Neighbour's paint seeped through fence panels

Giggidy

We've put in natural wood fence panels on the right side of our property a few years ago, and our new neighbours decided to paint the fence panels on both sides of their property this weekend, and now the paint seems to have seeped through slightly through some of the side panels but most obviously seeped over the top of all the panels. They used a dark grey paint, but it appears white on our side, this could be due to the fact that we painted a water repellent varnish over it a year or so after we bought it and so possibly reacted with the paint. The neighbour seems to think its nothing to do with him as the paint is white, or could just be where the boards have faded. Basically just shrugged his shoulders. How do we remedy this, we specifically paid extra to have natural wood so we wouldnt need to paint it and now we may have to, but trying to colour match is going to be a pain. Is there a painless way of removing slight paint marks from a natural wood fence?

Slinky

I thought for a minute you were our neighbour! However we asked our neighbour's pemission to paint their fence before starting, which is what your neighbour should have done with you for politeness if nothing else.  Regarding the paint appearing a lighter colour, have you got the sun shining on your side of the fence? Our light grey paint appears darker on the north facing side than the south facing side on the opposite side of the garden.

ETA our neighbours like the colour we chose and said they will paint their side of the fence the same colour. So we didn't have to worry about it seeping through. 

If you paint yours a different colour, your neighbour will be treated to the runs from your paint appearing on his side..........

-taff

Well first of all, he's just committed criminal damage because you are not allowed to paint your neighbours fence unless you ask permission first. Depending on which way you want to go you can either take them to court or you can ask them what colour they used and use the same one, or try sanding out the marks and then depending on what finish it was, try and replicate it.

Spender£

I painted my fence Forest Green only to return home to see Silver Birch coming through the laps on to my side, i just re-did mine on my side and left it at that, rather not have issues with neighbours where possible.

Mistral001

I would try to scrape it off and touch it up.  It probably was caused by the neighbour, but looks like it is almost impossible to prove.  You might need your neighbour sometime so not worth falling out over it.

Giggidy

Slinky said:

I thought for a minute you were our neighbour! However we asked our neighbour's pemission to paint their fence before starting, which is what your neighbour should have done with you for politeness if nothing else.  Regarding the paint appearing a lighter colour, have you got the sun shining on your side of the fence? Our light grey paint appears darker on the north facing side than the south facing side on the opposite side of the garden.

ETA our neighbours like the colour we chose and said they will paint their side of the fence the same colour. So we didn't have to worry about it seeping through. 

If you paint yours a different colour, your neighbour will be treated to the runs from your paint appearing on his side..........

Oh gosh, now I'm wondering if you're our neighbour two doors down, who painted the neighbour on our right's fence grey, and our neighbour liked it so much he's painted theres too. 

We didn't get asked permission, we just got told the day before, we painting the fence, just let us know if it seeps through. If I knew that, I would have possibly said yes but you need to rectify if anything does. And yes, I did rather spitefully think for a second, if we did paint it, I'm going to make sure I do it, I'm known for being very clumsy and heavy handed. 

Giggidy

-taff said:

Well first of all, he's just committed criminal damage because you are not allowed to paint your neighbours fence unless you ask permission first. Depending on which way you want to go you can either take them to court or you can ask them what colour they used and use the same one, or try sanding out the marks and then depending on what finish it was, try and replicate it.

I didn't know that, I will remember that for next time. I wouldn't go so far as going to court though. 

Giggidy

Spender£ said:

I painted my fence Forest Green only to return home to see Silver Birch coming through the laps on to my side, i just re-did mine on my side and left it at that, rather not have issues with neighbours where possible.

If it was minor I would have left it, but its quite obvious across the tops, and we are in the process of selling / moving so we would rather not have had this happened right now.

Giggidy

Mistral001 said:

I would try to scrape it off and touch it up.  It probably was caused by the neighbour, but looks like it is almost impossible to prove.  You might need your neighbour sometime so not worth falling out over it.

I didn't want it to be awkward, was just hoping he would say he would get some varnish and touch it up and that would've been the end of that. Definitely wont kick off about it, just want them to do the decent thing and fix the damage, which is what we would have done if it was us that did it

cranford

If you  are selling/moving how much do you think your property has been devalued? The current situation we are in will probably knock thousands of the asking price. The cost of painting your fence  will be minor compared to this and cause you less hassle and you wont have to mention that your neighbour is a pain in the legal selling pack!

EssexExile

Just let it weather.