on the fence
From habitat highlights - issue 41, MasterStroke DIY
The Upcycler Jacob Leaf has a simple idea to add practical style to your outdoor entertaining with a fence bar made from wood pallets.
Elevate your balcony or deck and give yourself useful entertaining space by building this fence bar from old timber pallets. It sits flat over a deck balustrade or fence to serve as a handy table. It’s particularly useful for smaller areas that don’t have room for a standalone table.
Jacob used two pallets to build this fence bar and gave it a pop of colour using Resene Lustacryl in Resene Rapture but you can paint yours in any Resene colour or wood stain that suits your home or garden’s style.
Free wood pallets are usually readily available and are a great resource for cost-effective upcycling. The best place to check is with local bulk stores. If you can't lay your hands on any, you could create this project with offcuts from another project. Set aside a weekend to hone your DIY skills on this simple project.
Jacob's top tip Always double check your measurements are correct and the lines and angles are straight.
To get started, place your first pallet down on a flat surface and saw off each side stringer. Clean thoroughly with Resene Timber & Deck Wash, using a scrubbing brush to remove any dirt and stains.
Once your bar is assembled, fill any holes with Resene Ezyfill Quick, then sand and wipe off sanding dust and apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry primer for an even, undercoated surface before painting.
Apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel in your chosen colour. Pour your paint into a small Resene paint pot to prevent any dirt or bristles contaminating your main paint can.
› For full step-by-step instructions on making Jacob's fence bar, visit www.masterstrokebyresene.com/fence-bar.
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