A finish keeps water out of a wood fence and slows the greying. On small Providence lots, fences run close to driveways, gardens and the neighbor's house, so we protect what is nearby. Stain suits most privacy fences. Paint suits pickets.
Fences in Providence range from painted pickets in front of a College Hill house to cedar stockade around a back yard in Mount Pleasant. Lots are small and fences sit close to driveways, gardens and the neighbor's wall. We look at the posts, rails and pickets first. A finish only helps wood that is still sound, so we tell you if posts are loose or boards are rotted at the bottom. Coating bad wood wastes your money.
Stain is the usual choice for a cedar or pressure-treated privacy fence. It soaks in and fades instead of peeling. Paint suits a picket fence that has always been painted, and it needs scraping and priming where it has failed. New pressure-treated wood has to dry before it will take a finish. Snow piled against a fence and sprinklers hitting it are the two things that wear the finish fastest here.
The work is washing, drying time, scraping or sanding where needed, then the stain or paint. We cover plants, paving and anything on the neighbor's side that could catch drips or spray. If both sides are to be done, the neighbor's permission is needed for access. Old painted fences near houses built before 1978 may have lead paint. The written quote lists the length, the height, the sides covered and the product type.
Fence painting & staining in Providence: common questions
Is it better to stain or paint a wood fence in Rhode Island?
Stain, for most privacy fences. It does not peel, and a new coat goes on with little prep. Paint looks sharp on pickets but peels when the wood gets wet from behind, and it must be scraped before each repaint.
How soon can a new fence be stained?
When the wood is dry. Pressure-treated lumber is sold wet and can need weeks or months to dry, depending on the weather. A simple test is to sprinkle water on it. If the water soaks in, the wood is ready.
Do you need access to my neighbor's yard?
Only to do the far side. Many owners do just their own side. If you want both sides finished, please ask your neighbor first. We protect plants and paving on both sides.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.