The Old Fence Gets a New Lease of Life

Although we moved into our home several years ago, we never prioritise the outdoors and gardens. The lockdowns of the last year or so have given us the perfect opportunity to revamp our gardens and carry out all those renovations that we’ve always dreamed of.


Whether you're planting new flowers or landscaping your garden on a large scale, or simply investing in a new set of garden furniture, there are many ways to bring new life to your garden. We thought that the perfect place to start is with the fencing.

Like all construction projects, building a fence takes time, careful planning and hard work. However, the result is something that can last for years, and may well add value to your property, enhance recreation space, or give an outside area a newly designated purpose.

Wood is a natural material it fits in well in gardens and can be treated in natural colour to blend in with surroundings or painted as a feature to stand out. However, if you've got old fence panels that are looking rather dreary, then you have come to the right place.


Keep in mind with wood that it does require some maintenance to keep it optimal condition. You may need to oil, seal, varnish or paint it on an annual basis, especially if it is exposed to harsh sun, strong winds, rain, and snow..

It does feel so good to see the fence panelling all completed. But we wanted to have that finishing touch and started to paint away. In the end, my husband chose Ronseal One Coat Fence Seal in Harvest Gold because it will protect our fence from rain and prevent it from greying with just one coat. The colour was awful. It looked good when it was cloudy, but when the sun shone, it cast a very orange glow everywhere.


Although it had yellow and orange undertones, I eventually lived with it since it blended with the antique pine shed. As I couldn't stand looking at my orange fence for another year, I decided I would do something about it. I knew it would be a big project, but that awful colour needed to go.

Finding The Right Colour

The right fence stain can upgrade the overall look of your home while adding on a variety of benefits to your outdoor space. However, many homeowners don’t know where to start when choosing a fence stain colour.

It was necessary to test several colours before making a decision. Most DIY stores will allow you to test out the paint beforehand, but it's important to make sure the wood is an exact colour match for the existing fence. We may find it more challenging than we anticipated since we needed to cover a bright orange fence. All the fencing and the shed needed to be painted grey, but finding the right shade is difficult. We finally settled on this Ronseal One Coat in slate after trying a few different greys. 

Toning Down The Orange Fence

We began by removing as much paint chippings, dirt, and debris as possible. We even got the little lady involved. Mow the grass that blocks access to the bottom of the fence. Tie back plants that lean in front of the fence.

Spray the fence with a garden hose and scrub the pickets from top to bottom with a long-handled scrub brush, paying special attention to mould, mildew and algae. Rinse the fence after about five minutes.


A generous coating of oil stain, water sealant, or another similar wood preservative should be applied to the first few feet of the fence. Using a wide paintbrush, apply the paint to the wood, which also removes runs and helps maintain even coating. Continue applying the paint to the fence and brushing in the wet product until you complete the entire fence. Go back over tight spaces with a small paintbrush or paint roll.

Initially it did not seem like anything was different from the first coat, and there was a trace of blue, but after three generous coats it truly looks fantastic. I'm so happy to say goodbye to that awful orange and seem a more neutral look in the gardens.


Is your garden in need of a serious needs of a revamp? Are you looking to give your old dreary fence a new lease of life? Let me know in the comments. 

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