A fence is all edges
A fence has more surface than it looks. Each picket has a face, a back and two edges, and the rails and posts add more. Gaps between boards mean overspray and back-brushing, and the ground underneath is grass, beds or a neighbor's yard. That's why staining a fence is priced on its own terms. This guide covers what moves that price in Monroe. It gives no figures; painters will price your fence after seeing it.
NOAA's counts for Monroe
NOAA's current climate normals for the Monroe Regional Airport station count about 96.7 days a year with a high of 90°F or more and about 32.7 days with a low of 32°F or less. NOAA's engineering weather data for the Monroe station counts about 2,002 hours a year with the wet-bulb temperature above 73°F and about 3,463 hours above 67°F. Both cards give the full wording.
Those numbers bear on when a fence gets stained. Stain applied to boards in strong sun on a hot day can dry before it penetrates. Stain applied before a freezing night may not cure. And warm, damp air slows the drying of freshly washed wood.
Length, height and sides
Start with the measurements:
- total length of fence;
- height, since taller fences need a ladder for the top rail;
- one side or both, which often depends on whether the other side faces a neighbor;
- gates, which are slow because of their hardware, bracing and edges;
- style: board-on-board and shadowbox fences have far more edge to cover than a flat stockade.
Cleaning before stain
Gray, weathered wood holds stain poorly. A fence usually needs washing with a wood cleaner, sometimes a brightener, and time to dry. If there's old peeling stain or paint, it may need stripping or sanding, which takes much longer. Ask whether the price assumes a clean or a stripped fence.
Repairs
Before staining, look for leaning posts, broken pickets, loose rails and rusted fasteners. Painters will often swap a few pickets or reset nails, but post replacement is a fence builder's job. Get any repair work priced separately.
Spraying and back-brushing
Most painters spray stain onto a fence, then back-brush or back-roll it to work it into the wood and even it out. Spraying is fast but needs protection for everything nearby: plants, siding, cars, the neighbor's side. On a windy day, overspray travels. Ask how the painter protects landscaping and adjacent property, and what happens if the wind picks up.
Stain or paint
- Penetrating stains, clear, toned or semi-transparent, soak in and wear by fading. Recoating is simple.
- Solid stains cover the grain like paint but are thinner, and still fade more than peel.
- Paint gives the most color control but forms a film that can peel on rough-sawn wood, making the next job much more work.
Your choice affects today's price and every job after. The deck and fence staining page explains each.
Timing for a Monroe fence
Ask the painter which months they prefer for fence work, and how they handle a day forecast to reach 90°F or more. Many stain from the shaded side first and move with the sun. They'll also want a dry stretch after washing, and a few dry hours after the stain goes on.
What a fence proposal should list
- length, height and sides included;
- gates and their hardware;
- cleaning or stripping method;
- repairs, priced separately;
- product, color and number of coats;
- spray protection plan for plants and neighbors.
The pricing guide explains why two painters can price the same fence differently.