Do I stain both sides of our new fence?

[Mickey'snewestfan]

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.

I agree they shouldn't but this is in response to the question of whose responsibility it is. If someone argues that that side of the fence is the other person's responsibility and thus that they don't have to stain/upkeep it, they can't then also logically argue that it's trespassing when the other person paints their side.

But you bring up a good point, what if you put up a fence that needs to be stained, and the neighbor doesn't want you on their property. Are you trespassing if you go stain it, assuming you aren't Flat Stanley and can't fit in the few inches between fence and property line? If they refuse you are they then obligated to stain?

Or can you just stain it before you put it up? This is all just curiousity to me, since I live in an apartment.

 

[Allison]

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.

That response is based on the logic that it is the neighbors responsibility to stain the other side. It is not. If it was they could do something crazy like that.

 

[mickeysgal]

But you bring up a good point, what if you put up a fence that needs to be stained, and the neighbor doesn't want you on their property. Are you trespassing if you go stain it, assuming you aren't Flat Stanley and can't fit in the few inches between fence and property line? If they refuse you are they then obligated to stain?

Or can you just stain it before you put it up? This is all just curiousity to me, since I live in an apartment.

Good question. I guess technically if a neighbor didn't want you on their property to stain what is on your property, then I guess you'd have to leave it be.

The Flat Stanley comment cracked me up.

 

[manning]

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?

Hmm, does that mean only one side will rot?

 

[emer95]

At our old house, we had a very large stockade fence put in. I can't remember the square footage, but the yard was huge and so was the fence. My husband diligently stained it every 2 years, and it was quite a job. I cannot imagine asking the neighbors to stain their side! Stain is expensive, especially when buying it at that volume, and the work is tedious and took two full days to do.

We have been out of that house for ten years now, and the new owners have not stained the fence. When we drive by, it looks in terrible disrepair. It's amazing the difference stain makes.

In our new house, we opted to put in a maintenance free white vinyl fence. It was more expensive initially, but it's gorgeous and my poor husband doesn't have to break his back staining it.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. We wont be staining the fence. As it turned out, before the entire fence was even put in, My sisters old house (that we've always loved and dreamed about buying) came up for sale. We sold our house( with the brand new cedar fence) and bought my sisters former house.

We have two dogs and the new house has no fence!