Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Sprucing Up Your Iron Fence With Color

16 June 2015

Hugh Bryant

If you have an ornamental iron fence adorning your property, you may have considered changing the coloring to either make it more noticeable or to make it blend in. Painting iron fencing is not that difficult to do on your own with the help of some household tools. Here are some instructions for you to use when adding color to your own fence.

Materials You Will Need

• Wire brush
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Bucket of water
• Non-abrasive sponge
• Clean piece of microfiber cloth
• Rust-inhibiting primer
• Paint in color of choice
• Paintbrush
• Tarp

Removing Old Paint

Before you can clean and paint your iron fence, scrape off any old paint so that new paint will not fall off with dried pieces of color from the existing paint job. Use a wire brush to scrape away any spots on your fence where paint is peeling, bubbling or cracking. After you have removed loose pieces, sand the exposed iron fencing down with a piece of fine-grit sandpaper. This will allow the new paint to adhere.

Cleaning Your Fence

After you remove the old paint, the entire fence needs to be cleaned so that new paint will not be placed on top of pieces of debris. Use a non-abrasive sponge dipped in a bucket of soapy water to clean off the fence. Make sure to get into grooves and scrolling as these are areas that are prone to spider webs and insects. 

Work in sections of the fence so you can dry each area you clean right away. Use a clean piece of microfiber cloth to remove any soapy film from the fence. This will help keep the area from rusting. Allow the fence to dry completely before starting the painting process.

Adding The Color

Use a rust-inhibiting primer on the entire fence before you start adding paint. This usually comes in a spray bottle form. Place a tarp on the ground where you will be working so that any flowers or grass will not be covered in the spray as you add it. Allow the primer to dry overnight before starting to add paint. 

When painting, a paintbrush will work better than a sprayer on any intricate decorations in the pattern of the fence. Use a small paintbrush to get color into crevices. Make sure to paint the undersides of any intricate scrolling. After you have added one coating of paint, allow it to dry overnight before adding a second coat. 

For more information on fencing, contact a professional like Carter Fence.

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