Do I stain both sides of our new fence?

[Tinijocaro]

In our backyard, we currently have a white picket fence, about 3 feet tall. We did replace some boards and painted them.

We are getting a 6 foot cedar privacy fence to replace the white picket. Two people have told me that I am only responsible for staining my side of the fence, the neighbors are responsible for staining their side.


What is my obligation?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Your fence, your decision, your stain.

 

[Amelia Peabody]

If I put it up, I would stain both sides. Maybe they should do upkeep, but I see no reason to leave unprotected wood facing neighbors. Seems kind of not nice.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Doesn't unstained wood rot? I don't think you can force the neighbors to stain your fence, and I know I wouldn't want to risk my investment. I'd stain both sides.

 

[Happy Mom2]

If the fence is on your property, it's your responsibility. Where I live some neighbors choose to go in together to pay for the fence and each stain their side to their liking.

 

[Allison]

It is your fence, you are responsible for all of it, not just one side. I think it would be totally uncool for someone to leave the side unstained that faces the neighbors. They should not have any expenses for someone else's property.

 

[ilovemk76]

I would do both sides.

 

[Imzadi]

If I put it up, I would stain both sides. Maybe they should do upkeep, but I see no reason to leave unprotected wood facing neighbors. Seems kind of not nice.

It is your fence, you are responsible for all of it, not just one side. I think it would be totally uncool for someone to leave the side unstained that faces the neighbors. They should not have any expenses for someone else's property.

They could retaliate and paint their side purple or rainbow colors with a chemical or something that ends up rotting the whole fence rail faster.

 

[Hannathy]

Your fence you are required to maintain it. Around here it has to be fully on your property by a few inches unless the neighbor gives permission. You are also supposed to put the better side out. Unless they have gone in on this fence with you, you should stain both sides. I have never heard of not doing so.

 

[JessicaR]

I would stain both sides after asking the neighbor if that would be OK. It will preserve the fence.

 

[goofyernmost]

I'm afraid to say that it is your property not your neighbors. They are under no obligation to do anything at all. They might find that the color doesn't go with their property or yard landscape and might ask you if it's OK to stain or paint it another color, but that would be the only time their participation is required or expected.

Now for other matters, what I have done in the past is to just leave it natural and let it weather to that gray color that cider or pine will turn. Without the stain the life span is slightly shorter than if stained because nothing is stopping the water from soaking into the wood over time. It's not unusual to see it done that way though. When it gets to the point where discoloration is no longer attractive you can put stain or paint on it then, but it would only be for temporary decoration. If your fence is treated lumber, then I would leave it natural, it is already protected as much as it can be.

 

[Pembo]

My fence, my stain...Oh how I wish the neighbors would stain the side facing them....

 

[rt2dz]

I'm afraid to say that it is your property not your neighbors. They are under no obligation to do anything at all. They might find that the color doesn't go with their property or yard landscape and might ask you if it's OK to stain or paint it another color, but that would be the only time their participation is required or expected.

Now for other matters, what I have done in the past is to just leave it natural and let it weather to that gray color that cider or pine will turn. Without the stain the life span is slightly shorter than if stained because nothing is stopping the water from soaking into the wood over time. It's not unusual to see it done that way though. When it gets to the point where discoloration is no longer attractive you can put stain or paint on it then, but it would only be for temporary decoration. If your fence is treated lumber, then I would leave it natural, it is already protected as much as it can be.

Around here, 98% of people leave their fence natural. Those that stain, usually do so for the look, as treated wood is generally used.

Frankly, I never like the look of stained fences when I see it. It is usually a red color, doesn't match the majority of the fences, usually clashes with the other houses, and looks horrible when it starts to fade. I would be pretty ticked off is someone stained *my* side of the fence. But then again, our fences (per our deed restrictions) are considered "shared." Each homeowner is responsible for upkeep of the good side of the fence.

I'd talk with your neighbors and see what they want. Tell them what you want and present a rational argument for it.

 

[DebbieB]

Before you put it up, check local zoning regulations. My next door neighbor put up a privacy fence and they were forced to take it down, it was too high per zoning regs.

 

[mickeysgal]

Doesn't unstained wood rot? I don't think you can force the neighbors to stain your fence, and I know I wouldn't want to risk my investment. I'd stain both sides.

It's most likely treated wood, so it won't rot...it will weather to a gun metal gray if left unstained. Which becomes a pain to powerwash later to strip it for staining later.

Everytime I've put up a fence, we've stained both sides. I want to control the look, it's my fence, and in my opinion, it's the nice, neighborly thing to do.

 

[mickeysgal]

They could retaliate and paint their side purple or rainbow colors with a chemical or something that ends up rotting the whole fence rail faster.

No they can't - or, let me rephrase that...they better not. The fence is not theirs and a fence is usually installed a few inches just inside the property line. They'd be technically trespassing and vandalizing property.

 

[Disney Doll]

When we first moved into the house we put up a cedar fence which lasted about 15 years. Never painted it, never sealed it. It weathered to a silvery gray color (kind of like what you see when you see pictures of Cape Cod or Nantucet fences). At baout 15 years, it was getting shot, pickets starting torot, getting a little droopy and uneven in spots. IT was tie fo a new one so we put up a high quality white vinyl picket fence.

To answer your original question, if it was my fence I'd stain both sides. I'd probably walk over to the neighbor's and tell them what I was doing and tell them what color I was staining it (if I was doing a color as opposed to a clear stain) as a courtesy. If, at that point they didn't like the color, then we'd probably have a discussion about what they would like and see what kind of a meeting of the minds we could reach.

I guess it depends on how good or bad of a relationship you have with the neighbors. We have a good relationship with our neighbors, so for us it wasn't an issue.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

Talk to your neighbors and see what they think about the idea.

We have always talked to our neighbors, come up with an idea that both parties like and they end up going in 50/50 on the cost of the wood and stain it whatever color they want.

If the neighbors don't want to help with the fence, stain it whatever color you want and make sure it is completely on your property.

 

[goofyernmost]

It's most likely treated wood, so it won't rot...it will weather to a gun metal gray if left unstained. Which becomes a pain to powerwash later to strip it for staining later.

Everytime I've put up a fence, we've stained both sides. I want to control the look, it's my fence, and in my opinion, it's the nice, neighborly thing to do.

I think a lot of fences are treated lumber, but I wouldn't say that it is most likely treated. In fact, based on the cost of treated lumber I would be inclined to guess that MOST are untreated. Both will weather to that gun metal gray look. I hate that look. I wish there was someway to keep a fence looking like new lumber forever. Same for cooper. Patina is nothing more than snooty rust.

Both will rot eventually, but treated will last a lot longer. Almost all privacy fences (stockade) are untreated because of the shear volume of wood used. Two things will happen to unstained/unpainted pine. One is that the boards tend to warp after instillation because they are made from mostly wet lumber. As it dries, the wood grain inside tends to misshape causing structural imperfections to show up. This happens because there is nothing in place to force them to keep their shape. Treated has to be dried to a certain degree to accept the treatment chemicals internally. Second, if not sealed, an untreated fence will absorb outside liquids and rot away much faster.

 

[aprilgail2]

Your fence you are required to maintain it. Around here it has to be fully on your property by a few inches unless the neighbor gives permission. You are also supposed to put the better side out. .

That would depend on the area- around here the fence goes on the property line and you do not need permission from the neighbor to put it there and who ever pays for it gets the good side! My neighbor and I split the fence so we flipped a coin for the "good side"---I lost LOL.