We stain and paint garden fences, side gates and other outdoor timber in Westone, NN3, about 2.6 miles north-east of central Northampton. Long rear gardens here mean long fence runs, so Dean plans access, cleaning and drying time around the size of the garden.
Long gardens mean a lot of fence
The interwar and post-war semis that make up most of Westone were laid out with long rear gardens, and the 1920s detached houses on Westone Avenue are larger homes again. That gives a lot of boundary per house: two long side runs, a back fence, a side gate by the garage and often a timber gate at the drive. Treating all of it is a full day or more, not an afternoon. Before quoting, Dean walks the full length of every run and notes which panels are sound, which posts are loose, and which boards have split, so you know what the job really involves.
We come out to Westone from our Northampton base, 2.6 miles from the town centre. The general choice between stains, oils and fence paints is covered on our main fence and gate staining page.
Shade and algae on the back fence
Many Westone gardens have mature trees, a reminder of the possible designed landscape the Northamptonshire Historic Environment Record notes around the former Westone Manor grounds. Fences under those trees rarely dry out. They turn green, then black, and the timber stays wet enough that a new stain simply sits on the surface. So the cleaning comes first:
- dead leaves and soil are cleared from the base of the panels and gravel boards
- a biocidal treatment goes on and is left to work
- the growth is scrubbed off and the timber left to dry, which takes longer in deep shade
- loose fibres are brushed back so the stain can soak into sound wood
Shaded sections get their coats later in the day and need longer between coats than the sunny end of the same fence.
Your side or both sides?
A Westone semi typically shares one long side fence with the attached house and the other with the next pair along, so most of its boundary has a neighbour on the far face. We only treat the face on your property unless your neighbour agrees to the other face being done too. If both households want the fence in one colour, it is worth talking to them before the quote, since we would need access to both gardens. Where a fence is shared, a light-coloured stain can show through to the other side at board gaps, so we keep the brush tight to your face and check the far side as we go.
Carrying everything through the side passage
Houses in Westone are mostly reached at the back through a side passage beside the garage. That is fine for tins and brushes, but anything we need to bring in, such as dust sheets and cleaning kit, comes through that gap. If the side gate is the one being stained, we leave it until last so it can stay open while the rest of the garden is done, then finish it and keep it propped until it is dry. Paths and patios along the fence line are covered, and plants beside the panels are tied back or covered.
When to book
Stain needs dry timber and settled weather, so in shaded Westone gardens late spring through early autumn is the practical window. Fresh pressure-treated panels from a recent fence replacement should be left to dry out before staining. Read our guide to choosing the right season for outdoor work for timing advice, or see the Westone area page for the other outdoor work we cover.
Last updated by Dean, DH Painter & Decorator.
