Fences are priced by linear foot, not square footage, because vertical height and material type matter more than breadth. A 4-ft tall wood fence and a 6-ft tall vinyl fence covering the same ground distance require different labor and product volumes. Standard linear-foot pricing anchors: wood fences $1.50–$3.00/lin ft, vinyl $2.00–$3.50/lin ft, aluminum $2.50–$4.00/lin ft.
Cedar, pressure-treated, or composite wood demands exterior stain or acrylic paint. Wood is porous, absorbs moisture, and expands/contracts seasonally—elastomeric coating ($80–$140/gal) is ideal to accommodate wood movement. Standard acrylic ($35–$50/gal) works but requires re-coating every 4–5 years. Prep includes power washing to remove mildew, sanding rough spots, and caulking joints. Labor-heavy: $1.50–$2.50/lin ft typically.
Slick, non-porous surface requires special bonding primer ($40–$60/gal) before topcoat. Standard acrylic or elastomeric finish works, but paint adhesion on vinyl is trickier than wood. Cost: $2.00–$3.50/lin ft. Advantage: minimal prep (no sanding, just wash and prime).
Oxidation on unpainted aluminum requires wire brushing and rust-inhibiting primer. Premium acrylic or elastomeric recommended ($60–$120/gal paint + labor). Highest cost tier: $2.50–$4.00/lin ft due to specialized prep and rust prevention.
One side typically costs $1.50–$3.00/lin ft. Both sides nearly doubles labor (reversals, access shifts, drying sequences). Both sides: add 80–100% to one-side cost, bringing totals to $3.00–$6.00/lin ft. Example: 200 lin ft property line fence, one side at $2.00/lin ft = $400. Both sides = roughly $700–$800 (not double, but significant increase due to efficiency gains).
Standard 4-ft residential fence is baseline. 5–6 ft tall adds 15–25% labor (ladder repositioning, spray pattern adjustments). 7–8 ft commercial fence adds 30–50% due to safety protocols, equipment staging. Geometry simplifies cost: 200 lin ft × 4 ft height = 800 sq ft surface. Spray coverage remains ~300–350 sq ft/gal, so paint costs scale linearly. Labor variance is tighter (fewer variables than house exterior).
Prep: Power wash + sanding rough spots, 4–6 hours @ $70/hr = $280–$420.
Paint: Elastomeric acrylic, 2 coats. ~600 sq ft surface requires 2–3 gallons @ $80/gal = $160–$240.
Labor (spray + brush edges, 2 coats): 8–10 hours @ $70/hr = $560–$700.
Total: $1,000–$1,360 ($5.00–$6.80/lin ft, higher due to prep-intensive wood).
Wash: Light pressure wash, 2 hours @ $70/hr = $140 (less prep than wood).
Paint: Bonding primer + acrylic finish, both sides. ~1,500 sq ft requires 4–5 gallons primer/finish @ $50/gal avg = $200–$250.
Labor (both sides, spray + edge touch-up): 14–16 hours @ $70/hr = $980–$1,120.
Total: $1,320–$1,510 ($8.80–$10.07/lin ft for both-sides work).
Prep (oxidation removal): Wire brushing, rust-inhibiting primer application, 5–6 hours @ $70/hr = $350–$420.
Paint: Premium rust-resistant acrylic, 2 coats. ~600 sq ft requires 2–3 gallons @ $80/gal = $160–$240.
Labor (spray + drying sequencing for corrosion inhibition): 8–10 hours @ $70/hr = $560–$700.
Total: $1,070–$1,360 ($10.70–$13.60/lin ft, premium due to rust treatment).
Southwest Florida sun and salt exposure (coastal areas) accelerate fence finish failure. Wood fences repainted every 4–5 years inland, 3–4 years coastal. Vinyl and aluminum hold 5–7 years due to better UV resistance. Budget recurring fence repaints into maintenance planning—this is an outdoor asset with predictable refresh cycles.
Paint (acrylic or elastomeric) lasts 4–5 years and hides wood grain. Stain penetrates wood, showing grain, and lasts 2–3 years on horizontal surfaces due to water absorption. In humid Florida, elastomeric acrylic paint is more durable. Stain is aesthetic preference if you want natural wood appearance despite shorter life.
Yes, with proper bonding primer. Regular paint won't adhere to slick vinyl. Bonding primer ($40–$60/gal) is mandatory. Many vinyl fence owners leave it unpainted (vinyl is low-maintenance), so painting is primarily for color changes or existing painted vinyl refresh.
Stain ($1.50–$2.50/lin ft) typically costs less than elastomeric paint ($2.50–$3.50/lin ft) upfront, but requires more frequent repainting. Over 10 years, paint may be cheaper despite higher per-application cost due to 5-year cycles vs. stain's 2–3 year cycles.
Sergeant Painters has stained and painted residential fences throughout Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Estero—wood privacy fences, aluminum decorative screens, and vinyl enclosures. We size estimates by linear foot and material, specify primers matched to substrate, and plan labor honestly for prep and environmental challenges.
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