I Tested Different Fence Paints

The Four Fence Paints I Tested

Here are the four fence paints I tested:

• Cuprinol Ducksback (view on Amazon)
• Ronseal One Coat Fence Life (view on Amazon)
• Rustins Timberlife (view on Amazon)
  
• Creocote (view on Amazon)

Selection Process

I selected these fence paints based on the number of reviews online, their customer ratings, my past experience and by asking professionals I know in the trade. 

How I Tested The Fence Paints – What I’m Looking For

Here are the things I’ll be looking for during the test:

• Type; oil or water-based.
• Surface type; smooth or rough.
• Coverage rate.
• Coats required.
• Drying time.
• Sprayer compatibility.
• Whether it’s non-drip or not.
• How it performs on pre-painted surfaces.
• How it did on a very old fence v a brand new fence.

I know that many gardeners, myself included, often like to colour-match the fence to wooden pots, troughs, sheds and even doors, so I’ll be testing the paints on these surfaces too.

Product 1: Cuprinol Ducksback

Read the Full Review of Ducksback here.

Specs: 5l or 9l tubs | 2-3 coats | 6sq/mtr per ltr | Showerproof in 1 hr, recoat in 2/3 hrs | Water-based | Rough sawn timber only | Sprayer: Yes, compatible |

Testing Cuprinol Ducksback on a new fence panel

I tested Ducksback on one section of a brand new fence panel using a brush; here’s how it looked after it dried:

As you can see, it looked a bit patchy after just one coat but to my surprise, it was repelling water already:

I then applied a second coat:

And after it dried, water was beading nicely and the fence didn’t absorb any of the rainwater:

It looked good after two coats, but does it need a third?

Cuprinol state that new fence panels may need 2-3 coats but obviously, the more coats you put on, the more they sell and the more money they make, so they have an incentive to suggest more coats.

I think if you put it on fences with existing colour, two coats will probably be sufficient if the colours are similar.

However, if your existing fence is a completely different colour, or you put the first two coats on quite thin, a third will help finish it nicely.

Here’s how it looked after three coats:

I then tested the paint by dabbing wet kitchen tissue over it to see if any wiped off:

Does the colour on the fence match the tab on the tub?

See for yourself:

Does Ducksback fence paint really repel water like in the adverts?

Again, see for yourself. Here I’ve laid a panel horizontally and allowed water to pool on the surface:

Testing Cuprinol Ducksback on Different Surfaces

I also tested Cuprinol on:

• My pre-painted shed (rough surface, that I sanded).
• Troughs and planters (rough surface).
• Pre-painted door (smooth surface).
• A very old dilapidated fence (weathered smooth).

After waiting 48 hours, I tested the surfaces by first pressing my thumb onto the paint and attempting to rub it off.

I then used fine sandpaper to rub the paint gently.

I then tested the paint by wiping the surface with wet, white kitchen tissues to see if any of the paint colour wiped off.

Here are the Results

Pre-Painted Shed – I found that the Cuprinol Ducksback paint adhered well to the rough surface of my shed, even though it had been painted about 5 years ago, but I did rub most of the old paint down to a key by using coarse sandpaper. The new paint didn’t rub off easily and only came off after I aggressively sanded it.

Troughs and Planters – I own several troughs and planters, and I really would like them to be the exact colour of my fence, so I tested Cuprinol Ducksback on them, and the paint adhered well and only needed two coats. These items have very rough surfaces, and I’ve never sanded or planed them to a smooth surface, so I expected Cuprinol to perform well here as this is the surface it was designed for.

Door – I have a door to a cupboard and this has smooth timber that Cuprinol says their product shouldn’t be used on. The product didn’t go down as well but it seemed to adhere to the wood without issue.

Old Dilapidated Fence – I have an old fence in the corner of my property, and after decades of weathering, the stain has gone, and the surface is very smooth with no roughness at all and is soft and spongy. I didn’t feel that the paint adhered well at all and by picking at the surface, I could see that it wasn’t suited to this type of surface as it didn’t penetrate deeply into the timber. If I weren’t replacing this old fence, I’d probably use an oil-based stain that penetrates into the timber.

Statement from Cuprinol:

Ducksback is not deep penetrating but very much relies on the timber texture for adhesion. For this reason it is recommended for rough sawn timber only. If the construction contains smooth timber components, or has lost texture through weathering then adhesion performance will be reduced.

– Cuprinol

Other Points:

I found that out of the tub, it felt fairly thick but not gloopy, it didn’t drip, and it went on consistently well.

The drying time was as stated; about 1 hr and I recoated after 5 hours.

It adhered well to my pre-painted shed, but I must add that the shed still had a rough surface, wasn’t water repellent, and I sanded it well with coarse sandpaper.

I tested the paint by dabbing it with wet, white tissue paper and it passed the test as none of the colour washed onto the tissue.

I Recommend Cuprinol Ducksback

Based on my fence paint testing, I recommend Cuprinol Ducksback for fences and any external timber with rough surfaces that aren’t contaminated with anything that repels water.

The paint had reasonable coverage, I tested it in my sprayer too and it worked just fine but I did need to water it down just a bit. It adhered well to rough surfaces, looked absolutely lovely and clearly repelled the water. It also passed the wipe test as none of the colour washed off.

I think you should choose another paint if you have lots of smooth or old, spongy timber or existing water-repellent paint on any of the fences in your garden but this rule applies to most fence paints.

If you’re not sure, just run your hand along the fence and ask yourself if it feels rough or smooth, they spray water on it to see if it absorbs it.

Product 2: Ronseal One Coat Fence Life

Read our full in-depth review of Ronseal’s One Coat Fence Life.

Specs: 5l, 9l and 12l tubs | 1 coat | 6sq/mtr per ltr | Showerproof in 1 hr, recoat in 4 hrs | Water-based | Rough sawn timber only | Sprayer: Yes, compatible |

Testing Ronseal One Coat Fence Life on a new fence panel

I tested Ronseal’s One Coat Fence Life paint on one section of a brand new fence panel using a brush; here’s how it looked after just one coat:

Now it should cover the fence after just one coat, and to my surprise, it did.

However, initally the colour was way off. It looked nothing like the colour tab on the paint tin, which was a much darker brown. On the fence panel, the paint looked much lighter and more like a pastel shade.

Here’s a side by side photo, showing you what it should look like:

However, after a few days, it had darkened up substantially and was now a closer colour match to the tin:

I then sprayed water on it to see if it repelled the moisture. It did, but not as well as Cuprinol’s Ducksback:

Testing Ronseal One Coat Fence Life on Different Surfaces

As before, I also tested Ronseal’s product on:

• My pre-painted shed (rough surface, that I sanded).
• Troughs and planters (rough surface).
• Pre-painted door (smooth surface).
• A very old dilapidated fence.

After waiting 24 hours I tested the surfaces by conducting three tests:

1. By pressing my thumb onto the paint and attempting to rub it off.
2. Gently rubbing with sandpaper.
3. Washing with wet kitchen paper to see if the colour washed off.

Here are the Results

Pre-Painted Shed – I found that the Ronseal paint adhered well to the rough surface of my shed, even though it had been painted about 5 years ago, but I did rub most of the old paint down to a key by using coarse sandpaper. The new Ronseal paint didn’t rub off easily and only came off after I aggressively sanded it.

Troughs and Planters – I didn’t have any issues applying Ronseal.

Door – I have a door to a cupboard with smooth timber that Ronseal also says their product shouldn’t be used on. I tested it using the thumb test and the paint didn’t come away easily but this probably isn’t the best paint for this type of surface.

Old Dilapidated Fence – I have an old fence in the corner of my property, and after decades of weathering, the stain has gone, and the surface is very smooth with no roughness at all and is soft and spongy. I didn’t feel that the paint adhered well at all and by picking at the surface, I could see that it wasn’t suited to this type of surface as it didn’t penetrate deep into the timber.

Statement from Ronseal:

You can’t use this stain on decking, garden furniture or other smooth planed wood. We have other products to help you with that.

–Ronseal

I Noticed Some Reviewers Had Long Term Issues:

As part of my independent research, I also looked at reviews from past customers on several different websites.

I found a number of buyers who stated that Ronseal’s One Coat Fence Life started to wash off after a few months, and one customer on B&Q produced photos of brown stains on his white wall directly underneath the fence.

I’ve had to paint my walls about 5 times to cover the stains and every time it rains its running again!

–B&Q Customer

While there are hundreds of positive reviews, these negative ones stood out and gave me cause for concern.

Other Points:

The paint was very gloopy, thick and gel-like in the tin.

The drying time was as stated; about 1 hour.

It adhered well to my pre-painted shed, but I must add that the shed still had a rough surface, wasn’t water repellent, and I sanded it well with coarse sandpaper.

It performed well in the wipe test, and none of the colour washed off onto my kitchen tissue. When I rubbed it gently with sandpaper, some of the paint rubbed away as expected, but it didn’t crumble off.

My Thoughts on Ronseal One Coat Fence Life

I was disappointed with two things:

1. Despite being a “one coat” product, I felt it needed two. I’m 100% sure it will need two if you water it down and apply it via a sprayer.
2. The paint was very thick, and while it covered much of the fence in one coat, it also smothered the knots and grain of the fence, leaving the timber looking uniform and unnatural – not my cup of tea at all.

Product 3: Rustins Timberlife

This fence paint was recommended to me by a friend who stated it was a good all-rounder that can be used on any garden timber, including furniture and decking.

The only issue?

The manufacturer says it should only be applied by brush, so it might not be suitable for large gardens.

Specs: 1l, 5l tubs | 2 coats | 6sq/mtr per ltr | Showerproof in 30mins, recoat in 2 hrs | Water-based | Any garden timber, inc fences and decking | Sprayer: No, brush only |

Testing Rustins Timberlife on a new fence panel

I tested Rustin’s Timberlife fence paint on one section of a brand new fence panel using a brush; here’s how it looked after just one coat:

The manufacturer recommends two coats for most applications although a third will produce a deeper colour.

Here’s what it looked like after I applied the second coat:

Now that’s better, I really like the finish of this paint, it’s a deep but natural colour and went on well.

Now for the water repellency test.

Here’s a photo of the water on the painted fence surface.

As you can see, it didn’t repel the water and seemed to absorb much of it.

Rustins was the least water-repellent fence paint tested:

I Tested Rustins Timberlife on Different Surfaces

The manufacturer states that their paint can be used on any garden timber, so as before I also tested the paint on:

• My pre-painted shed (sanded).
• Troughs and planters.
• Pre-painted door.
• A very old dilapidated fence.

After waiting 24 hours, I then tested the surfaces by conducting my usual three tests:

1. By pressing my thumb onto the paint and attempting to rub it off.
2. Gently rubbing with sandpaper.
3. Washing with wet kitchen paper to see if the colour washed off.

Here are the Results

First, the finished colour exactly matched the colour tab on the tin, even after one coat and after the second coat, it was a nice uniform colour.

Pre-Painted Shed – Rustin’s Timberlife went on really well to my pre-painted shed, and I didn’t have any problems with it at all.

Troughs and Planters – I used this to touch up the base of my timber planters and troughs as the old paint had washed off due to the moisture. Rustins adhered well, and I didn’t have any issues with it.

Door – I have a door to a cupboard with smooth timber and Rustins paint went on well. It adhered to the smooth timber and passed in the sandpaper and tissue tests I performed.

Old Dilapidated Fence – I have an old dilapidated fence that’s been weathering without paint for over 15 years and Rustins adhered to that without any issues either.

Statement from Rustins:

Protects and adds life to garden timber. For new or weathered sheds and fences. Highly water repellent and resistant to fading. It is also harmless to pets and plants.

–Rustins

Other Points:

The drying time was as stated; about 30 mins, very quick indeed.

I found that Rustins went down really well and it felt more like window frame and door paint than fence paint.

I conducted the wet tissue test and none of the colour washed off at all. 

When I rubbed sandpaper over the paint, it felt hard and didn’t scrub off easily.

My Thoughts on Rustins Timberlife

The thickness and consistency of this paint remind me of furniture paint, and I got the feeling this was a really good quality product.

The drying times and coverage were as stated by the manufacturer and I felt it would be more adaptable to different surfaces, but I have two issues worth mentioning:

1. The manufacturer states that it should only be applied by brush and this is obviously going to be an issue if you have dozens of fence panels to paint and you want to complete the task in a reasonable amount of time.
2. It’s nowhere near as water repellent as Cuprinol Ducksback.

If it weren’t for these two issues, I would have made Rustins my number one choice as it went down really well and I could colour-match all my troughs, doors, and shed to the colour of the fence.

Product 4: Creocote

Update: Read our in-depth review of Creocote here.

Many of you will have heard of creosote, a tar-like material derived from coal that was used to waterproof fence posts, fences and telegraph poles.

In the UK, the use of creosote is now restricted to industrial and farming applications, such as wood preservation for railway sleepers, utility poles, and some marine structures.

It cannot be used in domestic gardens.

There is an alternative product called Creocote which is oil-based and typically comes in two colours; light and dark brown.

Specs: 4l tubs | 1 or more coats | 6-8sq/mtr per ltr | Waterproof in 24 hrs, recoat in 48 hrs | Oil-based | Fences, posts and most garden timber | Application: Brush or sprayer |

Testing Creocote on a new fence panel

I tested Creocote paint on one section of a brand new fence panel using a brush; here’s how it looked after just one coat:

Now, I know from past experience that the finished look will be highly dependent on what the timber looked like before.

Creocote brings out the original features of the timbers, from the underlying colour, grain and knots.

If you’re wondering what the panel looked like after a second coat, here it is:

And below is how it looked after a 3rd coat:

Does Creocote repel water?

It certainly did in our test, although not quite as well as Cuprinol Ducksback:

I’ve Used Creocote Before on Different Surfaces, and You Really Need to Know This:

This product is oil-based and is very runny, it needs to be applied carefully as it will drip everywhere. I was very careful during my test, but even on a very absorbent surface such as my fence panel, it still dripped.

It’s even runnier on smooth timber surfaces such as gates and doors.

It shouldn’t be used on surfaces previously treated with water-based paints as it needs to penetrate into the timber and water/oil never mix well.

It takes ages to dry. It’s recoatable in 48 hours but stays wet for much longer.

It smells, and it isn’t a pleasant odour. Think oil and diesel.

Creocote is better at repelling moisture than any water-based product, apart from Ducksback.

It also repels insects as they generally won’t bore into timber treated with Creocote.

It lasts a long time.

Fence posts can be dipped in Creocote to protect them from rot.

You can paint over Creocote but only with an oil-based paint.

I Only Recommend Creocote…

I actually like the finish of Light Creocote as it brings out the features of good quality timber, such as the grain and knots.

Most shed and fence paints do the opposite, they mask and hide these features.

That said, I can only recommend Creocote if you know what you are doing and getting yourself into.

I chose not to paint my troughs, fence or door with Creocote in this test as they already have a coat of water-based paint on them, and the Creocote would just run off and wouldn’t penetrate into the timber.

That said, if you like timber to look as natural as possible, consider Creocote, the light shade really brings out the best of good quality timber too.

Summary

So there you have it.

Based on my testing and past experience, I rate Cuprinol Ducksback as the best fence paint. It’s really good quality and went down well, had good coverage and I liked the finished look and the colour matched the tin. It also repelled water much better than any of the other fence paints.

I wasn’t initially convinced by Ronseal’s One Coat Fence Life as it wasn’t a great colour match but after a few days, it improved and nearly matched the colour on the tin. It was more water-repellent than Rustins but not as quite good as Cuprinol’s Ducksback.

I liked the look of Rustins Timberlife and it can be used on sheds, doors and garden furniture, but it was the least water-repellent of the paints tested.

Creocote is a specialist timber treatment that really surfaced the features of the fence and I could see this working very well in certain gardens but for the average B&Q fence, I think that would be overdoing it. I also found it difficult to apply, smelly and very slow to dry and greasy. If you have timber fence posts, you could dip the lower part in Creocote to help protect from rot and boring insects.

An Alternative

So I’ve been a little critical of Ronseal’s One Coat Fence Life paint even though it went down really well in my test.

I’ve used Ronseal’s paints many hundreds of times and they’ve always been very good so I did a little digging.

Here’s what I found:

Ronseal has a newer fence paint called Fence Life Plus and it has over 4000 reviews on Amazon and very few are negative. I can’t find any about it washing off in the rain either.

I also noted that this new product is advertised as lasting 5 years while the paint I tested has literature stating the colour will last only 2 years.

While I haven’t tested the Fence Life Plus, I think all the indicators are pointing to this being an improved product. 

Fence Life Plus isn’t a one-coat paint, so you’ll need more of it and it’s a bit more expensive too.

This might be worth considering:

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