May 3rd, 2022 by Sarah Miles

Fences do need some maintenance if you want them to last as long as they can (and still look good). That means painting or staining them every few years. You can also make your fence an integral part of your garden design by painting it a coordinating colour (or maybe even a contrasting one if you want to turn heads!). There are some amazing outdoor paint colours to choose from these days and it can really frame your garden perfectly to have something more interesting than standard wood colour.

The best way to paint your fence

You can paint or stain your fence the old-fashioned way with a paintbrush. This is fine but accept that it will probably take you quite a long time (if you have anything but a small fence), that drips are inevitable, and the finish could be patchy. If you would prefer to get the job done in half the time, achieve an even, drip-free professional level finish, as well as have some fun doing it then you need a paint sprayer! 

Which is the best one to use?

If you have decided that a paint sprayer is the best way to go, you then need to choose the right one for your needs. While there are many models on the market, one of the first decisions you will need to make is whether to go for mains powered or cordless, battery-powered model.

Let’s take a look at the benefits of each:

Cordless paint sprayers

Cordless paint sprayers are operated by a rechargeable battery. Their greatest advantage is that you are not restricted by a power cable. This offers you two benefits: you don’t have to be near a power source – handy if you’re at the far end of the garden and, obviously, fencing usually extends the full length of the property boundary. And you can move around freely which is not only useful for progressing along the length of a fence but also for moving around items such as garden furniture (this can look great painted the same colour as the fence). 

Cordless models such as this one from MYLEK charge fully in two hours and come with a 1L paint cup. It also has 3 nozzle options for a choice of spray patterns and includes a viscosity measuring cup to help you get the right consistency with whichever paint or stain you are using.

One thing to consider though with a cordless is to you trade convenience for some power. Cordless models are therefore most suited to smaller jobs.

Mylek Compakt Cordless Handheld Paint Sprayer

Price: £79.99

Buy Now

Mains electric paint sprayers

Paint sprayers that need to be plugged into the mains may not give you the freedom of movement that a cordless one does but you do get the option of more power with many achieving up to 4-bar of pressure. This not only makes them faster but helps them to atomise the paint more effectively. This results in a finer mist of paint which gives a more even, professional level of finish. 

They can also be easier to handle as those that use a hose to attach the spray gun to the motor mean that they are very light to hold in your trigger hand and the longer the hose, the more flexibility you have to get into awkward spaces. The motor unit can be held with your other hand (they come with a carry handle), placed on a surface, or hungover your shoulder (where a shoulder strap is included). This can really help you achieve the perfect spray technique and improve the result. Being mains powered, you won’t ever have to stop because you’ve run out of battery.

An electric sprayer is therefore great for larger jobs where it’s possible to plug into mains power.

This Mylek Compakt 650W Electric Paint Sprayer is a great option with a 650W motor, 1.5M hose, two paint cups, and a shoulder strap. At just £38.99 it’s also really affordable.

Mylek Compakt 650W Electric Paint Sprayer

Price: £49.99

Buy Now