Painting a fence white(ish) - best coverage?

LG_

We've just had to have the bit of fence down our side access replaced. The fences around the back garden are treated timber which has been left to weather, but the few hours when there was no fence at the side showed me how much light we lose in that location, so I'd like to paint just that bit - alongside the house - a very pale colour to get as much reflected light as possible. There's very little direct light there at all - a thin sliver of sun makes it between the houses for a short time in winter, slightly longer in summer. So the choice of colour is based on gaining reflected light in the house rather than what the side alley actually looks like.

Has anyone used a very pale or even white fence paint? What did you use? What gave the best coverage? How many coats did you need? Do you have photos?

I realise a fence in a dark alleyway is likely to go green quite quickly, but I think it'll be worth it.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Fairygirl

I used a cream one last year because I fancied a change from the willow green colour I had on my bench and a couple of other things. The bench needed a fair bit of sanding down which you probably won't need to do at all, and I then needed about three coats. That's mainly because I was covering a darker colour though. 
I'd expect you'd need to re coat most years though, because it will get algae. It's quick enough to do with a small roller though if there's no planting on it.
I'll see if I have a photo 


I can't remember what paint it is, but I can have a look tomorrow if it's any help. It's a bit whiter than I would have liked - I really wanted a creamier colour to match the render on the house. 

LG_

That's the kind of shade I'm after! It would be great if you are able to tell me what it is 🙂

I'm happy to go with cream or 'stone' if that's what is available in a good quality fence paint with good coverage, but the lighter the better I think. 

Fairygirl

I'll have a look tomorrow - it's possibly a Cuprinol one   

Angelicant

I painted over my Seagrass shed with Aldi Country Cream (it was on offer!) 2 coats but it's definitely more yellow than cream so that's probably one to avoid although it might be the green underneath that's the problem and another coat may brighten it up a bit more.

Plantminded

@LG, I used Cuprinol Garden Shades in Muted Clay on what was previously a Forest Green. The green undercoat has given it a slightly grey tone but it really brightens up the area, without being loud.  The actual effect of the paint depends on the colour underneath and the natural light in your space.  I'd recommend that you buy two or three different sample pots and test them just to be sure.  The Natural Stone colour is another good option.  The fence has shown no tendency to attract algae even though it gets very little sun.  I would treat your fence with an algaecide a couple of days before you paint as a precaution.

LG_

Thanks everyone - really useful! And thanks for the photos.
@Plantminded are you saying that you just did one coat over the forest green? 
@Angelicant my neighbour's house wall (3ft the other side of the fence) is a pale cream colour, so a cream would blend in quite well (I'm trying to lose the definition between the dark fence and the cream wall behind) so I might have a look at that colour too - is it a fence paint specifically?

Plantminded

I followed the instructions and did two! (A third would have obliterated the green I think but it was too much to get round the whole garden again with new shoots emerging!)

A cream or stone colour would be good for your fence by blending in with your neighbour's house.  (I'd avoid white, it's fine for furniture but will shout at you on a fence!)

Angelicant

.LG_ said:

 is it a fence paint specifically?

@LG_ yes it is - they were selling it off for £5 for a large tin so I thought it was worth a go. 
I have still got half a tin left so will probably give it another coat to get the rich cream look I was after.

Fairygirl

Yours would suit me netter @Angelicant. It's more like the colour of my render. 

LG_

Any views on Ronseal vs Cuprinol? I'm thinking of using Ronseal Fence Life Plus in 'warm stone' for two coats, as it's much cheaper than the Cuprinol Garden Shades, and seeing if it does the job. Then if we feel we want to go lighter, adding a coat of one of the paler Cuprinol colours, as the Robseal will already have provided a pale undercoat. Wise? Not wise?