Has anyone painted bamboo fencing?

Question

I was thinking of getting bamboo to cover our old ugly timber fence it comes in sheets you attach to fence and bamboo is about the thickness of your thumb.But I've heard it goes grey after a few years,can you spray paint bamboo when it goes grey or loses it's colour,if so how long does the repaint last and will it peel.thanks Nancy

Answer 1

Don't spray paint your bamboo fencing. Go to your local Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore even a big box store like Home Depot or Lowe's and get some oil based primer and solid body stain (will look better than your typical latex paint). Put a prime coat on the bamboo and then layer on the stain in either 1 or 2 coats depeding on how dark you need it to come out.

This site talks about staining and painting fences, would be great for you to check out: http://www.cedar-fencing.com

Answer 2

Try using something like Home Depot Behr fence stain. It comes in a variety of colors from clear to dark. spray it on using a cheap $10 garden pump sprayer. If you do it when the bamboo is new it will last 3~5 years before you will have to re-apply it. Throw the sprayer away when done!

Stay awway from Oil based products. They are bad for the soil and environment and are for the most part already banned in most areas of the country.

Answer 3

I live in Florida and have put up 4 of these bamboo fences..2 for myself, and two for other friends..they will turn grey way before a few years..one season or less..and they will not hold a stain for they come with a lacquer/varnish type finish the start with..the hollow ends at top bring water in at an exceptional rate..so they grey and weather from the inside first..same as the bottom..they are hollow open reeds and suck the moisture right up....They will also become brittle and start to rot after a full season, become brittle and break..the wire holding them together is so fine they soon start to break..our solution..we simply bought new bamboo rolls every season and put right over the old...If you are going for a long lasting fence..this is not your best choice..I am also a 37 year experienced painter (check out my profile) so i know my sealing products well...If you do TRY to use a seler(clear or stain) you will have to use an OIL BASE..as someone suggested not to here..for the finish on them already is a solvent based product..a water base product will peel right off..even if simply a stain..for it will not penetrate the finsih already on it..believe me..you have to put a new fencing over it anually if you dont want it to show grey..simply covering it up is the option that you must choose if this is what you want...

Answer 4

I think you would, but just make sure you do a laquer or some sort of covering to maybe weather-proof it.