A fence has more surface than it looks
A fence seems simple: a row of boards. But every board has two faces and edges, and there are posts, rails and caps as well. Fences sit close to soil, plants and lawn sprinklers, and they take weather on both sides. This guide covers the things that move the price of finishing one. It quotes no prices.
Height and length
The two biggest numbers are how long the fence is and how tall. Under the City of Kalamazoo zoning ordinance's fence and wall standards for residential uses, the maximum permitted fence height is four feet in a front yard, four feet in a corner side yard when the fence is in the build-to zone or within the required setback and within 20 feet of the corner side property line, and seven feet in side and rear yards, including when fronting an alley.
For painting purposes, that means a back-yard fence can be much taller than a front-yard one. Taller sections also take a ladder for the tops, which slows the work. Ask the painter to measure each run separately rather than using one total.
One side or both
Many owners only finish the side they look at. Finishing both sides costs more but helps the boards weather evenly, and the other side may face a neighbor's yard, which means asking for access. Ask whether the bid covers one side or both, and how the far side will be reached.
The old finish
- Bare, gray wood needs cleaning to remove the weathered surface before stain.
- Old penetrating stain often just needs cleaning and a fresh coat.
- Peeling solid stain or paint needs scraping, which takes much longer.
Switching from paint to a see-through stain usually isn't practical without stripping. Ask what the existing finish is and how the painter will handle it.
Plants, soil and access
Vines, shrubs and grass growing against the fence need cutting back or tying away. The bottom boards near the soil hold water and need extra attention. Sprinklers that hit the fence should be adjusted or turned off during the job. Ask who clears the plants, and whether the crew protects lawn, beds and patios from drips and overspray.
Spray, brush or roller
Spraying is fast on long runs but needs everything around the fence covered and calm air. Brushing works the finish into rough boards better. Many crews spray and then back-brush. Each method prices differently; ask which the painter will use.
Cold days, hot days and the calendar
NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Kalamazoo airport station put the annual mean temperature at 49.5 degrees. A normal year has 128.5 days with a low at or below freezing and 12.5 days reaching 90 degrees or above. These temperature normals rest on 18 years of record within 1991–2020, and they're the station's figures, not readings in your yard.
Stain labels set limits on both ends: a lowest temperature for the air and the wood, and often a warning against applying in hot, direct sun, which can make it dry too fast and lap. The season's working days sit between the freezing nights and the hottest afternoons, and a crew may have to time the sunny side of a fence for cooler hours.
Product and coats
Penetrating stains, semi-transparent and solid stains, and exterior paint each have a different look, lifespan and recoat process. Some stains go on in one coat; others call for two. The deck and fence staining page explains the choices.
In writing
- The length and height of each run.
- One side or both.
- Cleaning or stripping method.
- Product, color and number of coats.
- Who handles plants and neighbor access.
See the pricing guide for more on what moves the price.