Stock & Noble
- BY Tripti Kakkar
If you have Timber horse fences or Cattle Rail, painting is needed to keep the fences looking fresh and maintain the visual aesthetics of your property. A lot of horse owners electrify their fences using electric braid or ropes, for example, EquiRope, Hotcote or Turbo braid.
It’s a great idea to keep the horses safe and create an effective enclosure for your animals, however when it comes to painting your fences electric braid might pose a problem.
You cannot spray paint the fence, because the rope will come in the way and get painted as well. This will end up making the fences messier rather than elevating the look which you typically expect a painting project to achieve. The paint unevenly sprayed on your electric rope might also impact the visibility which is key to keeping your horses safe.
At Stock & Noble, we provide the finest fencing solutions to high-end property owners across Australia and New Zealand. We help and guide them at every step to create beautiful and safe equine properties. Based on our experience and expertise in selling premium electric braids like EquiRope as well as rich fence paints from our Master Blend range we will share 3 ways to paint your fences when you have an electric rope on your property.
In this article, we will share:
- The most important things to consider while painting your fences with an electric rope
- The three different ways you can choose to paint your fences effectively and beautifully.
In the end, you will learn all about how to paint your fences, without compromising the visibility or aesthetics of your electric braid.
Things to consider while painting fences with electric braid
Before you begin your painting project, we would highly recommend you dive deeper and based on the type of your fences, learn how to paint your Timber Fences and how to paint your Steel Fences.
These are 5 critical questions you should remember to answer as you start painting your post and rail fences with electrics.
Question 1: Have you turned off the electrics?
Whether you are in the preparation stage and are water-blasting the fence or are about to begin coating the fences, the first thing you should do to ensure the safety of the applicator is to switch off the electrics. It’s important to make sure there’s no conductivity at any point in the entire fencing line.
Question 2: Did you check what kind of electric braid you have?
The method of painting will depend on which braid you have and how old it is. If you are using an EquiRope you can easily remove it and continue to paint. If it’s an old braid or a cheaper quality tape, we recommend not to remove since it can break or snap. It’s a better idea to cover it and paint your fences with hand or spray.
Question 3: Is the weather suitable for painting?
If you are simply painting your Timber fences or have an electric braid, it’s recommended to check the specifications mentioned on your paint. Typically, ideal weather is neither too hot, nor too cold. Somewhere between 18 to 25 degrees Celsius.
If you are keen on painting in hot weather, consider buying a hot weather additive to mix into your paint or get paint that already has this additive pre-mixed. Like Forever Black Timber Fence Paint or Forever Black Steel Fence Paint.
Question 4: What’s the condition of the fence
Check if your fence needs cleaning and has to be pressure washed and dried. Or is it ready to be painted? If preparation is needed the braid should ideally be removed and put back once the project is completed.
Question 5: Have you bought quick-drying paint?
Since you need to turn off the electricity for painting, your fence is temporarily less effective in keeping the horses safely inside. The faster the paint dries, the quicker you can recoat and turn the electrics back on.
How to paint your fences if you have an electric braid
Electric braid like EquiRope usually runs along on top of your fence or in front of it. The way you choose to paint depends on three things:
- How long your fencing line is?
- What’s the condition of your electric braid and insulator?
- Whether you have tape, a high-quality braid or cheaper electric rope.
Once you have taken a good look at all these three factors, pick the method for your painting as explained below.
First method: Hand paint the fence by going around the electric braid
Choose good quality, long-lasting fence paint and you can slowly hand paint the entire fence and post by carefully avoiding the electric braid.
However, this method requires a lot of patience and diligence on the applicator’s part.
It is recommended to adapt this method if you have a smaller area to cover or you have a lot of time to spend on your painting project.
Always remember to turn off the electric fence.
Second Method: Take the braid down and paint the fences
Once you have chosen the best fence paint for your timber or steel fences, check out the type and condition of your electric braid and insulator.
If you are using a high-end electric rope-like, EquiRope:
You don’t have to uninstall or unscrew anything. Simply unhook the rope and then spray paint the fences to avoid any electrics getting in the way.
Once the paint is dried and your painting project is completed, attach the EquiRope back to the insulators and you are done.
It’s fast, simple and easy.
If you’re using a cheaper braid:
Usually, the older a lower-quality braid gets, the more stiff and brittle it becomes. If you try to take it off the fence, it might just break leaving you with the whole process of buying and installing a new electric fence.
That’s the reason this method isn’t recommended for older or cheaper electric braids.
Third Method: Cover the electricity and paint the fences
If you aren’t able to take off the tape or braid and you have a large property to work on, the next best solution is to use a cover.
You can use half meter long or so a piece of cardboard or pipe cut in half.
Hold the cardboard or pipe to cover the electric braid and simply spray paint the fences. The cover will keep the tape or rope protected as you give your fences a makeover.
We would recommend not picking a windy day for spray painting; else the cover might prove ineffective, and paint will end up on the electric braid.
Are you confident to paint your fences with an electric braid on your horse property?
It can be difficult to protect your electrics as you paint your fences for a fresh new look. Now you know the factors to consider before you begin your painting project and the three ways which can help you achieve the desired results simply and effectively.
You are well-equipped to choose the solution that works for your horse property and finish your painting project without compromising on the aesthetics of your braid or overall property.
The next step is to choose a premium-quality fence paint, which can last for years, looks stunning and you don’t have to repeat the whole process again. The choice depends on whether you’re looking for the best timber fence paint or the best steel fence paint. You should ideally use the one that’s specifically made for your fence material.
If you have any more questions on how to paint the fences on your horse property, the right process of uninstalling your electric braid, or which fence paint would be best suited for your fences then book a personalised consultation. One of our experts will connect with you and help you make the best decisions to create a beautiful and safe equine property.