[Ferris]

Realise this may be a silly question...

We are doing a makeover on a small balcony/roof terrace and have just bought 2 "fence" panels to put infront of the existing metal railings to try and make it look a bit nicer. We want to paint the wood white, but in a kind of "distressed" way (the idea is a kind of shabby sea-side type theme).

Can you simply whitewash the wood which is what instinct tells us to do - the wood is already tanalised - or will that flake off in no time? If you can do it, what kind of ratio of water to paint, and any particular type of paint to use? Or is there a specific product on the market that will achieve that sort of effect and be more long lasting?

Have searched a number of web sites and cant find a defintive answer, but feel sure someone on here will be able to help :-)

[elibump]

No idea about whitewashing the fence but Tom Sawyer had a terrific method for getting others to do the work for him  (cant remember if its in Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn though)

Good luck

Carolyn xx

[poultrygeist]

Hi Ferris.

You can buy preservative in different colours, including white I think. It would probably give it a washed out finish.

Rob

[tam]

Cuprinol do a white looking one: http://www.cuprinol.co.uk/products/garden_shades_overview.html

[bluealf]

When putting on the whitewash can you not use a technique called ragging ?

Then put a clear varnish over the top for waterproofing 

[Larkshall]

I spent many years in the Decorating trade and haven't seen whitewash for years, where do you get it? If you are talking about white emulsion then it may flake off Tanalised timber.

[Ferris]

Thanks for all the advice guys - we went with the Cuprinol product in "Jasmine" - a colour I hadnt found before so thanks for the tip off. The finish is great but the down side is that with rough sawn timber it drinks the paint like theres no tomorrow, so the coverage rate is pretty low, but it looks good and hopefully will last for a good few years