Painting fences... what would you do?!

md492

Hello!

We moved into our first home last August, we’ve just started to have a go at tidying up our garden and the main thing we really hate is the dark brown colour all 3 of our fences are painted in. 

According to the land registry / the only information we were given from the solicitors the back fence is ours (marked with an inwards T) but the other 2 fences are both party fences. Does this mean we can do what we want to our side of the fence or is it more complicated than that?

We have met our neighbours a few times and had perfectly polite conversations but I wouldn’t say we were friends as such. 

My question is.. what would you do? 

1. Just paint the fences and get on with it as it’s just as much our fence as theirs

2. Ask the neighbours if they mind if we paint our side of the fence

3. Ask the neighbours and also offer to paint their side / give them the same paint as an incentive?! 

Really don’t want to annoy anyone but also really want to change the colour of the fences!

Thank you  

JGB1955

#2.  I suspect they won't care one jot.

princeofpounds

The T marks on deeds do not necessarily mean you own the fences. Firstly, they mean nothing at all if they are not defined in the deeds. If they are defined, then they usually indicate responsibility for a boundary. That is not the same thing as a fence, unless a fence is specified. You could put up a wire between two posts, or a line of stones on the ground, and that would be enough. If your neighbour then erects a fence, it does not mean it is yours. However, IF you have responsibility for a boundary AND there is only one boundary feature, it's a fair assumption that it belongs to you (but it is just an assumption).

It's worth discussing with your neighbours, because depending on the fence and method of application it is quite common that paint will drip through to the other side. Tell them you are planning to paint your side, ask them if they want their side done the same as well. If they don't, then just be careful about that issue and hopefully there won't be any problems.

frogglet

Just paint them. We paid for a fence and our neighbours just painted their side. 
The only thing which annoyed me was their horrible red colour ran through to our side.
But we couldn't be bothered getting into a row with people we knew were argumentative.

Slinky

What did it say about who owned the fences on your PIF when you purchased?

We painted the fence we own, and asked our neighbour if they minded us painting the back of their fence. They were happy with our choice of paint colour so did their's the same, and then painted the back of their neighbour's fence. Their neighbour has done their fence in a very similar colour, and also their neighbour's. Can't see any further than that.

twopenny

When I moved in my neighbour, nice lady, had her neice paint my side of 'her' fence in the same colour as hers. Two sides were orange wood stain. She got quite worried when I said I would change the colour 'That's what we agreed on' talking of the previous neighbours 20yrs ago.

Things have eased since she got to see I was an ok person, even offered more of the same colour to do new bits lol.

So it can be a point of contention. If it's theirs and they are responsible for replacing it they will want something that is going to preserve it as long as possible - so a conversation in necessary and not that easy with lockdown and not really knowing them.

Keep in mind that if you paint it it will be an ongoing job, long an tedious. Can you stop, be sure that what you use will not drip into their side and spoil it?

A friendly neighbour is worth more than the colour of a fence.

Jeepers_Creepers

As said above - don't do it without asking, and have a nice chat over it.

If it's their fence, you simply ask if they mind - and add that it'll be to their advantage to have your side painted as well as it'll prolong the fence's life. If they say it's your fence, say 'Cool - I'll get on with it, then. Oh, I'll be careful, but let me know if any paint comes through and I'll sort it..." Basically show you are a decent fellow, and hopefully they'll reciprocate. 

What type of fence is it - vertical or horizontal laps/boards? Horiz is prone to allowing paint to run through depending on which side you are doing.

getmore4less

The various options of coatings are relatively expensive at this time of year.
Be on the look out at the end of the summer and you will find 50% off and if lucky 75% off at various stores, 
Stock up the stuff keeps and it is handy to have a few tubs ready.

Wilko is my go to store.
for an idea on prices you can pay
https://www.hotukdeals.com/tag/fence

Quite like ducksback   but if feeling generous and can find it cheap Garden shades are good.

esuhl

Errrr... what?  You're supposed to ask before painting your own side of the fence...?!  Ohhhh.

I'd never even thought about it...  I assumed I was doing by neighbours a favour by painting it so it would last longer... :-/

Grenage

Paint rarely makes fences last longer; I never paint fences because once you've painted you have to keep on painting.

Paint often runs through to the other side, although it's not normally a problem with vertical boards.