solid type and chemistry.

Given the number of variables associated with the soil we cannot give any guide to how long the low levels of the herbicide will remain active as a herbicide.

I have used the stain to repeatedly stain cladding at the back of a garden and have seen no signs of vegetation kill.

Based on the history of the product the vegetation kill you describe is rare, the only advice we can give is to wait until there has been a period of prolonged rain before re planting.

January 2023

Q. I have a fence top rail that is oldish and the paint is flaking off. It is now back to bare wood and weathered. I am considering using Resene TimberLock, then Resene Timber Surface Prep then Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen. Is this OK, sensible or should I approach it differently?

A. Wipe excess Resene TimberLock at time of application and leave to cure for at least 48 hours before overcoating. Then apply a coat of Resene Wood Primer then apply Resene Timber Surface Prep (note that more than one application may be required). Then sand to achieve to achieve a smooth surface. Prime with Resene Quick Dry then finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen in your topcoat colour.

June 2022

Q. I have a new rough sawn fence. Would you recommend oil or water based and stain or paint? I want it dark grey.

A. It is a matter of personal choice, stains are higher maintenance but do not require as many coats as a solid paint system.

Oil based stains such as Resene Woodsman Wood Oil stain give a more traditional stained look, compared to Resene Waterborne Woodsman which can look more solid. When selecting a dark colour we recommend the CoolColour version of the stain colour.

June 2022

Q. For our outside fence of rough sawn timber we currently have white paint (I don't think the wood was primed or prepped just painted on) and also for posts we have this brown coloured paint. They are both now chipped off and look awful. Which paint is the best for the outside fence (water resistant? long lasting?). We are probably looking at earthy dark colours.

A. We don’t usually recommended water blasting timber, but in your case, this will be the only way to easily remove loose paint from the rough sawn palings.

So water blast taking care not to place the water blasting tip close to the fence surface. If possible sand back areas where the paint has been lost from to a sound edge. Allow to dry and apply a coat of Resene Wood Primer to any bare timber areas. Then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen CoolColour topcoat. A Resene CoolColour system will not render the painted surface cool to touch, but the cool colour system will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool pigment technology.

We cannot guarantee that there will be not future flaking as this will be determined by how sound the existing paint coating is after prepping.

June 2022

Q. We have a purple heart fence going up. Our painter has been asked to apply a clear oil that is UV resistant. I have heard that purple heart timber does not need to be coated. Can you advise please?

A. Purple heart timber loses its fresh colour very quickly when exposed to UV and water. It is a durable hard wood that does not need to be coated for durability. The timber is most often used for decking.

Our standard Resene Furniture and Decking Oil is too yellow to be used for coating this timber.

June 2022

Q. I want to paint black waratah exterior steel fence posts that normally come black to white.

A. Apply a coat of Resene Armourcote 221 then finish with two coats of Resene Uracryl 400 Series topcoat.

April 2022

Q. We are looking at painting our fence which has a mixture of rough sawn and dressed timber and galvanised steel. Could you recommend a product (paint or stain) that is durable and will ensure as much uniformity as possible?

A. A painted finish will offer all substrates a good solid finish in keeping as true to one another as possible with texture difference.

You need to prime the steel using one coat of Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer followed by two coats of Resene Lumbersider. The timber will need three coats of Resene Lumbersider. However, if you are choosing a darker colour you should consider using the Resene CoolColour version of the colour.

We would recommend using the Resene CoolColour version of the colour to increase the heat reflection of the colour. The CoolColour version of a colour has greater near infra-red reflection and does not retain as much heat compared to the same colour made using no cool pigments. The use of a CoolColour version does not however mean that the cool colour paint will be cool to touch.

We recommend a white basecoat to achieve maximum heat reflection so your existing colour will give this. The white basecoat would be one coat of Resene Quick Dry and two coats of Resene Lumbersider instead of three coats of Resene Lumbersider. Application of a Resene CoolColour will reduce but not eliminate stress associated with application of a dark coloured topcoat.

Any areas of the steel that get used frequently such as a latch/lock, the paint will wear and need maintenance sooner.

April 2022

Q. I need to paint a new wooden picket fence. Can you please advise the best paint to use?

A. Our most popular system for painting a fence is one coat of Resene Quick Dry followed by two topcoats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen or Resene Sonyx 101 semi-gloss.

April 2022

Q. I have a newish (10 months old, but never been painted) concrete block fence I want to paint (black). It has some efflorescence showing now in places and water does pool in places on the footpath right against it. I had been thinking of using Resene Lumbersider for the topcoats (or Resene Sonyx 101 for semi-gloss. What undercoats/sealers should I use if any, after scrubbing what I can of the efflorescence? I'm concerned because it looks like I'm not going to be able to stop new water getting in from the bottom of the fence after it is painted and affecting the paintwork. I just want a paint system that lasts well and looks OK.

A. Efflorescence is caused by water getting into concrete often via cracks or faulty flashings, cappings etc. in an exterior wall. In your case from the bottom as well. The source of the water causing the efflorescence needs to be found and eliminated before painting. Affected areas should also be allowed to dry out thoroughly before repainting. Wire brush areas showing efflorescence (white crystalline deposits) to remove loose material from the surface.

If the source is not repaired – as you are saying, the paintwork will not last (even an industrial system) as water will push the paint off over time.

If you could repair, the concrete needs to dry out before applying one coat of Resene Sureseal followed by two coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen, Resene Sonyx 101 semi-gloss or Resene X-200 low sheen.

April 2022

Q. Can I repaint my previously powder coated aluminium gate? It’s faded and dull. The metal is in good condition.

A. Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions. Rinse clean or hose down with copious amounts of fresh water ensuring all wash solution and surface chalk residues are removed.

Apply a prime coat of Resene Galvo-Prime and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

March 2022

Q. 70m of my 1.5m high rural fence has Cosio Industries windbreak cloth up along it. It doesn't provide any privacy which I really need now, so I would like to spray paint the windbreak fabric if possible. What could you suggest that might stick and provide me some privacy for a few years please?

A. Windbreak cloth is made from a polyethylene plastic. Sorry we have no paint system for this plastic.

March 2022

Q. We have a brand new house with 33m of new dressed slat fence that is 1.5m high and has an 8-10mm gap between the slats. We need to coat both sides - one facing the street. We are thinking of using Resene Waterborne Woodsman Pitch Black. Would you have any comments about application method? We wonder about spraying it?

A. We recommend brushing/rolling of at least the first coat of stain. We have a 150mm fence rolling kit that is ideal for painting fences. The kit has a roller sleeve/handle and paint tray. For the gaps brushing will be the only option.

As a new build site, I recommend the fence painting is only done after all site work and landscaping is completed. Mud/soil splashes on the new stain will be very difficult to remove. Before staining, scrub down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label instructions. Do not allow the wash solution to dry out on the surface (this includes window glass and joinery). Rinse clean or hose down with copious amounts of fresh water ensuring all wash solution and surface chalk residues are removed.

October 2021

Q. How do we repaint a stone wall?

A. Treat areas of moss/mould infestation with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label instructions. For heavy infestations more applications may be needed. Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions. Do not allow the wash solution to dry out on the surface (this includes window glass and joinery). Rinse clean or hose down with copious amounts of fresh water ensuring all wash solution and surface chalk residues are removed. The wall looks to have a concrete cover over the rocks. Suggest you apply a seal coat of Resene Sureseal and finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen topcoat colour.

Brush or spray application is recommended, Resene Sureseal should be brushed. Colour selection will depend upon what you are trying to achieve, you may want to harmonise with other exterior colours or make the walls stand out as a feature.

October 2021

Q. I want to paint my wooden fence as it has got green stains (probably mould) in a few places and creeper marks.

A. The green is algal growth, suggest that you apply a saturation coat of Resene Deep Clean and leave for a couple of weeks, then scrub down with Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label instructions. Do not allow the wash solution to dry out on the surface (this includes window glass and joinery). Rinse clean or hose down with copious amounts of fresh water ensuring all wash solution and surface residues are removed. Then apply a coat of Resene Wood Primer and finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider.

October 2021

Q. What should I use to paint our new standard treated rough sawn timber fence? We want a black colour to match our adjacent fencing. Something that is low maintenance and easy to apply.

The products I have been looking at are Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen or Resene Waterborne Woodsman, both as a CoolColour.

A. A solid paint finish is much lower maintenance than a stain system. For painting, treated fence palings need to be primed with Resene Wood Primer before applying two coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen. This is to stop bleed of treatment chemicals into the waterborne topcoats.

We have a fence roller kit that has a tray, sleeve, and handle for rolling the paints. This is certainly a much quicker way to apply the paints.

October 2021

Q. What stain products be sprayed onto fences?

A. If you have the correct spray equipment both Resene Waterborne Woodsman and Resene Woodsman Wood Oil can be sprayed. However if this is a new fence we recommend brushing/rolling of at least the first coat as this improves stain penetration.

October 2021

Q. Is it better to use Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain or Resene Waterborne Woodsman on an aged bare timber fence? Can either or both of those products be applied via a paint sprayer?

A. Treat areas of moss/mould infestation with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label instructions. For heavy infestations more applications may be needed. Scrub down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label instructions. Do not allow the wash solution to dry out on the surface (this includes window glass and joinery). Rinse clean or hose down with copious amounts of fresh water ensuring all wash solution and surface residues are removed. Either product can be used, we recommend brush/roller application of the first coat of stain as this gives a better penetration outcome.

October 2021

Q. I want to paint a tanalised timber fence with Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen Black but the fence has been up for several years and has weathered and has green gungy stuff on it in places. Should I wash it down first with chemicals?

A. The green gungy stiff is probably mould or algae growth. This will have to be treated before painting. For a fence, the easiest way is to spray a good wet application of Resene Deep Clean onto the timber and leave for 3-4 weeks then wash down with water and scrubbing. This should kill off the bio growth.

Then scrub down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label instructions. Do not allow the wash solution to dry out on the surface (this includes window glass and joinery). Rinse clean or hose down with copious amounts of fresh water ensuring all wash solution and surface chalk residues are removed. Both treatments must be used. The paint system is a prime coat of Resene Wood Primer followed by two coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen Black. You can choose a CoolColour version of the topcoat to reflect more heat.

September 2021

Q. What can I use to achieve a sand finish on a Belaire fence system?

A. Resene Sandtex would be the closest Resene topcoat but it will require priming with the recommended substrate primer.

September 2021

Q. What do I need to use to stain or paint a new fence? We are going for a natural look so would want a warm natural colour, similar to the colour of the fence now but a bit more colour. I believe the fence is just rough sawn treat pine palings.

A. Stains can be considered a high maintenance option, if you accept this then use Resene Waterborne Woodsman. If not, then the paint system would be a coat of Resene Wood Primer and two coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen. Ensure the top and bottom of palings are also primed to avoid water uptake.

August 2021

Q. I have a new pine gate to paint. The previous gate had cracks and rot from water damage. Your advice please on primer and paint to use.

A. If the cut ends of the timber sections are not primed preassembly then the joins can see water ingress, paint will not stop this. As far as a paint system, apply a coat of Resene Wood Primer to all faces, follow with a coat of Resene Enamel Undercoat and finish with two coats of Resene Super Gloss enamel.

If you want to apply a dark topcoat colour then prime with Resene Wood Primer, apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Enamacryl CoolColour topcoat.

Application of a Resene CoolColour system will reflect more heat than the same colour made using non-cool pigmentation and reduce heat related stress on the substrate; it will not make the painted surface cool to touch. A CoolColour system will not necessarily stop resin migration from resin rich timber such as pine which as painted in dark colours or colours with an LRV that is below the timber suppliers LRV restrictions. There is no difference in the LRV values between the non-cool and cool colours as LRV is a measurement of reflectance of visible light, colour only. The darker the colour the higher the likelihood of dimensional change in the timber.

August 2021

Q. I have an old wire farm gate, which is in sound condition. I would like to paint it black. I guess spraying it would be easier than brushing. I guess I could place old cardboard behind each side to stop the spray going everywhere. The gate is well weathered and I was hoping to be able to apply the paint straight on to the surface. What do you think and recommend please?

A. Painting the frame will be relatively easy, not so the wire netting.

Apply Resene Deep Clean to the green areas. Leave for a couple of weeks then water blast. Apply a coat of Resene Galvo One then topcoat with Resene Summit Roof. Spraying of the mesh will not be easy to achieve complete coverage of the wire and there will be losses due to over spray.

August 2021

Q. I want to paint a series of exterior treated timber gates that I have just constructed. The treatment is H3.2 CCA. The ends were not primed because I put a layer of polyurethane glue over the cut ends before adding another layer for the actual bonding. The unglued exposed ends will be primed – I would normally use Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat. What I am seeking is to have well sealed gates that don’t crack the paint after a couple of years.

A. Apply a primer coat of Resene Wood Primer, an undercoat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen.

July 2021

Q. What paint would I look for to paint an existing bare timber fence black using a spray gun?

A. Apply a prime coat of Resene Wood Primer then apply Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen CoolColour Black.

July 2021

Q. What finishing coat do you recommend for to use on Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer painting a new bare metal gate frame?

A. We recommend Resene Super Gloss enamel.

June 2021

Q. Can you please provide a technical specification for staining fencing timber black? This will be for entire development, across multiple fence types/sizes.

A. Scrub down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label directions. Do not allow the wash solution to dry out on the surface (this includes window glass and joinery). Rinse clean or hose down with fresh water ensuring all salts and surface chalk residues are removed.

Then apply two coats of Resene Waterborne Woodsman CoolColour. Application of a Resene CoolColour system will reflect more heat than the same colour made using non-cool pigmentation and reduce heat related stress on the substrate; it will not make the painted surface cool to touch. A CoolColour system will not necessarily stop resin migration from resin rich timber such as pine which as painted in dark colours or colours with an LRV that is below the timber suppliers LRV restrictions. There is no difference in the LRV values between the non-cool and CoolColours as LRV is a measurement of reflectance of visible light, colour only.

The stain is semi-transparent so if the base colour of the timber is green or similar as a result of the treatment level then the stain colour will not be black.

June 2021

Q. We are about to spray paint a brand new unweathered wooden trellis fence (H3.2 - with some components being rough-sawn and others dressed) with Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen in Resene Black. Is a primer required for either the new rough-sawn or dressed timber? We have an adjoining fence that we are trying to match and this was stained with Resene Woodsman Stain in Resene Crowshead about 8 years ago. Is Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen Black a good match or are there other Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen colours which are a closer match?

A. H3.2 treated timber can leach treatment chemicals which is seen as a yellow discolouration of the top coat paint. To avoid this, apply a coat of Resene Wood Primer before applying Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen. Resene All Black is a close solid colour to the Resene Crowshead stain colour. The final Resene Crowshead colour will depend on the timber you are applying it to.

May 2021

Q. We have some macrocarpa posts that we are using for a fence. We would like to stain them.

A. Use two coats of Resene Woodsman Wood Oil in a colour to match.

April 2021

Q. We are having a COLORSTEEL® fence erected but the neighbour would like to paint Grey Friars colour over the panels which will be Gull Grey. How do we do this?

A. Achieving adhesion of a new paint system to new unweathered COLORSTEEL® can be a challenge. Scrub down using Resene Heavy Duty Paint Prep and Oil Remover diluted and used to label directions. clean or hose down with fresh water ensuring all salts are also removed. Then apply a full coat of Pre-Coated Steel Primer and finish with two coats of Resene Summit Roof colour.

April 2021

Q. We have a fence that's made from smooth decking wood (so H3 treated) which has become stained from rain/damp etc. We've tried washing it off with a pressure washer but it's become engrained so we are thinking about staining the wood. We've decided not to paint as we want to retain the wood grain appearance.

If we stain with your woodcare range - probably Resene Equilibrium - would that hide the dirty marks but retain the wood grain?

A. We don't recommend water blasting timber, however the staining is reminiscent of mould growth so apply a full wash coat of Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label instructions. For heavy infestations more applications may be needed. Then apply two coats of Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain. Stain uptake of the first coat may well be higher than the spread rates on the label, but the second coat coverage will be greater than the first. Resene Waterborne Woodsman tends to give a more opaque painted look compared to solventborne Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain.

March 2021

Q. I'm looking for advice on how to deal with a horribly mismatched corrugated iron and COLORSTEEL® fence in various colours erected by my neighbour. Some sheets are very old and it looks like the zinc coating is failing. I have an industrial two petrol driven water blaster to clean it back, but am wondering what product/s I need to bring it to a relatively even Karaka green.

A. Treat areas of moss/mould infestation with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label instructions. For heavy infestations more applications may be needed. Thoroughly scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions. Do not allow the wash solution to dry out on the surface. Water blast clean ensuring all surface debris, loose paint and corrosion salts are removed. For the best possible long term paint system, spot prime bare metal/areas of corrosion with Resene ArmourZinc 110, overcoat the Resene AmourZinc 110 with a coat of Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer and finish with two coats of Resene Summit Roof colour.

February 2021

Q. I have an ugly knee-high concrete fence that I want to paint over, I'm just confused as to what to use. Some people have told me to use a concrete paint and some have said to just use any exterior paint. I don't need anything expensive, but want to make sure I get the right stuff.

A. If any areas of moss or mould infestation exist then treat them with Resene Moss & Mould Killer, diluted and used to label directions. For heavy infestations more applications may be needed.

Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions. Rinse clean or water blast with fresh water ensuring all surface contaminants are removed.

Allow to dry out then apply a seal coat of Resene Sureseal and finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen or Resene Sonyx 101. The Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen topcoat being a lower gloss finish will help hide surface defects but only from a distance.

December 2020

Q. What do you recommend for deer fence posts, paint or stain? The guy who put the deer fence in said staining causes the posts to split and recommended painting. We wish to make them black.

A. Staining may be the best option as repair will be easiest. However, the stain does contain additives to inhibit mould and algae growth and we have no test data to show that, if the stained surface is chewed, there will not be any health issues for the animals. However, I am not sure if deer, like horses, are into post chewing.

November 2020

Q. We have a fence that is rough sawn paling. It is stained with Resene Crowshead. Sadly it has been tagged and we were wanting advice on how best to remediate it.

A. Sorry to advise that removal of the graffiti will also result in removal of the stain. Our only advice is to remove the graffiti using Resene Graffiti Cleaner then re-apply the stain. These areas may not blend into the existing stain colour as the stain will have under gone weathering.

November 2020

Q. I am painting my front boundary fence which is made up of red brick pillars and wood panelling, I would like to paint the pillars white, what do you suggest is required to complete this task? I have waterblasted the pillars.

A. Apply a coat of Resene Sureseal to the brickwork then finish with two coats of an exterior waterborne Resene topcoat colour.

September 2020

Q. We have painted our fence with fence paint, but the wood is bleeding through. Can you please recommend a paint we should use?

A. What you have is resin bleed and is a common problem with pine especially if painted a dark colour. There is no paint that you apply to the entire fence to address the issue without preparation. Using a tungsten blade scrape back the areas showing resin bleed to reveal bare timber (not easy with rough sawn timber). Then prime the bare areas with a coat of Resene Aluminium Wood Primer and leave to hard dry. This may take a few days to achieve, then apply two coats of the fence paint.

If you use Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen as the topcoat and the colour is dark, we recommend using the CoolColour version of the topcoat colour. This will reduce but not eliminate the potential for resin bleed. Application of a Resene CoolColour will reflect more heat than the same colour made using non-cool pigmentation and reduce heat related stress on the substrate; it will not make the painted surface cool to touch.

August 2020

Q. We want to paint a metal fence where the topcoat is coming off. Can you please tell us what we sort of paint to use from your range?

A. One reason for the delamination could be direct application of a waterborne topcoat to a factory painted cladding. To prepare for recoating you will need to high pressure water blast to remove as much of the applied paint as possible then apply a full coat of Resene Pre-coated Steel Primer before topcoating with Resene Summit Roof.

May 2020

Q. I need to paint over an old painted wooden fence. The paint is peeling and flaking.

A. The appearance of peeling/flaking can suggest that other areas may be about to fail and painting over what now seems a sound paint will result in failure in the future.

Generally, painted exterior timber will be in reasonable condition with some moss and mould on the surface as well as salt, dirt and other contaminants and detritus. The degree of failure of the previously applied coatings will ultimately determine the amount of time and cost spent on preparing the surface.

Where the paint surface has badly deteriorated, more extensive preparation, including possibly complete removal of the coating, may be required.

Step 1: Treat moss and mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer; use as directed on the label.

Note I: For heavy infestations an additional application(s) may be needed.

Step 2: Thoroughly scrub down using a solution of Resene Paint Prep and Housewash and water to remove all surface chalking, dirt, detritus, moss and mould residue, cobwebs and other contaminants. Use as directed on the label.

Step 3: Thoroughly scrape and sand to remove all loose and flaking paint and to provide a good key for subsequent coats. Sand any weathered bare timber (this will be grey) back to a sound timber surface. Ensure all areas of flaked paint are thoroughly sanded to a feathered edge. Ensure any sharp edges are arrised to a rounded profile.

Note II: Remove or punch in any rusty nails and replace with galvanised or stainless steel nails as is appropriate. Any exposed nail heads unable to be replaced should be punched and spot primed with Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer, if practicable, and fill with Linseed oil putty. Any rust stains should be spot primed using Resene Wood Primer.

Step 4: Spot prime all bare timber (including nail holes) with the specified timber primer.

Step 5: All nail holes or areas of damaged timber having first been primed in Step 4, require filling with PAL Contract Filler or similar, in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Sand smooth and spot prime the filled areas, with specified timber primer.

Note III: Treat rotten and cracked timber as per Spec Sheet 2:1A/3.

Note IV: Where paint coatings need to be stripped refer to Spec Sheet 2:1B/3.

Note V: Before beginning any surface preparation, tests should be done to ensure the old paint does not contain lead. Paint flakes with layers older than 1970 are likely to have lead in them. If lead based paints are identified on this job, then the OSH Guidelines https://worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/hazardous-substances/guidance/substances/managing-lead-based-paint/ for the Management of Lead-based Paint must be read and followed. Where these guidelines are in conflict with any part of this specification, the guidelines must take precedence. Flakes of lead paints and any sanding dust need to be carefully managed and disposed of.

So as you can see there will be a degree of surface prep required to assure that you have a sound paint system to paint over.

Spot prime bare timber with Resene Wood Primer and then apply two coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen.

I would advise against going to a darker topcoat colour as this will place stress on the adhesion of the existing paint. We cannot give any guarantee that there will be no failure in the future.

May 2020

Q. I have a new fence and want to stain it black. I would like to spray it on, what do you recommend?

A. If timber, use Resene Waterborne Woodsman. Take care not to apply to much stain as this will result in a more paint like look.

May 2020

Q. I have a concrete fence that was originally a white roughcast surface. I painted it about three years ago. The paint has developed a bubbled surface in places over the years, and some of the white has leached through in places. What could have caused this?

A. Bubbling can occur if a new paint coating gets caught with condensation or water before the coating has achieved sufficient cure to resist the water. Humidity can delay the drying of a waterborne coating but only if the environment humidity is high, as under these conditions release of water from the wet paint is delayed. Fast drying does not normally cause bubbling unless the wet coating is nearly dry before it hits the surface. This can occur with spray application but not brushing or rolling.

Water moving up through the bottom section of the wall can also cause paint bubbling.

May 2020

Q. I'm in the process of staining the rails of my new fence in lovely Resene Crowshead. However, the posts were not replaced as they were still in reasonable condition. These posts have a ugly striped effect as they were painted on my neighbour’s side with cream paint and stained on my side with brown stain. Is it possible to get Resene Crowshead in a water soluble paint that would cover both the old cream paint and brown stain? I also want the paint version of the Resene Crowshead stain to re paint a corrugated iron fence.

A. The closest solid colour to the stain colour is Resene All Black.

Scrub the existing stain down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label instructions. If the existing stain is Resene Waterborne Woodsman then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry before topcoating with two coats of a Resene exterior waterborne paint tinted to the CoolColour version of the colour Resene All Black. You could use Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen for both.

April 2020

Q. We are planning to paint our bare wood exterior fence and would like to select a black colour. Could you please advise what to buy for this job?

A. Apply a saturation coat of Resene TimberLock and leave to cure for at least 48 hours. Then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider Cool Black. Application of a Resene CoolColour will reflect more heat than the same colour made using non-cool pigmentation and reduce heat related stress on the substrate; it will not make the painted surface cool to touch. The CoolColour system is recommended as fence timbers can undergo distortion when painted black; the CoolColour system will reduce but not eliminate this from occurring.

April 2020

Q. We want to paint an area of fence and retaining wall in our garden. The surfaces are a combination of dressed and rough sawn timber, and some has been previously painted (many years ago), while some is weathered bare timber and some new additions about 1 month old. I'm wondering if one product is suitable for all surfaces and, if so, which one you would recommend for decent coverage?

A. Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen can be used as the topcoat for existing painted and new timber. Scrub down the existing painted surfaces using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions. Spot prime any bare timber with Resene Wood Primer before topcoating. For the old weathered timber treat any areas of bio growth with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label then scrub down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label instructions. Apply a coat of Resene TimberLock, wipe excess off at time of application then leave to cure for at least two days before priming with Resene Wood Primer and then topcoating with Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen.

April 2020

Q. I would like to stain a large retaining wall and about 15m of fencing. All the retaining and fencing is pine, about 9 years old, and has just been waterblasted. I want to know what sort of stain you would recommend and also one that has bit of colour/pigment in it?

A. You can use Resene Waterborne Woodsman stain.

April 2020

Q. I want to paint an exterior cast iron fence and am not sure which product I should be using. The fence is new. It had some surface rust from being stored but I have cleaned that off.

A. Scrub down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label instructions. Rinse clean or hose down with fresh water ensuring all salts are removed.

Remove all areas of white corrosion material and as much red rust as is practicable using mechanical methods e.g. 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc, to leave only soundly adherent corrosion products taking care not to damage either the substrate or the surrounding areas.

Note: The performance of the subsequent paint systems will be largely dependent on the thoroughness of this surface preparation stage.

Then apply a full coat of Resene Rust Arrest, a coat of Resene Galvo-Prime and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

April 2020

Q. The fence around my deck also holds pipes for an aquaponic system. It has been painted at least 6 years ago with a white acrylic, over a brown stain. It gets a bit of mould because of the aquaponics. What should I use to repaint it?

A. Treat the area to be painted with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label instructions.

Sand back areas of flaking paint to a sound edge ensuring the underlying stain is also sanded. Spot prime areas of bare timber/original stain with Resene Quick Dry then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Enamacryl.

Treat the painted surfaces using Resene Deep Clean diluted and used to label instructions at the beginning of spring and again at the beginning of autumn for ongoing control of bio growth.

April 2020

Q. What is the best oil to paint our treated posts and rails fence – we are wanting to paint them black?

A. We recommend two coats of Resene Waterborne Woodsman CoolColour in Resene Pitch Black. Application of a Resene CoolColour will reflect more heat than the same colour made using non-cool pigmentation and reduce heat related stress on the substrate; it will not make the painted surface cool to touch.

March 2020

Q. I have a galvanised wrought iron fence close to the sea that needs a repaint. I have water blasted it, scraped and sanded it down and got rid of all loose material. There is some white corrosion on the front facing the sea – do I put something on this or just sand it? The surface now is a mixture of previous painted and bare galvanised surface. With the sanding it has been light as I did not want to break through the galvanising.

A. Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions. Thoroughly scrub the surface with a stiff nylon broom to ensure complete removal of all grease, moss and mould residue, and any other contaminants. Rinse or water blast clean with fresh water ensuring all salts are also removed.

All paint that is flaking or unsound must be removed by using mechanical methods (3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc), chemical stripper or high pressure waterblasting taking care not to damage either the substrate or the surrounding areas.

Remove all areas of white corrosion material and as much red rust as is practicable and all paint that is flaking or unsound must be removed by using mechanical methods, (3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc) to leave only tightly adherent corrosion products taking care not to damage either the substrate or the surrounding areas.

Where under-film corrosion is taking place, the existing paint must first be removed as previous methods including under film corrosion products taking care not to damage sound zinc coated areas. All paint edges must be feathered to a smooth finish.

Note: The performance of the subsequent paint systems will be largely dependent on the thoroughness of this surface preparation stage.

Spot prime prepared area of corrosion with two coats of Resene GP Metal Primer followed by a full coat of Resene Galvo-Prime and two coats of Resene Enamacryl.

February 2020

Q. I want to repaint my aluminium gate which has been powder coated. I have access to an airless sprayer. The substrate is sound with no chalking. Can you please advise what preparation and products I should use? I've never used an airless sprayer before and guess I have a preference for a single pot paint if possible.

A. We would normally recommend a two pack primer and topcoat for this project. However after scrubbing down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions, you could apply a full coat of Resene GP Metal Primer and overcoat with Resene Lustacryl tinted to your topcoat colour.

Neither of these products are formulated for airless spray application, for small jobs a pressure pot spray set up would be more suitable.

January 2020

Q. I am doing up large driveway gates. They are in good condition but have had to replace the TG and V in the middle. They have been oil painted in gloss but I want to topcoat in low sheen acrylic. I have scuff sanded with 120 grit sandpaper. Which acrylic paint for topcoat would be best please?

A. You must use a dedicated wood primer such as Resene Wood Primer or Resene Quick Dry for priming bare timber areas.

We recommend using a full coat of Resene Quick Dry as an undercoat before topcoating with Resene Lumbersider. If using as dark topcoat colour then we recommend using the CoolColour version of the topcoat colour.

Application of a Resene CoolColour will reflect more heat than the same colour made using non-cool pigmentation and reduce heat related stress on the substrate; it will not make the painted surface cool to touch.

If water can get in between the T&G sections then this may cause the paint system to fail at the V section. There is no way to avoid this from happening.

December 2019

Q. I am constructing a light fence that will have anodised aluminium posts. It is within three metres of a sea high tide. I want to paint these anodised posts for addition protection. Can you advise the prep and paint system required?

A. Wash down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash to label instructions. Apply an adhesion coat of Resene Vinyl Etch Primer followed by two coats of Resene Armourcote 221 and then finish with two coats of Resene Uracryl 400 Series topcoat. The paints can be applied by brush or roller.

December 2019

Q. I am wondering what paint would be best for our outdoor front fence that would last as long as possible. The fence is made from treated pine rails and untreated cypress posts. The fence will experience full sun and 40°C+ plus rain, hail, frost. We want to paint it black.

I have a pergola which has become weathered over the last 10 years or so. It had been painted white but now has moss and lichen growing on it. I intend to get it waterblasted, primed and painted. What type of paint would you recommend to address future moss and lichen problems?

A. Best long term system is a coat of Resene Wood Primer and two coats of Resene Lumbersider, use the Resene CoolColour™ version of the topcoat colour if selecting dark colours.

The Resene Cool Colour system will not render the painted surface cool to touch, but the cool colour system will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool pigment technology.

Dark colours may cause the rapid drying of damp timber with the ensuing danger of warping, though this effect will be lessened when a CoolColour is selected in place of a standard colour. The cool colour system will reduce but not eliminate heat related stress on the substrate.

A. For best results when painting rusted steel, the steel should be washed down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions and loose corrosion products removed by wire brushing before priming.

Suggest you topcoat the cured Resene Rust-Arrest with a coat of Resene Galvo-Prime before applying the waterborne topcoats.

From experience, you can get rust staining from the metal that is in direct contact with the timber. There is no paint solution to control this scenario.

Q. I have a new fence which is made from treated timber and I wish to paint it off-white. Would Resene Lumbersider be the right choice for this job? Will yellowing from knots in the wood show through?

A. Resene Lumbersider can be used direct to new timber; resin exudation is the main issue with fence palings. It is usually less likely to be an issue with white but can still occur.

Application of a coat of Resene Wood Primer will assist with this and also block any treatment staining. However, it is difficult to predict what the outcome of not using the primer would be.

Q. I'm about to decorate my fence but am not sure what colours might be current? We do have some graffiti problems in the neighbourhood too (not at my home yet luckily).

A. There is a definite trend to dark finishes on wooden fences, such as Resene Pitch Black wood stain or Resene All Black. Dark paints and stains can tend to soak in a lot of heat, so it's always best to choose a Resene CoolColour version of the product if you're painting a dark colour outdoors. A Resene CoolColour reflects more heat than a standard colour so it helps to keep the paint, stain and fence cooler.

Dark fences work beautifully with plants and trees in your garden, as the black helps the beauty of the greenery and flowers to stand out more.

If you're in an area prone to tagging, generally taggers prefer to tag lighter colour same colour surfaces. You can deter graffiti by painting or staining in a darker colour and by planting plants, bushes or similar at regular intervals along your fence line. Making sure your fence is well lit can also help deter graffiti as most taggers prefer not to be seen. For smooth walls, such as smooth concrete, you can apply graffiti protection over your paint, such as Resene Uracryl GraffitiShield. This works best on smooth surfaces as the graffiti will be easy to wash off later using Resene Graffiti Cleaner. For surfaces like fences, often the easiest and quickest option is to paint over any graffiti that occurs using your normal fence colour, rather than try and wash it off. If you are in a graffiti prone area it may pay to allow a little more paint so you have more available for touch-ups if needed. Graffiti is very difficult to cover with a wood stain because wood stains are semi-transparent, so consider using a paint instead if you think you may have to be painting over graffiti in the future.

June 2019

Q. I would like to paint my fence. It is treated pine and has a lot of mould, but is otherwise in good order. I would like to know how to clean it, removing the mould, prior to painting, and any other preparation for painting. Also I would like a recommendation for paint to use including any primer or undercoat you might recommend.

A. Treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions. Prime with Resene Wood Primer and two coats of Resene Lumbersider.

Q. Is there a Resene paint that could be applied to Clearlite® plastic sheeting? The existing fence features clear corrugated plastic rather than timber or iron.

A. A Resene exterior waterborne paint can be used, such as two coats of Resene Lumbersider.

Q. I have a new gate with silver metal hinges, probably galvanised steel and I want to paint them black. What paint should I use?

A. Prime the bare galvanising with Resene Galvo One primer then you can apply any Resene exterior waterborne topcoat paint.

Q. Should I use an undercoat on a wooden fence that has never been painted? The fence is 10+ years old and has weathered, I have waterblasted and it is solid and clean.  Should I use anything to treat the wood to prevent lichen? I have waterblasted it all off now. I am planning to paint with Resene Lumbersider.

A. We don't recommend waterblasting of timber, decks or fences as this has the potential to damage the timber and affect subsequent paint adhesion. Was the timber free of bio growth before waterblasting? If not then you will need to treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions.  We recommend a full coat of Resene Quick Dry be applied before applying the Resene Lumbersider.

Q. I have a quantity of Resene X-200 left from painting our house. Am I able to use it, rather than buying another product, to paint timber lattice fencing and timber pickets etc?

A. Resene X-200 is formulated to be applied to a cementitious substrate, however it can be applied to any other appropriately primed substrates. Depending upon the condition of the fencing you will need to apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry or Resene Wood Primer before applying the Resene X-200 as the topcoat.  Resene Lumbersider is our suggested product for timber fencing.

Q. I have two new pine paling fences to stain. Scan of data sheets indicate brush or roller application. Is there a product usable for spray application?

A. Both the versions of Resene Woodsman stains can be sprayed; Resene Waterborne Woodsman would be an easier option as the product is of a higher viscosity than the Resene Woodsman wood oil, which is the solventborne version.

Back rolling after spray application of stains is our recommendation as this provides a physical force to push product into the substrate. We do sell a Swish Mop which achieves a quick application of the stain.

I have spoken with our application expert and his advice is to use an airless spray unit fitted with an FFLP 412 tip with a 60 mesh filter. Ensure the unit is clean before starting, as the stain can work loose material that has been deposited in the spray lines, and after completing application, flush the unit well with hot water with added Handy Andy.

Take care not to over build the wet stain, as this will see runs and sags occur.

Q. I was looking to stain a new fence and was aware that I would need to let the timber weather for 4-6 weeks. I have since decided to paint the fence instead. Does painting also require a 4-6 week weathering period or can I paint straight away? 

A. No, it's best to apply the paint system ASAP. Two coats of Resene Lumbersider can be used for painting new timber fencing.

Q. I am painting a fence and would like to know what type of paint I would require. The fence colour I would like is white and is being applied to a timber fence. The timber is pine, and is 63m2 and this fence is new so it has not been painted before. Would I be able to use a spray gun to apply the paint?

A. You can apply two coats of Resene Lumbersider white directly. My personal preference for new pine fencing is to apply a primer coat of Resene Quick Dry before applying the Resene Lumbersider topcoats. Best to roll or brush the primer but the Resene Lumbersider can be applied by airless spray.

Q. What product do I use to paint a galvanised iron fence? Some of the iron is already painted and some is not. Can I use the same product on the wooden fence palings?

A. You will need to prime the bare galvanising with Resene Galvo One before topcoating. You can then apply two coats of any Resene exterior waterborne topcoat paint. The same paint can be used for timber as long as the timber is primed with the appropriate Resene timber primer.

Q. Can you please tell me if the Resene Waterborne Woodsman range can be sprayed onto a dressed timber fence that has never been painted or stained? It is 18 months old.

A. Treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions. The stain can be applied by spray but you still need to apply the coats at the recommended spread rates. We do however recommend brush/roller application of the first coat.

Q. I am painting a newly installed wooden fence with Resene Lumbersider. Should I use a primer first or not?

A. As the timber is new it is optional for you to use a primer (with weathered timber it is best to use a primer). Resene Lumbersider does have a self-priming element to it so can be applied direct to clean, new, bare timber. If you are using a Resene CoolColour™ it is recommended to prime with a coat of Resene Quick Dry to maximise the Resene CoolColour benefit. The CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

Q. We have an old galvanised pool fence we would like to paint. Do you have a product that will adhere directly to the galvanised metal? There is no corrosion, the fence is in very good condition, however it's a laborious task so I am looking for a product that will adhere directly to the existing surface as I only want to do it once.

A. We do not have an all in one product. Our system would require cleaning with Resene Roof and Metal Wash, a coat of Resene Galvo One, followed by two coats of Resene Summit Roof paint or even Resene Lumbersider waterborne low sheen.

Q. I have had a new fence constructed and painted using charcoal timber colour exterior paint. Each timber pale had been placed ‘hard up’ against each other along the 30m with nil gaps. About 6-8 weeks after painting the gaps between timber opened up each between 5-12mm each and the top railing became twisted.

The builders won’t accept responsibility stating that ‘everyone’ knows timber should be left to dry before painting thus avoiding shrinkage and that I exacerbated the issue by having the paint applied before timber dried. I certainly did not know timber should be left to ‘weather’ before painting. How long?

Would the black colour have attracted more sun than other colours? Would painting have caused the shrinkage?

A. Timber will change in dimension with moisture content and humidity. Application of a dark coloured paint or stains to timber can result in shrinkage, warping and cupping. Please see the following:

Weatherboard Shrinkage
Description: Shrinkage or expansion of the timber profile dimension revealing the underlying paint /primer coat at the overlap interface between two boards.

Probable Cause/s: All timber is hygroscopic. It will absorb and desorb moisture between wet and dry days and wet and dry seasons, each and every year (even when primed and painted). When timber absorbs moisture, some dimensional swelling may occur and this will expand the board in width, which will then do the opposite when moisture is desorbed (evaporation), the timber will shrink with dimensional width reduction. The amount of dimensional change upon water absorption/desorption is dependent upon many factors, not only timber species but also grain structure and even how it was cut and processed from the tree. The moisture content is also very dependent on the temperature so using dark colours can cause more shrinkage than usual.

Prevention: For new timber, if showing signs of dimensional swelling then allow time to dry out and return to the normal dimensions before painting. Use light colours and or use timber species and cuts that are less prone to dimensional movement. Use smaller width boards.

Remedy: To avoid ‘shrinkage lines’ it is essential that if swelling is evident, the product should be given time to dry out and return to its equilibrium moisture content and manufactured dimensions before application of any paint coating system. Using a lighter colour will help reduce movement.

Weatherboard Cupping
Description: Movement in a curling “cupping” fashion along the face of the timber profile.

Probable Cause/s: Half Sawn timber grain tends to be more prone to cupping compared to Quarter Sawn timber grain and in addition a Rusticated profile is more prone compared to a Bevel Back profile. Typically caused by absorption and desorption of moisture combined with internal timber stresses as well as external stresses, commonly dark colours, weather, extremes of wet and dry, lack of a good maintained paint system (though paint won’t stop cupping, it can however reduce the extent of it and slow it down).

Prevention: Use light paint colours and use more stable timber profiles, species type and grain cut. Place Half Sawn grain boards on the back of the house out of the sun and direct weather.

Remedy: Avoid in the first place by maintaining the paint (or stain) work and using light colours. Remove and replace with a profile and timber type that is less prone to cupping.

Q. We have an old 70s wrought iron fence that has been painted in an oil paint (brown). We wish to paint it to a semi-gloss black. What options do we have in the Resene range of paints and techniques to make this possible? We tried an acrylic paint but this did not adhere to the original oil paint.

A. Scrub down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash  following label directions. If the existing enamel paint is well sanded to profile and then you apply a coat of Resene Galvo-Prime you should be able to topcoat with any Resene exterior waterborne paint finish.

Q. Could you tell me what is the best paint or primer, for painting an aluminium sheet metal gate? I was looking at Resene Vinyl Etch.

A. Prime with Resene Vinyl Etch then apply two coats of Resene Uracryl 402 (semi-gloss) or Resene Uracryl 403 (gloss).

Q. We installed a new fence with H1 treated timber 12 months ago. I whitewashed with Resene Woodsman Whitewash but now grey mould is coming through under the whitewash. What is the fix?

A. Mould is not the same as rot, treatments such as H1.2 are not the strongest (compared to say H3.2) and are there to slow down/reduce the ability of rot in timber... not mould.

I have not seen it happen this fast before, though pine does have high resin and food/sugar content (food for mould) and as mould spores are everywhere they will therefore be on the surface before the stain is even applied. The mould defence in the stain does not last forever, so will ‘wear out’ and also become less effective over time. Regular maintenance needs to be carried out on all stained timber, I suggest using Resene Moss & Mould Killer or the better way is the slow acting process, maintenance spray with Resene Deep Clean product.

Q. Our fence has been waterblasted to remove moss and mould. We have a good, clean surface and I want to kill residual spores. How many days before I apply the undercoat to the Resene Lumbersider?

A. Waterblasting alone is not sufficient to kill spores. You do need to treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer, leave for 48 hours then rinse with water.

Q. I'm recovering parts of a fence/fence railings/some concrete. It’s exposed to sun for much of the day and the weather. Looking at your products I'm figuring the Resene Lumbersider/CoolColour might suit.

A. Direct application of Resene Lumbersider to timber is really only advised for new timber or timber that has not been exposed to prolonged weathering. There will be a preparation and priming requirement for weathered timber prior to application of the Resene Lumbersider.

Q. I have a fence stained orange but I want to change it to green. Can I successfully stain over stain? If so, what product can you recommend please?

A. Stains being semi-transparent, can make it very difficult to change to a completely different colour as they still show the underneath colour to some extent. It is difficult to say what the change would be, but I doubt you will get the colour change you desire. Our stain Waterborne Woodsman is available in testpots. If possible you could try it in an inconspicuous area to test what the colour change would be. Resene Woodsman stains are not suitable over film forming stains or mineral oils.

Q. I have a rental with old fences I'd like to tidy up. They are nothing super flash, and I’m not sure if I can stain the already stained sections? What is the best way to clean them up first? Rather than stain, do I seal and then paint them? And the unstained fence sections: do I stain them or also paint?

A. I would really only recommend staining, as the fence timbers are likely to be old and heavily contaminated with algae growth.

Treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions, then carefully water blast, and then apply Resene Woodsman Wood Oil stain.

Q. I have a white picket fence where some nail heads have gone rusty. What do I treat them with before applying topcoat?

A. Remove all loose rust and carrion product using a 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc, then spot prime the nail heads with Resene Rust Arrest, then apply topcoats.

If there is corrosion staining coming from behind the nail heads, then the system cannot address this.

Q. I have a bare timber fence; I have recently waterblasted and want to paint it. What is the best Resene paint type to paint it? Also will it require a primer?

A. Was there any mould/algae growth on the fence timber prior to waterblasting? If there was you will still have to treat the timber with a solution of Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions then after 48 hours rinse well with water. While waterblasting will remove the obvious signs of biological growth it does not kill remaining spores in the timber which will grow back after painting. Waterblasting timber needs to be at a low pressure to avoid damage to the timber surface, damage can compromise the paint performance. In your situation I would apply Resene TimberLock (remove excess by wiping at time of application) , leave to cure for 48 hours then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider (use Resene CoolColour™ version if using a dark colour paint).

Q. What is the best paint to use for my exterior gate? I live in a villa, so the gate is a heritage-style one. The gate is wooden, brand new and has been primed.

A. Not sure of the primer type that the gate came with, but a light sand and then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl (use the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour if selecting a dark colour). The CoolColour™ will not make the surface cool to touch but will reflect more heat than the same colour made using non cool pigmentation, and thus reduce the heat stress on the painted substrate.

Q. Is it better to have aluminium, anodised before painting? What do you use to paint an aluminium fence?

A. The advantage of powder coating aluminium fencing is that it is easy to achieve a uniform paint finish. At some future point you will need to paint to maintain aesthetics. If the fence is new aluminium, then clean down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label instructions, then apply a coat of Resene Galvo-Prime and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl, or for a two pack system a primer coat of Resene Armourcote 221 and two coats of Resene Uracryl 400 Series topcoat.

Q. I have a new wooden fence and want to match it to our house, which has Thunder Grey roofing and trim. What is the best product to stain/paint fence easily with Thunder Grey?

A. If the fence is new then you can apply two coats of Resene Lumbersider, in your selected colour. We recommend using the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour if available; the CoolColour version reflects more heat than the same colour made using non-cool pigmentation, but is not cool to touch.

Q. I have a new pine fence, which I want to paint to protect from the elements. I would like to retain the natural colour of the fence timber. What would you recommend to use please?

A. We do not have water white clear for exterior timber, for staining the closest we have to a clear would be Resene Woodsman Natural stain but this may well alter the colour of pine. Clear finishes don’t provide sufficient protection to timber.

Q. Can I have a technical specification for the coating of aluminium fences and gates for a project in Wellington? The aluminium gates and fences are to be fabricated by Heritage Gates.

I assume the paint will need to be Resene Uracryl and that the aluminium would need to be degreased and have an additional, protective coat applied as well.

A. Degrease using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted, and used to label/data sheet directions.

Spray Resene Armourcote 220 to achieve a dry film thickness of 75 microns, and then finish with a spray application of Resene Uracryl 403 to achieve the same dry film thickness.

Q. I have a wooden fence that was previously stained with Resene Waterborne Woodsman (a dark colour) about five years ago. It's fairly weathered now and I was wondering if there was any way it could be painted, and if so, what sort of primer/sealer I should use to prevent any of the old stain from potentially showing through? I think it might need something that will provide a stronger barrier than Resene Quick Dry. Also, I presume once it's sealed a light coloured Resene Lumbersider would be okay to use as topcoat?

A. It is possible to paint over Resene Woodsman if it is weathered. Treat for mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. Then give the fence a really good scrub with Resene Timber & Deck Wash. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and allow to dry. Then sand any exposed timber and surface imperfections. As the fence has weathered, I would recommend priming with Resene Wood Primer. Resene Lumbersider would be an ideal topcoat for your fence.

Q. Can Resene Uracryl GraffitiShield be used on painted or unpainted wooden fences?

A. Not direct to timber but Resene Uracryl GraffitiShield can be used over a pigmented waterborne Resene exterior timber paint.

Q. I have just had my house painted with Resene X-200 membrane paint and it looks amazing. We detailed on the doors with Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss. The painters got too much paint; we are left with an unopened 10 litre pail of Resene X-200 and thought we could paint the painted pine fence next to the house with it. Is this possible and if so what preparation/undercoat should we do? Also, if we do the edges of the fence in the Resene Lustacryl for consistency, what prep/undercoating is there?

A. Thoroughly scrub the fence down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label directions and then rinse well with copious amounts of fresh water. When dry, apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and then 2 coats of Resene X-200.

If by edges, you mean painted timber, do the same preparation and priming, then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

Q. I am looking to waterblast a timber fence which has old flaking paint, with the intent of repainting. Can you please advise if there is a way to test if this old paint is lead based or not and if it is, what is the safest way to deal with the lead paint?

A. Resene owned ColorShops have a lead testing kit in store. The test can confirm the presence of lead but not quantity or type. If there is an orange red primer layer then this will almost certainly be a lead based primer; these primers were used on many homes for priming timber pre 1970.

If lead is present and you are waterblasting, it is critical to collect all paint debris for disposal. Weed mat placed out from the fence is the best way to achieve recovery but the distance the weed mat extends out to must be far enough to ensure the wet debris will fall onto the weed mat. Roll up the weed mat and place in a large sealed plastic bag for disposal at an approved tip site.

Take care not to expose the timber to high water pressures, as this will result in timber damage and compromise paint adhesion.

Q. What type of paint would I buy to paint over a painted wooden fence?

A. We recommend Resene Lumbersider.

Q. Our builder has used cream filler in the nail holes, will fence paint cover this?

A. Two coats of a solid paint colour should block out the filler; if in doubt spot prime the filler with the paint.

Q. I want to paint my wooden fence a dark green colour. It is currently a light grey colour. What products can you recommend I use?

A. As long as the existing paint is sound then use Resene Lumbersider, two coats in the CoolColour™ version of the colour. For prep, wash down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions.

Q. We want to paint our fence which is about 100m square. It’s the original fence around our property which is 15 years old. It was painted probably 10 years ago and has some mould but isn't too bad. I've bought your Resene Moss & Mould Killer which we are going to use. What paint would you recommend?

A. Waterblasting mould does not unfortunately remove spores which can re-grow. Best to treat mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer then waterblast.

Spot prime bare timber with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat then apply two coats of Resene Lumbersider (if using a dark colour we recommend using the CoolColour™ version of the colour).

Q. I have an old baby iron fence that has never been painted but is in good condition without any rust. It would probably be 30 years old. Do I have to undercoat it? Or could I use Resene Lumbersider as it is self-priming?

A. Lumbersider is only self-priming on timber substrates. You will need to apply a full coat of Resene Galvo One then the two coats of Resene Lumbersider.

Q. I need to do the design and to paint a long corrugated iron fence. What would be the procedure for it - what do I need to do with the surface before painting and what kind of paint should I use? It has been previously factory primed.

A. If the metal fencing has been exposed to direct weathering for more than a month then all that is needed is to clean down with Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions and assuming no corrosion apply two coats of any Resene exterior waterborne paint finish.

Q. I have a timber fence to repaint. It is a low sheen finish (off white). What is the best Resene paint type for this?

A. If the existing paint system is sound then we recommend Resene Lumbersider.

Q. What can you recommend for painting galvanised steel gates? I’m looking to spray them black, probably semi-gloss.

A. Apply a coat of Resene Armourcote 220 to achieve a dry film thickness of 75 microns then Resene Uracryl 402 to achieve a dry film thickness of 100 microns.

Q. When painting outdoor fences with white water based Resene paint, the nails in the fence after a time get rusted and the rust colour flows down onto the white paint on the fence. Is there a solution to stop this from happening?

A. You can spot prime the nail heads with two coats of Resene GP Metal Primer. However most of the rust staining can come from behind the nail head.

Q. I have built a pool fence using Cypress Pine post and rail. Should this be oiled or painted? Which would be the best low maintenance product to use?

A. A solid paint finish will definitely give the longest maintenance interval.

Q. I am painting a pine gate. I have acrylic primer and the colour topcoat is enamel. Is that ok to do?

A. If your primer is Resene Quick Dry and your topcoat enamel is Resene Super Gloss, Resene Enamacryl or Resene Lustacryl the answer is yes.

Q. Which exterior paint in dark grey or charcoal can be used on a brick fence, wooden and tin fence and a deck? The deck has previously been painted so do not want to prep to stain.

A. Prime new brick with Resene Concrete Primer, timber with Resene Quick Dry, and metal with Resene GP Metal Primer then apply two coats of Resene Lumbersider.

Q. I am a builder and am building a fence for a client that they also want me to paint. The timber used is H3.2 treated rough sawn pine. Fencing timber materials are low quality and because of this have lots of knots and sap/resin bleed in certain areas. This resin bleed was my main concern. What is the most effective way of locking it in so that it doesn't lift the paint over time? I was going to prime the fence with Resene Quick Dry and topcoat with Resene Sonyx 101 but think the sap bleed areas should be sealed with something else first. What would you recommend? I realise it will be hard to fully negate this problem long term but would like to minimise it for as long as possible.

A. Prime knots with Resene Aluminium Wood Primer. Best to prime other areas with Resene Wood Primer.

Q. I am looking to paint my fence. It was painted and not all of the paint washed off the fence. Would an acrylic paint be best suited? I was looking to paint it black.

A. Assuming the fence is in reasonable condition, you could use Resene Lumbersider CoolColour™ Black for this.

Q. Our fence is painted with white waterbased paint. After a time the nails in the fence get rusty and the rust colour flows down onto the white paint on the fence. Is there a solution to stop this from happening?

A. The only way is to expose the nail heads and spot prime with an anti-corrosive primer such as Resene GP Metal Primer. The success in stopping rust staining is dependent upon how clean the nail heads can be prepared before priming.

Q. I'd like to paint a new fence (rough sawn treated pine) with Resene Lumbersider, but I'm afraid that the paint will seal the timber and moisture will be trapped inside, making it rot faster. I heard that if I stain instead of painting, stain doesn't trap moisture and therefore the fence will last longer. Also I was advised by several people that with new rough sawn fences, once it is built, it is better to let it dry at least a few months before painting. Is that correct, assuming that I'm going to paint with Resene Lumbersider?

A. Thin film waterborne paints like Resene Lumbersider are breathable; the paint film will allow moisture vapour to pass through the film (not liquid water). Given this, painting a timber fence with the product will not 'trap' water or contribute to timber decay.

Q. Can I use spray on enamel paint on my cedar fence?

A. You can use full gloss only applied over an oil based primer. However it is rare for fences to be painted in enamel paints now as enamel paints are inflexible and do chalk relatively quickly compared to waterborne paints.

Q. We are looking at painting our boundary fences a deep charcoal or dark stain. One side of the fence is on our boundary, the other is on the neighbour's. Can you recommend what type of paint and application technique we should use? The fence is rough sawn vertical boards with trellis along the top edge. We want to avoid paint or stain leaking through to the neighbour's side as they have a lightly painted fence. It's an old fence, approx. 15 years, never been treated but reasonable condition.

A. Scrub down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash following label directions. If mould or algae is present then treat these areas with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions. Then apply a prime coat of Resene Wood Primer and finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider. We sell a fence roller kit which is a small roller and sleeve which will cover a fence pale width.

Q. I have a 25 year old bare timber fence with algae and mould on it. What steps should I take to prepare it for painting please?

A. Treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer to label directions. Some green algae can be difficult to wet out with the solution. If this is the case mist these areas first with water and a dose of household dishwashing liquid and while still damp apply the Resene Moss & Mould Killer. There should be a colour change to the mould and algae. Leave for 24 hours then scrub down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash following label directions.

Q. We need to paint our paddock fence posts to enable them to be visible to our horses. Can you please recommend a product?

A. Resene Lumbersider would be the paint. It is an Environmental Choice approved paint.

Q. Can you please advise the recommended paint to use on a new lightweight concrete fence panels?

A. Apply a coat of Resene Concrete Primer then finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider. If a dark colour is chosen then we recommend application of the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour. CoolColours do not feel cool to touch but reflect more heat than the same colour made using non CoolColour pigments.

Q. My wooden fence is stained. If I waterblast the fence do I then need to prime or do any prep before painting?

A. Depending upon condition, waterblasting timber using high pressure and a rotating head can damage the timber surface so care is required when preparing timer fences for painting. Any sign of moss or mould and is the timber rough sawn? If it is old and weathered and there is mould, treat for moss/mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer and apply a primer coat of Resene Wood Primer then two coats of Resene Lumbersider. If a dark colour is selected then we recommend using the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour.

Q. I would like to paint our new timber fence in the colour of our house (Resene Parchment). Which paint would work out best? We would like a bit of sheen/gloss.

A. We recommend Resene Lumbersider.

Q. Can you confirm that your Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is suitable to use on a COLORBOND® fence that is approx 7 years old? The surface has weathered but there is no oxidisation present. I will be overcoating with Resene Lumbersider. Also for sealing plasterboard and fibre cement sheeting what primer would you recommend, and is this primer suitable for new and old timber?

A. Resene exterior acrylics can be applied to COLORBOND® that has been subjected to exterior weathering for at least a month. We recommend application of Resene Broadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer for plasterboard and Resene Concrete Primer for fibre cement. The timber primer depends upon the timber, the presence of anti-oxidants or tannins in the timber and the degree of weathering and breakdown of the timber.

Q. We have just moved into a newly built home. The fence has been stained brown but we would like to cover it with a darker charcoal stain. Is there any preparation or treatments you recommend to help the new stain being effective and avoid the brown colour showing through as the fence weathers?

A. Resene exterior wood stains are semi-transparent so the underlying colour will always affect the recoat colour. The only way to avoid this is to paint with a solid paint finish.

Q. I want to paint a bare galvanised steel car yard fence black. What product is best? We also want to paint a new aluminium sliding gate (chose not to powder coat) black. Can you recommend products to use?

A. There are two options for the aluminium gate: single pack: 1 coat of Resene Galvo One and two coats of any Resene exterior acrylic coating. For a two pack finish: Apply a coat of Resene Armourcote 221 and then 2 coats of any Resene Uracryl 400 Series finish. The two pack option will be harder wearing.

For the galvanised fence we recommend using Resene Galvo One for priming bare areas then two coats of any Resene exterior acrylic finish. Suggest using the Resene CoolColour™ black if the fence is fully exposed on a north or west elevation.

Q. I recently painted my house Resene Titania and all trims etc Resene Ironsand. I now want to do my fence but notice that you don’t do a fence paint in Resene Ironsand. What colour do you recommend?

A. You can apply Resene Lumbersider as a fence paint and it is available in Resene Ironsand.

Q. I'd like some advice about the appropriate use of your products for a project where a paint has already been used which might not be appropriate for the purpose. The job is a new hardwood picket fence. The posts, rails and pickets are of Australian hardwood, mostly ironbark but with some other species too (but no spotted gum, tallowwood or other greasy species). The timber is rough sawn (not dressed) and is well seasoned.

One coat of Resene Enamel Undercoat has been applied to the timber, which prompts me to ask these two questions: 1 - The Data Sheet for Resene Enamel Undercoat says that a primer is required on exterior timber. In this case the undercoat has been applied directly onto the timber. Is this likely to cause a problem? 2 - Can finish coats of Resene Enamacryl be applied over the Resene Enamel Undercoat?

A. For exterior timber we recommend priming with a dedicated wood primer. Our wood primer formulations contain a package of materials to prevent decay of the timber due to moisture and fungi.

Hard Australian timbers such as iron bark may not have the same potential but for a belts and braces approach we would still recommend a wood primer such as Resene Wood Primer be used. The enamel undercoat has no components to address the normal timber decay mechanisms of moisture and fungi.

It is not possible to predict the outcome of direct application of the enamel undercoat but there should be no adhesion issue and you can topcoat with any Resene solventborne or waterborne enamel exterior paint finishes.

Q. We have a galvanised gate (large) which we want to paint black. Have had two differing opinions on preparation - one to wash with sugar soap and then paint with a spray can. The other to let it weather, then undercoat and then spray paint. Could you please advise? Especially on the need to undercoat or not.

A. Paint as soon as possible. Sugar Soap is really only a degreaser which is not necessary for this application. Scrub down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash then prime with Resene Galvo-Prime and two coats of Resene Summit. You are located in a corrosive zone and while spray cans may appear easier to use you cannot apply these direct to galvanising and you must prime with a dedicated galvanised iron primer. Painting on the topcoat will also avoid overspray that can be an issue with spray cans.

Q. My Mum has two fences she wants painted black; one is timber, the other corrugated iron. What paint would be the best to use?

A. If both substrates are appropriately primed then any Resene exterior acrylic finish (two coats) can be applied. However if new then Resene Lumbersider is the timber finish and Resene Summit the metal finish. Given the colour choice we recommend using the Resene CoolColour™ black version.

Q. Over a year ago I sprayed flyspray (infestation of spiders etc) on a few small areas of my lovely green fence (I think it is COLORSTEEL®). This has left a white residue which diminishes slightly with washing but with very gentle scraping with my thumbnail it removes it totally, but is there an easier solution please without damaging the original paintwork?

A. We wouldn't expect any spray residues to be visible under normal use concentrations but if you went to town on the spider webs then the actives with low water solubility (most pyrethroids and synthetic derivatives) could be deposited on the coated surface. It wouldn't be noticed immediately because the propellant/solvent mixture would need to evaporate first. If manual abrasion works then I would suggest you continue that method with a soft bristle brush, some elbow grease and some water. The use of organic solvents will help if the white stuff is pesticide with meths being the most general for solubilising these types of actives. COLORSTEEL® is meths resistant enough for a quick wipe down.

Another possibility if you have used lots of spray is that the spider webs were plasticised by the propellant (if it had some polar component) and have simply adhered to the fence. They could have become invisible after spraying as the air interface was replaced with solvent and the web structure collapsed but then would have become white again as solvent evaporated but probably in a more dense configuration. In that case manual abrasion is the only way forward.

Q. I want to paint over new powdercoated gates (to change the colour). It looks as though your Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer will do the job - can you confirm?

A. Prime the new powdercoating with a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and leave to cure for 48 hours then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl waterborne enamel. The system will take at least a week to harden and develop adhesion.

Q. I have a driveway gate made from rebar which has some rust. I love it and I want it to last forever. How do I do that?

A. The metallic composition of rebar steel does make it more prone to atmospheric rusting if not embedded in concrete. Only suggestion is to wash down and remove all loose rust using a power wire brush then apply two coats of Resene Rust Arrest and then topcoat with two coats of Resene Summit Roof.

Q. Do I have to use roof paint to paint a corrugated fence and why?

A. As long as the substrate is appropriately primed you can use two coats of any Resene exterior acrylic paint as the topcoat.

Q. Which paint should I use for my already painted corrugated iron fence?

A. As long as the existing paint system is sound then we recommended Resene Summit Roof, two coats after a wash down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash following the label instructions.

Q. We have a 3 year old house near the beach, with a quite a large concrete block and timber fence, which was painted when new with Resene Lumbersider. There are a number of white 'bleed through' patches now on some of the concrete blocks. What should I seal the bleed through areas with please before I repaint again?

A. The white marking you are seeing is more than likely efflorescence from the block pointing. These areas will need to be power wire brushed and sealed with Resene Sureseal before recoating.

Q. What do you recommend to apply to a fence built of pine timber?

A. For new timber: Solid paint finish: Resene Lumbersider two coats direct onto the timber. If dark colours are selected then use the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour. Stain finish: Resene Woodsman, two coats applied direct to the timber. You can use Resene Waterborne Woodsman (waterborne) or Resene Woodsman Oil Stain (solventborne). Most customers generally use the waterborne version.

Q. I have a steel gate which I have cleaned up and primed with Resene Rust-Arrest. For a topcoat can I use Resene roof paint? I have plenty of Resene Hi-Glo or do I need something else?

A. You can use Resene Hi-Glo for the topcoats as long as it is applied to the base metal primed with Resene Rust-Arrest.

Q. I am wanting to paint our old fence. There are rust stains in the fence from the rusty old nails. Can you recommend a product to put over the rust so that it does not show through when we put the topcoat on? I was going to topcoat with Resene Lumbersider.

A. Wire brush the nail heads to remove as much loose rust as possible, then spot prime the rusted nail heads and stains with Resene Rust-Arrest using a small brush. Allow to dry for 24 hours and repeat the application of the Resene Rust-Arrest. Allow to dry for a further 24 hours then apply two coats of Resene Lumbersider.

Q. We have a dressed wooden fence which we intend to paint in Resene Half Sea Fog. Should the paint be high gloss or semi-gloss, and is acrylic okay or should it be oil-based?

A. Due to durability considerations we would definitely recommend an exterior waterborne paint, such as Resene Sonyx 101 (semi-gloss). The timber will need to be primed with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat prior to application of the two coats of Resene Sonyx 101.

Q. Can we paint the exterior of our house and fences after 5pm in spring and summer?

A. I would not recommend undertaking exterior painting using waterborne paints that late in the day even over summer. Waterborne paints need to dry to the point where they are resistant to moisture. When you apply paint late in the day there is always the possibility of condensation from dew forming on the paint before the paint has achieved sufficient cure to resist damage from water.

Q. What is the most suitable paint to use for an outdoor corrugated fence (already painted), that is safe for under 5 year old children?

A. You can use any Resene exterior acrylic paint, all have Environmental Choice Approval which requires the paint to be free of formaldehyde, heavy metal pigments such as lead and a VOC (volatile organic content ) less than 199 grams per litre. Suggest you use Resene Summit Roof, as long as the existing painted surface is an acrylic paint and clean and sound then you can apply the Resene Summit Roof directly.

Q. I am about to erect a paling fence and would like to pre-paint treated pine or cyprus rails and pickets with a self-priming paint. What should I use?

A. You can use Resene Lumbersider for this application.

Q. We are getting two new driveway gates of dressed pine. The present gates have rotted where rain water collected and I'm keen to avoid problems again by attention of course to the gate design, but also by a good paint system.

A. The type of timber and construction detail is most important in this situation. A paint system to suit would be: prime with Resene Wood Primer (oil based), undercoat with Resene Quick Dry (waterborne primer) and finish with two topcoats of Resene Enamacryl waterborne enamel.

Q. I was wondering what paint I would need and what steps I would need to take to prepare and repaint a powdercoated aluminium pool fence? Is this possible? Is it possible to achieve a solid paint job that won't peel off? It is the posts I want to paint black (while they remain in the ground) as I am replacing the fencing that is screwed between them.

A. Scrub down the powder coated surfaces with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, rinse clean and allow to dry. This should give a surface that is chalk free (no white material comes off when the cleaned surface is rubbed). Prime with Resene Vinyl Etch Black and then apply two coats of any Resene Uracryl 400 Series two pack tinted to black.

Q. What’s the best paint for a fence? I don’t want a fence paint that doesn’t last.

A. If you are talking about new fencing then for timber fencing Resene Lumbersider is the product to use. For best performance it is best applied over a primed surface and opt for the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour if available.

Q. We have a new concrete block and timber palling fence. Is there a paint product that can be used on both surfaces? The contractor will be using a sprayer, I think.

A. Resene Lumbersider can be used as the topcoat for both substrates. Concrete will have to be free of form oils/release agents/dirt/ dust and other contaminants, likewise for the timber palings. For best results we would suggest priming the concrete with Resene Concrete Primer and the timber with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat.

Q. We have put up a new paling fence (1.8 m high and and around 25 m long). What stain would be recommend? How much would we need? How do we protect it from graffiti?

A. For staining you can use Resene Waterborne Woodsman or Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain. However you cannot overcoat a stain with a coating from which graffiti can be removed. For this system you will need to apply two coats of a solid colour in Resene Lumbersider then overcoat with two coats of Resene Uracryl GraffitiShield.

Q. Can we spray 10 year old (waterblasted clean) wooden fences with an airless gun to apply Resene Waterborne Woodsman stain? The quantity would obviously increase but we are not sure if an airless gun is possible?

A. Yes using a FFT414 spray tip and low pressure. Have someone on the opposite side holding a large dropsheet to control overspra, and a piece of cardboard at the bottom is also a good idea. Anything you don't want stained should be covered or masked.

Q. I want to paint old exterior wooden fencing - it is in very weather worn condition and I am after a single product that I can use to prime, seal and repaint it. The finish need not be brilliant as it is only a fence but there is a lot of it and I am hoping to avoid too much mucking about beforehand - what product would you suggest?

A. Treat the fence with Resene Moss & Mould Killer, leave for 48 hours then low pressure water wash. Allow to dry then apply two coats of Resene Lumbersider. Normally we would recommend priming with our solventborne Resene Wood Primer before applying the Resene Lumbersider for the optimum decision.

Q. We have a wrought iron fence - galvanised and powdercoated. It is 10 years old and the powdercoat is faded and chipped. What painting process should I apply? We do not wish to powdercoat again as it did not perform.

A. I advise against trying to undertake spot repairs. If possible strip the powdercoating prior to painting. Then apply Resene ArmourZinc 110 followed by Resene Galvo One and two coats of Resene Summit Roof in your selected colour.