You’re painting your fence all wrong: Expert reveals the $0.50 kitchen item that works far better

With the clocks about to change and the longer daylight hours that ensue, it’s time to get outside and make a start on refreshing your yard. Apart from power washing your pathways, pruning trees, and sowing seeds in March, you’ll probably want to give your fence(s) a new coat of paint.

After months of wind, frost, rain and snow, your fence can appear faded, patchy and tired. And while most of us instinctively reach for a traditional fence brush to sort it out, one DIY expert says it could be the one thing slowing you down.

According to Omar Stoltzfus, a home improvement expert at Premier Timber Frame Builders, the humble paintbrush could be why so many people dread fence painting in the first place.

Why painting with a fence brush is difficult

“Most people assume a thick fence brush is the only proper way to paint timber panels,” Stoltzfus explains. “But in reality, brushes can be awkward, heavy and surprisingly inefficient, especially on rough or textured wood.”

He says the real problem is how brushes interact with weathered timber. “Fence panels are rarely smooth. They swell and shrink with the seasons, creating grooves, splits and uneven grain. A stiff brush tends to glide over those dips rather than press colour into them. That is why you often end up going over the same patch again and again,” he explains.

Instead, he recommends swapping it to a grocery store staple that costs less than a dollar. So, what is this mystery item that can paint your fence better than a traditional fence brush? The alternative is a basic dish sponge, such as Amazon's Basic Non-Scratch Sponges, available for $3 for a pack of 6 at Amazon.

Use a humble dish sponge instead

So, what qualities make a dish sponge suitable to paint a fence over a traditional fence brush?

“The flexibility and porous structure of a sponge make it ideal for fencing,” says Stoltzfus. “It compresses into ridges and knots in the timber, so you get colour into every indentation without fighting the surface. You are pressing and spreading at the same time, which gives a more even finish.”

Safesking Disposable Nitrile Gloves, Medium, 50 pack: $11 at Amazon

These disposable blue nitrile gloves are powder-free and ideal to protect your hands when painting, gardening and cleaning. They are available in small, medium and large and come in an easy to dispense pack.

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Comfort first

However, it’s not just about getting the perfect coverage; it’s about comfort when painting a fence.

“Painting a long run of fencing with a brush means repetitive wrist flicking and constant pressure,” he says. “That repetitive motion is what causes aching forearms and sore shoulders. A sponge allows you to use broader, more natural hand movements. It significantly reduces strain, particularly if you have several panels to cover.”

What’s more, a dish sponge is far cheaper than buying a fence brush, so if you find your old fence brush is past its best and needs replacing, you could swap it for a dish sponge and try this fence painting hack instead.

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