Why You May Want To Consider Hiring A Professional To Paint Your Fence

A fence can add tremendous value to a property — enhancing style, providing protection for children and pets, and adding privacy to your yard. A wood fence, in particular, can boost your property's charm and is an eco-friendly choice, since wood is a renewable, natural material. Whether crafted from redwood, cedar, oak, or pine, a wood fence can be both beautiful and practical. Regular maintenance is key to preserving your investment, especially considering that installing a wooden privacy fence can cost anywhere from roughly $2,000 to $5,000. 

One common way homeowners protect and refresh their fences is with paint, which adds color, hides imperfections, and shields the wood from weathering. If your wood fence is showing some age and is in need of a fresh coat, you may be wondering whether to tackle the project yourself or hire a professional. A wood fence typically needs to be repainted about every three years to maintain its appearance. How long a paint job can last will depend on factors like the quality of its most recent paint job and local weather conditions. 

Skipping this maintenance may leave the wood vulnerable to cracking, warping, or rotting — problems that could result in costly repairs or even the need to replace your fence. You could tackle the job yourself to save some money. Hiring a professional painting service is pricey and could cost as much as $4,250, depending on the size of the fence and the area you live in. Even with the added cost, professional help may be worth it to save time and effort, and ensure your fence is painted with professional-grade tools. 

Painting a fence might seem simple. After all, you just need to grab a brush and some paint, right? Not necessarily. The condition of your fence may dictate how much prep work you'll need to do before any paint can actually go on. For instance, you might first need to repair damaged areas, like replacing a split picket or a rotted post. 

You may also need to sand your fence to remove flaking or peeling paint. If your fence is covered in mold or mildew, a thorough power washing will be essential to allow the paint to fully adhere. The painting job alone may take several days, including the necessary drying time required between coats. A pro could handle all this necessary prep for you, ensuring that the final coat will be smooth, even, and durable for years to come. 

Additionally, a professional will help you select the best primer and paint for your job, including mildew- or UV-resistant options, and come equipped with the necessary tools. They also bring important safety expertise to the job, like knowing how to handle ladders, high fences, and potentially hazardous chemicals like paint solvents. This can protect you from injury while getting the project done efficiently. Painters will also lay tarps or mask off areas to protect patios, outdoor furniture, and decor from paint splashes. Plus, they'll handle the cleanup afterward, saving you time and effort. You'll want to consider all these factors, along with your budget and comfort with any work involved, when deciding whether to do the project yourself or hire a contractor. If you have the funds, want to avoid some hassle, and ensure a long-lasting, high-quality finish, hiring a pro may be the best choice.