13/05/2026 10:19 AM
To paint or not to paint your wooden fence?
Painting fencing is entirely up to the end user. Often, painting is thought to prolong the life of wooden fencing, however, a good quality fence which has been properly treated should not need any paint, stain, or further treatment applied to extend its life.
Fencing that does not need painting
Good quality timber fencing does not need to be painted. Pressure treated timber fencing with a long lifetime guarantee will last just as long with or without paint; a long lifetime guarantee reflects the manufacturer's confidence in the longevity and durability of their product.. Our unique Jakcure® timber treatment will deliver 25 years’ guaranteed service life and more, therefore we can class our fencing as ‘no paint fencing’. Some fencing suppliers offer a guarantee, but state in the terms and conditions that the fence must be stained/oiled/painted/treated yearly. This is an enormous amount of maintenance required, especially if you have a long run of fence panels. Any Jacksons Fencing product does not require re-treating or re-staining throughout its life to comply with the guarantee. What's more, paint can restrict the timber in its natural movement with changes in temperature, which can cause splitting.
Why paint fencing
Paint allows you to customise your fence and make it your own. Gardens are an extension of the home, so continuing similar styles, colours, and themes in the garden helps to create a natural flow from inside to out. If you do choose to paint fencing, opt for a high quality water-based paint.
What issues does painting fencing cause?
Paint may look great when first applied but will have a relatively short life span. In a matter of months paint will start to fade and flake away, leaving the fence looking worn. As soon as you paint your fence, you’ll be painting every year or so until you replace your fencing, to keep it looking fresh.
Fencing that is already painted
There are many fences available that come pre-painted. Some manufacturers add paint already for ease while composite fencing, made from PVC, is widely available to buy in different colours.
Metal fencing is another type of fencing that can be customised with colour. Estate railings or ornamental railings are a popular style of metal fencing for the home, and are most commonly powder coated black, however we offer a wide range of colours for our metal fencing, which are applied using architectural grade powder coating at our own manufacturing site in Kent. Our metal fencing comes with a 25 year Service Life Guarantee in both plain galvanised or galvanised and powder coated options. Moreover, it does not need any additional painting throughout its lifetime. Some of our metal fencing can be bought online, in black or green.
Can I paint or stain my neighbour's fence?
If they own the fence, and it’s their responsibility in the title deeds, you can’t do anything to their fencing without permission – even the back of the fence that they can’t see. The owner of the fence can make changes even if it’s on your side. For shared boundaries, it’s common courtesy to let your neighbour know of your intentions to paint your side of the fence, as paint will often drip down or through the fence and could change the appearance of the fence on the other side.
Maintenance free fencing
The only maintenance our timber and metal fencing requires is a light clean every so often to remove any dirt, debris, or plant growth touching the fence. Our fencing does not need any maintenance in the form of re-treating or re-staining throughout its life.
Our fencing can be cleaned with a gentle brush to ensure no cobwebs or plant matter are left on the fence. We also recommend any plants that have grown up the fencing during summer months be cleared off the fence to prevent ‘in ground’ conditions. This will invalidate your guarantee as fence panels aren’t treated for in ground conditions. It’s also recommended that dead leaves aren’t piled up against fencing, as this could create 'in ground' conditions also.
Environmental impacts of painting your fence
Painting a fence can have several environmental impacts, largely depending on the materials used and how the job is carried out. Many paints release VOCs, contributing to air pollution, while spills and runoff can contaminate soil and waterways with harmful chemicals. As paint weathers and flakes, it can also create microplastics that persist in the environment. In addition, leftover paint and application materials add to waste, and the production and repeated use of paint increases resource consumption and carbon emissions.
Related content
Considering painting or staining your fence still? Explore more of the pros and cons below or visit our FAQs page for advice on painting and cleaning fencing plus more.
Should I paint or stain my fence?
When investing in a wooden fence, many homeowners will wonder how it will change over time.