When you look out at your backyard fence in Fayetteville, North Carolina, you might realize it has seen better days. Between the heavy summer humidity we experience right here in Fayetteville and those sudden spring downpours, fences take a real beating from the local weather. Over the years running World Class Painters, our team has heard just about every question a homeowner can ask about getting their fence painted or stained. We will go through the most common questions right now so you know what to expect when you hire World Class Painters.
Should I paint or stain my wooden fence?
That depends entirely on what is already on the wood and the look you want. If it is raw wood, a semi-transparent stain usually lets the grain show through while soaking deep into the boards to fight off our local moisture. Paint forms an opaque surface film that gives you a sharp, clean color, which is great if you want to match your trim. However, paint can peel down the road if moisture gets trapped underneath. If you have older wood that is weathered and rough, solid color stains or paints do a better job hiding imperfections.
How long does fence paint actually last in North Carolina weather?
Realistically, you are looking at anywhere from three to six years before you need to think about touch-ups or a fresh coat. Our red clay soil holds humidity, and those afternoon summer thunderstorms pump a lot of water into the air. South-facing sections of your fence that get blasted by the sun all day will fade and weather much faster than the shaded sides tucked under the pines.
Do I really need to pressure wash the fence first?
Skipping the wash is the number one reason DIY fence paint fails within a year. Dirt, pollen, mildew, and old oxidizing wood fibers form a layer called mill glaze or surface grime that paint simply cannot stick to. World Class Painters always pressure washes our fences thoroughly and lets them dry out for a few days before touching a brush or roller. If you try to paint damp wood, it is going to bubble and peel right off.
Can you paint a fence when it is raining or super humid?
We do not paint fences when it is raining or super humid if you want the finish to last. High humidity slows down the drying process drastically, and actual rain will wash fresh product right off the boards. World Class Painters looks for a stretch of dry weather where the temperature stays stable and the wood moisture content drops below a certain percentage. In Fayetteville, that means picking our spots carefully during the peak of summer storm season.
How much does it cost to have a fence painted?
Pricing usually comes down to linear footage, the height of the fence, and how much prep work is involved. A basic privacy fence with heavy mildew will need more prep time than a clean, newer picket fence. While we cannot give you an exact quote without looking at your yard, World Class Painters always breaks down the labor and materials clearly so you are not guessing where your money is going.
Do I need to clear the bushes and vines away from the fence?
Yes, we ask that you trim back anything touching the wood. Ivy, overgrown shrubs, and tree branches trap moisture against the fence and block our equipment. World Class Painters needs at least a foot or two of clearance to get proper sprayers, rollers, and brushes along both sides of the fence line without snagging on your landscaping.
What kind of prep work do you actually do?
Fence Painting involves much more than just spraying down the wood. World Class Painters checks for loose or rotting pickets, hammers down protruding nails, scrapes away any remaining flaking paint from past jobs, and washes away dirt. If a board is completely rotted through, we will let you know so it can be swapped out before we paint. Putting fresh paint over rotten wood is just wasting your money.