Fence and Deck Painting in Toowoomba

Oil, stain or paint?

Outdoor timber gets three main finishes, and they behave very differently:

• Decking oils soak in and show the grain. They wear and fade, and need recoating regularly, but recoating is simple: clean and oil again.
• Stains add colour while still showing some grain, and last a little longer than clear oil.
• Paint gives a solid colour and the longest life on fences and pergolas, but once it starts to peel it needs scraping back before recoating.

Decks underfoot usually suit oil or a deck stain, because paint on a walking surface wears through quickly and can be slippery when wet. Fences, gates and pergolas suit either.

Preparation

Weathered grey timber needs cleaning, and often a timber cleaner or brightener, before it will take oil evenly. Loose boards and popped nails get fixed first. Painted fences that are peeling need scraping and spot priming. New treated pine often needs time to weather before it will accept a finish; the product label will say.

Colorbond fences

Steel fences can be repainted too, with the right primer and an exterior paint suited to metal. It is a common way to refresh a faded boundary fence without replacing it.

Toowoomba weather

Frost, dew and summer sun all wear outdoor timber. Expect a deck to need attention more often than the walls of the house. Coating needs a few dry days, so it is a job for settled weather.

Requesting a painter

Send photos and rough measurements of the deck or fence, and phone 0468 069 048. A single licensed Toowoomba painter will get in touch. For the house walls, see exterior house painting.