A fence is more surface than it looks
A wood fence seems simple: a line of boards. But a picket or board fence has two faces, top edges, posts, rails and often a gap between every board, and each of those is a surface to coat. Painters usually price fences by length and height, then adjust for style and condition. Knowing what pushes that adjustment up or down helps you read the quote.
The Atlantic City station's figures
NOAA's engineering weather data for Atlantic City lists a 50-year basic wind speed of 120 mph (3-second gust at 33 feet), a 100-year rainfall rate of 3.0 inches per hour and about 66 freeze-thaw cycles in an average year.
The wind figure is a structural design value, not a description of a normal day, so it says nothing about any one afternoon's breeze. The freeze-thaw count is the one with a link to a fence finish: post tops, rail joints and board ends hold water, and each freeze opens the wood a little more. A finish that keeps water out of those spots protects the fence longer.
What drives the price
Length, height and style. A tall privacy fence has more square footage than a short picket fence of the same length. Shadowbox and board-on-board styles hide gaps but add overlapping edges that need coating. Lattice tops and decorative caps are slow handwork.
One side or both. Many owners only finish the side they see. Finishing both sides costs more but protects the boards evenly, and the other side may face a neighbor's yard, which raises access questions.
Condition. New, dry wood takes stain easily. Gray, weathered boards need cleaning and sometimes sanding. A fence that was painted before and is now peeling needs scraping, and possibly a switch to a product that will stick to what's left.
Repairs. Loose boards, leaning posts and broken rails are often outside a painter's scope. Ask whether repairs are included, done by someone else, or excluded.
Stain or paint. Penetrating stains soak in and wear away gradually; they're easier to renew. Solid stains and paints hide more but can peel, and once a fence is painted, going back to a transparent stain is hard.
Spraying or brushing. Spraying is much faster on a long fence, but overspray drifts. Next to cars, houses, gardens and a neighbor's property, a painter may need to mask heavily or switch to brushes and rollers. A brushed fence costs more in labor. Some crews spray and then back-brush to work the stain into the wood.
Access. Shrubs, vines, sheds and soil piled against the bottom boards all slow the job. Clearing them in advance can save time.
Timing and weather
Stain and paint need dry wood, temperatures within the label's range, and no rain for the time the label sets. Wind matters to a crew that sprays. Ask how the painter decides a fence day, and what happens if weather pushes the job back.
Written contracts in New Jersey
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs says contracts over $500 must be written and include the contractor's registration number. Whatever the size of your fence job, a written proposal that names the work, the products and the price protects you.
Your checklist for the quote
- Linear feet and height, one side or both.
- Cleaning method, and sanding if any.
- Repairs included or excluded.
- Product, opacity and number of coats.
- Spray, brush or both, and what's protected from overspray.
Our page on deck and fence staining explains how stains differ, and the pricing guide shows how fence work compares with other jobs.