Fence Colour - thinking outside the box? - Forum

I'm trying to source tasteful/contemporary fence paint colours (more farrow and Ball than Ronseal) and am having little luck. All the reasonably priced fence paints/stains/preservatives are in really limited colours (ie forest green/oak/pine/blues/oxblood reds ....etc..) and Sadolin/Cuprinol colours although more imaginative, are outrageously expensive for this kind of coverage (several coats are required to cover the hideous new 'orange' dipped lap fences)

I have heard that you can mix regular oil-based interior eggshells with white spirit to make a bespoke colour with albeit limited protective qualities. I have also read of a case where somebody simply used an unwanted emulsion on a fence which 3 years later was still in good shape.

I'm a bit annoyed with the tyranny of seemingly just two choices: either affordable but 'traditional' fence colours (forest green, dark oak, pine etc etc ...) or the very expensive 'interesting' colours (usually very translucent therefore requiring many coats) of Sadolin/Cuprinol/Sikkens/Solignum et al

Has anybody experience with an alternative approach whereby there is a choice of a much larger range of colours even if this means less weather protection? The site is a sheltered garden in south London

thanks all for all these great replies.

I should have added that I am covering an area of 60 linear metres of 1800 mm height fencing of differing ages and colours; hence i'm looking to a darkish colour to unify the lot. I'm trying to achieve an attractive and relatively natural brown/grey but my efforts have been a bit yucky to date. I have just tried mixing a black Ronseal Fence life with a small amount of a taupe emulsion and I think that through trial and error I might eventually get to a colour I find more palatable than the usual proprietary suspects .... I think the black/brown mix is going to be the way to go and it's just a question of trying and trying again! I liked the idea of black but it is a north facing garden and I'm not sure it could take this level of gothic! it would be helpful if the manufacturers would provide more testers - thanks for all the input - really helpful. Will post pictures and winning formula in due course (either that or set light to the whole damn lot!)

Thanks!!!

Replies

Jackson's Landscape Design March 24, 2011 at 9:01pm

Welcome back Isabel

Crupinol landscapeshades have a great variety of colour.....bit pricy.....around the £70-£80 a tin for 5L

I checked out the use of emulsion ( graphite grey) on my own fence...todate theres no problems any where.....

JLD garden:
Nic Johnson March 24, 2011 at 9:05pm

I agree with Paul im not sure id want to attract the eye to cheap lap panels. I think a fence is best painted green to blend in, with planting in front to hide. Alternatively a lot stronger fence and have climbers growing up and along to soften the boundary rather than just a fence on its own.
lisa skipton March 24, 2011 at 9:21pm

I also used cuprinol shades small tin of paint but mixed it with a standard cheap big tin of black fence paint. I wanted a very particular shade of grey with a very slight purple tinge. It was for my own garden, which is pretty small. Three years later and the fence still looks great. It really shows off green foliage. It took me a while to get the right shade but because it was for my own garden it was well worth it.
tom weaving March 24, 2011 at 9:35pm

its difficult to comment without seeing the garden in question, but have you considered black? you can still buy creosote or creosote substitute in dark brown or black. as lisa says, I find this is a great back drop for plants particularly lime greens. also it penetrates the wood rather than coating it and does a better job of preserving your fencing
David Bloomer March 24, 2011 at 9:36pm

i used one of the pale blue (can't remember which one) cuprinol shades colours last year and it covered in one go!!!

£30 ish a 5l tin if i remember correct but well worth it to liven up a small back garden.
Anne Wareham March 24, 2011 at 9:43pm

I've used emulsion and primer outside - mix my own colours a lot. Might not last but easy to reapply and dries fast. What's to lose? Mix them up and have fun! (only, when you mix make sure you have enough for job in hand - you'll never get it just the same again).

XXXXX
Jackson's Landscape Design March 24, 2011 at 10:03pm

Isabel

Please note that Crupinol do a garden shades variety and a landscapeshades variety the latter having more choice of vibrant colours like poppy, ceramic blue, lemon peel, goosewing and seashell grey
docky64 March 24, 2011 at 10:15pm

thanks all for all these great replies.

I should have added that I am covering an area of 60 linear metres of 1800 mm height fencing of differing ages and colours; hence i'm looking to a darkish colour to unify the lot. I'm trying to achieve an attractive and relatively natural brown/grey but my efforts have been a bit yucky to date. I have just tried mixing a black Ronseal Fence life with a small amount of a taupe emulsion and I think that through trial and error I might eventually get to a colour I find more palatable than the usual proprietary suspects .... I think the black/brown mix is going to be the way to go and it's just a question of trying and trying again! I liked the idea of black but it is a north facing garden and I'm not sure it could take this level of gothic! it would be helpful if the manufacturers would provide more testers - thanks for all the input - really helpful. Will post pictures and winning formula in due course (either that or set light to the whole damn lot!)

Thanks!!!
Anne Wareham March 24, 2011 at 11:07pm

Don't be afraid of black - it's a brilliant background for showing off plants and it's recessive - ie it tends to disappear. See conservatory here http://veddw.com/gallery/
Tracy McQue March 26, 2011 at 12:30am

I agree with Anne - black is brilliant, the Cuprinol Garden Shades are expensive but good coverage. If black is a bit scary I've mixed the CGS Black Ash with Silver Birch to get a really nice classic/contemporary grey colour which has worked wonders on knackered and dilapidated fences, sheds and trellis.