Paint fences and decking quickly without even needing a paintbrush

During summer many homeowners tackle garden tasks they've been postponing - with painting decks and fences being among the most dreaded chores.

Wooden decks and fences require repainting since the wood can soak up moisture from rainfall, snow or humidity, and without this protective layer, it willultimately result in rot.

Painting timber sections around the garden can be laborious, but Jimmy Englezos, an expert from Ronseal, has revealed there's a straightforward method to paint using items you already have around your home. This comes just after Brits are told to never put one banned item in garden bins as you could face punishment.

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Jimmy explained: "Rather than spending all that time on your hands and knees a clean soft-bristled brush can double up as a gigantic paintbrush."

He continued: "Likewise for painting, a clean household flat mop can be used for decking staining. Simply pour the decking stain into a mop bucket and dip the mop head in to soak up the solution." It might seem odd, but employing a soft-bristled broom or mop is ideal for painting large surfaces and will spare you countless hours.

Ensure the surface has been thoroughly cleaned beforehand, as there's little point painting over mould or grime since it will eventually compromise the timber.

Additionally, always ensure you paint during a cool day with overcast skies, as paint will mark or dry unevenly if conditions are too warm, reports the Express.

How to use a broom to paint wood

Simply pour the paint into a large tray and dip the brush head as you would with a standard paintbrush. Apply the paint using back-and-forth strokes until the surface is entirely coated.

Jimmy said: "Unlike a paint roller, a sweeping brush will be able to get into the grooves of decking rather than paint over them. This means you won't have to worry about missing any areas. For tighter spots and along the edges, however, I still would use a handheld paintbrush."

How to use a mop to paint wood

Use a clean flat mop to dip into a paint bucket, wait for it to soak up the solution and then sweep it across an area to fully paint it. For an even simpler task, use a mop with microfibre pads as they can be easily removed and cleaned so you don't need to worry about damaging the mop.

Jimmy said: "Make sure to take care of any loose or cracked boards as you don't want the mophead to catch and chip or tear-away the decking surface.

"Make sure to apply two coats across the entire decking surface before leaving to dry. Because flat mops are designed to evenly spread liquids, using thisensures an even coating of stain across the deckto prevent any large blobs from forming."