How to paint a fence with a spray gun

Below are all of the tools and materials you'll need to complete this project.

Tip: it might seem obvious, but don't spray on a windy day – you'll end up spraying everything but the fence!

The paint we used in this case was a Weathershield colour by Dulux. This is water-based paint, so we added another 10 per cent water and gave it a good stir to thin. It's important to stir well before you pour the paint into your spray gun to make sure the paint is well mixed and the colour is evenly distributed. You will need to dilute your outdoor paint 5 to 10 per cent, depending on the weather and the thickness of the paint, so that it works well in your gun. Check your paint label for the correct amount of water for thinning.

Once you've poured about 1 litre of paint into your spray gun base, add about another 100mls of water to thin it down even further. Check your consistency – the water is going to want to sit at the top, but you want it even throughout, so give it another good stir. You'll know for sure if your consistency is right once you start spraying.

If your paint goes down to the level of pavers or bricks – even over plants – you'll want to make sure you prepare your area first. This means putting down drop sheets and masking up any areas you don't want your paint to go. Trust us – this spray comes out fast and goes everywhere, so make sure you protect anything you don't want to get covered. That includes yourself – don't forget your eye protection and a mask!

Using airless spray guns is really easy – you don't need an air compressor, just a power outlet! Spray your paint on in nice, even sprays from the top down and make sure there are no big blobs. If there are, it might be that you haven't thinned your paint enough. You can adjust your spray by turning the nozzle on the gun to flow in a fine mist.

It's important to change the angle you are spraying at between coats (you'll need two coats for this job) to make sure you get into all the little nooks and crannies. The good thing about spraying is that the paint dries really fast – so by the time you've finished the first coat, you'll probably be able to go back and start the second!

To paint the vertical palings of your fence, set your spray nozzle to horizontal and spray in a nice, even up and down motion. Remember to have your face mask and eye protection on at all times. 

This prevents overspray onto next door's property – trust us, they won't be pleased if you accidentally spray their garden, their washing or their pet! Using a brush also means you can get between the fence palings and make sure every part is covered. 

Once you've finished, it's really important to clean your spray gun straight away so the paint doesn't dry in it. The easiest way to do this is to wash the pot out, fill it with clean water and spray it through.

And you're done! How easy was that? Now admire your handiwork, safe in the knowledge your fence will look great for years to come.