Tips - Painting a Palisade fence

Tip

To protect and decorate a palisade fence exposed to weather conditions is quite a task which requires extensive preparation and an adequate paint system, particularly in order to obtain the required product performance for at least the next 7-10 years.  Asking a 20-year maintenance free system is a bit optimistic when considering the harsh weather conditions in South Africa.

Option 1 (Life expectancy 1-3 years) – application by brush

Step 1

Remove all loose, flaking paint using a steel brush and scrapers.

Step 2

Degrease and remove chalking by abrading the surface with a scouring pad and a degreasing agent Restore Cleaning Lacquer Thinners.

Step 3

Rinse off with cleaning running water

Step 4

Drywell.

Step 5

Prime all rusty and bare surfaces with two coats of an Impa MP10 WB Metal Primer at a spreading rate of 6m2/ litre, allowing 4-6 hours drying between coats. Should the rusty areas consist of heavy flaked rust, remove with a stiff wire brush or Restore Ferro Rust Cleaner, apply one coat of Restore Rust Convertor, leave to dry for 2-4 hours and apply two (2) coats Impa MP10 WB Metal Primer. Always follow the individual instruction of each product carefully.

Step 6

Perform a Measle corrosion test to confirm sufficient primer has been applied.  Measle test: If tiny brown spots appear, apply a further coat of Impa MP10 WB Metal Primer to cover these spots.

Step 7

Apply two coats of a good quality exterior pure acrylic paint like, Impa Enduragloss, Sheen, Gelcoat WB or Roofcryl.  These products will retain their colour for a year or two longer than higher gloss enamel paint.

Option 2 (Life expectancy 5-7 years)

If you are serious about the lifespan and performance of a paint system, the job should be done as follows:

Step 1

Make sure your wear safety equipment to protect eyes and hands when using a paint stripper.  Strip all the existing pant from the palisade using a chemical paint remover or a heat gun, or, if you can, find a company to assist you with sand blasting the palisades.

Step 2

After stripping the paint, remove the old residue by abrading by surface with a scouring pad and an alkaline degreaser, such as a Impa Red Galvanized Iron Cleaner, and rinse with clean running water. Should the rusty areas consist of heavy flaked rust, remove with a stiff wire brush or Restore Ferro Rust Cleaner, apply one coat of Restore Rust Convertor, and leave to dry 2-4 hours. Always follow the individual instruction of each product carefully.

Step 3

Apply two coats of an Impa Mildsteel Primer at a spreading rate of 6m2/litre, allowing 4-6 hours drying time between coats.

Note: Perform a Measle corrosive test to confirm that sufficient primer has been applied.

Step 4

Apply two coats of water-based, Impa Enduragloss, Gelcoat WB or Roofcryl at 10m2/litre, and allowing 4-6 hours drying time between coats.

Note:  

This has a very good colour retention, non-chalking, non-yellowing and excellent flexibility properties. The life expectancy of this product is approximately 10 years, if the preparation and priming is correctly done.

Note:

The compressor and spray gun cannot be used to apply the above product as you will not attain the correct dry film thickness.  This equipment can only be used to apply solvent-based coatings like quick drying primers and quick drying enamels, which will not give you the expected lifespan you require.  The job can be done using airless spray equipment.

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