A fence job in plain terms
Prescott Valley had a population of 46,785 in the April 1, 2020 Census and an estimated 52,423 on July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau's QuickFacts. It lies in Yavapai County, one of Arizona's four original counties, formed in September 1864, a year after the Arizona Territory was established, and named for the Yavapai people, whose name means "people of the sun."
None of that sets the price of your fence. What does is laid out below, as a series of questions a homeowner usually ends up asking. No prices are given; a painter has to see the fence to price it.
How is a fence measured?
Most fence work is priced by the run: how many linear feet, how tall, and how many sides are being coated. A six-foot privacy fence has much more surface per foot than a short picket fence. Lattice tops, decorative caps and post trims add surface and time.
Ask each painter how they measured, and compare their numbers. If one quote assumes a much shorter run, it may not cover the whole fence.
One side or both?
Fences on a property line often get coated only on the owner's side. Doing both sides means access to the neighbor's yard, which needs their agreement. Ask whether a quote covers one face or two, and whether the neighbor's side would be done at the same time.
Stain or paint?
- Clear or toner finishes show the wood and fade fastest.
- Semi-transparent stain colors the wood while letting the grain show, and usually renews without stripping.
- Solid stain looks more like paint, hides mismatched boards, and still lets the wood breathe more than a heavy paint film.
- Paint gives the most uniform color, but once it starts peeling it usually has to be scraped before the next coat.
Your choice now affects what the next refresh involves. Our deck and fence staining page compares the finishes.
What condition is the fence in?
The surface drives the prep:
- New wood may need to weather or dry before it takes stain well; ask the painter how long they'd wait.
- Gray, weathered wood usually needs a cleaner or brightener and a rinse.
- Old stain in fair condition can often be cleaned and recoated.
- Peeling paint needs scraping, and sometimes sanding, back to a sound edge.
Cleaning and stripping are labor-heavy, so they explain a lot of the difference between quotes.
What about repairs?
Loose pickets, split boards, rotted bottoms, leaning posts and sagging gates are best fixed before any coating. A painter may handle small repairs like refastening boards. Replacing posts or rebuilding a gate is carpentry; ask whether the painter does it or whether you need someone else first.
Gates
Gates take extra time: both faces, every edge, the frame, and careful work around hinges and latches. A gate that drags or sticks should be adjusted before painting, or the new finish will scrape off.
Spray, roll or brush?
Spraying is fast on long runs, but drift can land on cars, houses, plants and the neighbor's property. Crews often spray and then back-brush to work the stain into the wood. Brushing alone is slower but gives more control near plants and buildings. Ask how they'll protect what's nearby and what happens if it's windy on the day.
Plants, gravel and access
Shrubs, vines and gravel against the fence slow the work. Vines may need cutting back. Plants need covering. Ask who is responsible for clearing the fence line, and whether that's in the price.
How should quotes compare?
Check that each quote lists:
- total length and height of the runs;
- one side or both;
- gates, posts and caps;
- cleaning or stripping method;
- repairs, individually;
- the product and number of coats;
- spray or brush, and how drift is controlled;
- cleanup.
Our pricing guide covers other reasons bids differ.
After the job
Keep sprinklers from hitting the fence where you can, and trim plants back from the boards. Note the product name and color for the next refresh.