Wood fences in Miami-Dade gray quickly in the sun and stay damp in the wet months, which brings mildew and rot at the base of the posts. We wash the fence, check the posts and boards, and stain or paint it. If the posts are failing we tell you before you spend money on a finish.
Miami yards are fenced in several ways: wood privacy fences, aluminum and iron pickets, chain link, and concrete block walls finished in stucco. We paint and stain the wood, paint the metal and paint the masonry walls. Each one fails differently in this climate. Wood grays in the sun and grows green algae near sprinklers. Iron rusts at the welds and at the base of each post. Stucco walls chalk and crack like the house does, and they wick up water from the soil.
A wood fence is washed to remove mildew and gray fibers, left to dry, and then stained or painted on the faces, edges and tops of the boards. Loose pickets are refastened first. For metal, we scrape and sand the rust, prime the bare spots with a rust inhibiting primer and finish with an enamel made for outdoor metal. Block walls get the same steps as house stucco: wash, crack repair, masonry primer where the surface is chalky, and two coats of exterior paint.
A few practical points help the job go well. Turn sprinklers off the day before and keep them off until the finish has dried, since irrigation water is the main reason fence coatings stain and peel low down. Trim plants back from the fence so we can reach it. If the fence is shared, speak to your neighbor first, because we need to stand on both sides to do it properly. In an HOA community, check the approved fence colors before you choose one.
Fence painting & staining in Miami: common questions
Should a wood fence in Miami be stained or painted?
Stain is easier to live with. It soaks into the wood and fades slowly, so the next coat needs only a wash. Paint gives a solid color but forms a film that can peel in wet, sunny weather and must be scraped before repainting.
Can you paint a rusty iron fence or gate?
Yes, as long as the metal is still solid. We remove loose rust, prime the bare metal and repaint. If the rust has eaten through bars or the bottom rail, that section needs a welder or replacement first, and we will say so.
Why is the bottom of my fence or wall always stained?
Sprinklers and wet soil. Irrigation water leaves mineral and rust colored stains, and constant damp grows algae. Moving the sprinkler heads, keeping mulch off the base and washing the wall now and then all help the finish last.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.