How Long Should I Wait to Paint a Rained-On Fence?

No one wants to go out in the dead of winter to do fence maintenance but in a lot of ways, it’s the best time. Spring and early summer are known for their frequent rain showers so it can be a real problem for DIY’rs. When you are working alone, it may take two or three days to paint an entire fence. In that amount of time, the likelihood of your fence being rained on in springtime is fairly high. Then you have to decide between going forward with the project or going back to redo all of your work.

When contemplating fence maintenance, you should always consider hiring a professional fence contractor. They can work faster than you with fewer mistakes since they have all the equipment they need. Plus, if you hire them during the winter you are more likely to get discounts and price breaks because it is their slow time.

If you decide to paint a fence that has been rained on or has gotten wet here are some Q & A that might help…

• How long should I wait to start painting my fence if it rained last night?
  • That depends on how much rain you received and what type of paint you are using. If it really poured down rain then you will have to wait a day or two for your fence to dry out. If you are using an oil based stain then you will have to wait for the fencing material to be dry to the touch but if you are using a water-based stain then it can be a little damp.
• If I got half done with my fence before it rained, do I need to go back and redo my work?
  • It all depends on the paint or stain you are using. Read the directions on the container to check how long it needs to dry. If you think it had long enough to dry before the rain then you should be fine. If your paint wasn’t dry and it really rained hard then you will need another coat to ensure a good seal.
• Should I use a sprayer or a hand brush to paint my fence?
  • A brush is always best because it gives a good finish and gets in all the nooks and crannies. If you have a massive fence then you may need to use a sprayer but you should always do a little touch-up work with a brush after.
• Should I clean my fence off before I start again after a rain?
  • If you had a light rain then there shouldn’t be a need to clean the fence a second time. If it rained hard enough to splash mud onto the fence surface then you may need to give it another cleaning to make sure it is ready for paint.