Fence painting and staining: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What fence painting and staining is

Fence painting and staining cleans and preps a wood fence, then applies stain or paint with a sprayer or brush so the boards resist weather, rot and fading. People need it when the fence has gone gray, is peeling, or has grown mildew and needs a new color to match the house.

Signs you need it

  • The boards are gray, splintered or cupped, and water no longer beads on the surface
  • Paint is flaking from the pickets and rails, or stain is wearing off in patches on the sun side
  • Green or black mildew shows on the shady side, especially near the ground and at the post bases
  • Some pickets are loose, cracked or soft at the bottom, and the fence sags between posts
  • You want the fence to match a new house color or to blend with a new deck finish

What the pro does

  • Check the pickets, rails and posts for rot, loose nails and failed post footings before any finish goes on
  • Wash the fence with a wood cleaner or a gentle pressure wash, keeping the spray low to avoid raising the grain
  • Let the wood dry fully, then sand rough or raised areas and remove loose old finish
  • Replace split or rotted pickets and tighten or reset loose rails and hardware
  • Apply the stain or paint with a sprayer and back-brush the boards so the finish soaks in evenly
  • Let the finish cure as the product requires, then check the coverage on both sides of the fence

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Total linear footage of fence and its height, plus the number of gates
  • The condition of the wood and the number of pickets, rails or posts that need replacement
  • Whether the job is stain, which soaks in, or paint, which needs more prep and coats
  • Whether both sides of the fence are finished or only the side facing the yard
  • Access along the fence line, such as slopes, tight side yards and dense plantings
  • The number of colors, and whether the gates, trim or caps are finished in a second color

What a written quote should spell out

  • Linear footage, height and the number of gates included in the scope
  • Board replacement count and the species and size of the new pickets or rails
  • Cleaning method named, including whether the job uses a pressure wash and at what setting
  • Stain or paint brand, type and color, with the number of coats and the application method
  • Protection plan for plants, the house and neighbors, and the cure time before the gates are used

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Will you check the posts and footings before finishing, and what do you do if they are loose?
  • Do you use a sprayer, a brush or both, and how do you avoid runs and lap marks?
  • What product do you use, and does it suit the wood species in my fence?
  • How do you handle plants and the house during the spray?
  • Will you finish both sides, and how do you reach the parts of the fence near the ground?
  • Can you show me a fence you finished that was the same wood and age?

Red flags

  • The pro sprays stain over a fence that is still wet or has not been cleaned
  • The pro does not check the posts and says the fence will stay upright with a new coat
  • The pro sprays without covering the plants, the house or the neighbor's side of the fence
  • The pro uses a paint on a fence where the wood needs a penetrating stain

What you can do yourself

Clearing the fence line, washing the boards with a garden hose and a soft brush, and staining a short run of fence in good condition are reasonable homeowner tasks. Replacing posts, setting new footings, and working on a tall fence from a ladder should be handled by a qualified carpenter.

Licenses and permits

Painting or staining a fence often does not need a license, but fence replacement and new post footings may need a permit. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department about the rules for fence work in your area.

Fence painting and staining questions

Should I stain or paint my fence?

Stain soaks into the wood and shows the grain, and it wears gradually. Paint sits on the surface and holds a solid color, but it needs more prep so it does not peel. Ask the pro which suits the wood and the look you want.

How long should I wait after rain to stain?

The wood needs to dry to a moisture level the product can take. Ask the pro how they check the wood before staining, and what they do after a rain that comes during the cure time.

Can I stain a fence that was painted before?

Usually not without removing the paint first. A stain will not bond well over paint and will peel. Ask the pro to test a board and to recommend stripping or sanding before the new finish goes on.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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