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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To paint my new fence purple?

129 replies

Ladysaurus · 18/05/2023 10:43

I currently have two lovely fellas putting up a fence on top of my short garden walls out back. I'm excited for the privacy. It will need painting to protect it and extend its life. Given that being in a terrace means one face of the fence faces into a neighbours garden, would it be overly offensive to paint it either a pale lilac (I like rustoleum's lilac) or a deep purple (I like cuprinol's summer damson).

Unfortunately, there's not great neighbour relations so I'm not concerned about souring anything. But I also don't want to be completely 'that person'. I won't paint it brown or grey. I might consider a pale sage green if purple shades are considered really too offensive...

OP posts:
Beamur · 18/05/2023 10:43

Go for it..

SooninBrisbane · 18/05/2023 10:44

Your fence, your choice. I wouldn't be put off by neighbours

SoupDragon · 18/05/2023 10:45

Can you paint the sides different colours? Your side purple (the best colour) and the other side something more neutral.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 18/05/2023 10:46

If its your fence and your boundary its on then paint it whatever you like

heldinadream · 18/05/2023 10:46

I painted a purply plummy garden wall - lots of people were a bit wtf - until they saw it.
Was fab.
Do it!

heldinadream · 18/05/2023 10:48

OH and my shed I painted Wedgewood blue. Near the purply plumy wall. 😍It was quite the garden!

VainAbigail · 18/05/2023 10:52

So you want to paint the panels purple on both sides?

LeopardPrintTits · 18/05/2023 10:54

I think that’s a lovely idea!

BatFaceOwl · 18/05/2023 10:54

Just paint your side whatever colour you went and then go for a generic shade on the side you don't look at

Firstmonthfree · 18/05/2023 10:54

Purple on both sides seems like you’re spoiling for a fight. Why wouldn’t you paint your side purple and the side a neutral brown- or even ask them what they’d prefer.

Sunnysidegold · 18/05/2023 10:54

Bit surely you just paint your side whatever colour you want to? Why would you bother painting the neighbour's side?

Purple sounds lovely

DigbyTheDigger · 18/05/2023 10:56

I’m not convinced painting a fence makes it last longer, it will just endlessly need repainting.

Theoldcuriosityshop · 18/05/2023 10:59

Why are you painting both sides?

GasPanic · 18/05/2023 11:05

I think most people paint their side of the fence the colour they want.

But if you are suggesting imposing your colour choices on your neighbours, I think most people would disagree with that.

I guess the problem is you will not want to paint the fence afterwards as will have no access into the neighbours garden (?), but you will want it protected.

So you will probably need to have some interaction with them in some way or another. Maybe it is an opportunity to improve relations.

Original poster
Ladysaurus · 18/05/2023 11:06

To those asking: I need to paint both sides to properly preserve the fence, the fence is my property and thus my responsibility to preserve. Because of the structure/shape of the fence, painting the other side a different colour, the purple would still show through so I figured neighbour would rather one colour of purple, rather than brown with visible stripes of purple.

OP posts:
Idratherbepaddleboarding · 18/05/2023 11:10

It’s your fence so paint it whatever colour you want. Paint it in rainbow stripes if you do desire 😂.

GasPanic · 18/05/2023 11:11

Well I can't quite visualise it, but you are suggesting that it is impossible not to have at least some purple visible on your neighbours side.

So yes, YABU.

Maybe you should have chosen a type of fence that didn't do this if you wanted to paint it a controversial colour choice.

bellabasset · 18/05/2023 11:12

I've got gates I've painted but not the pressure treated fence. I like the soft lilacs or sage green. One of my colleagues at work fenced his whole garden with fence panels, removed them every year, treated them and refitted them.

Heartsnrainbows · 18/05/2023 11:13

If I were your neighbour, I would be delighted. Sounds like it will look fab.

FangsForTheMemory · 18/05/2023 11:16

It sounds as though you’re looking for a fight. My fence is painted with clear preservative so it’s fence coloured. It looks lovely.

Original poster
Ladysaurus · 18/05/2023 11:18

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 18/05/2023 11:10

It’s your fence so paint it whatever colour you want. Paint it in rainbow stripes if you do desire 😂.

Please don't give me ideas. I'd love a rainbow fence.

OP posts:
TheFlis12345 · 18/05/2023 11:19

How will you get to the other side of the fence to paint it? Assuming it’s on the boundary.

heyitsthistle · 18/05/2023 11:19

I'd rather see a neutral shade with purple stripes than have a purple fence in my garden. Totally understand the need to preserve and look after your fence, but purple isn't a neighbourly choice. You say you haven't got great relations anyway, so they'll probably just paint their side without telling you and you'll have leaks through to your side.

heyitsthistle · 18/05/2023 11:21

Can you post a pic of the type of fence you're having installed? Is it one of those modern horizontal slat ones?

GCAcademic · 18/05/2023 11:22

I think this is pretty anti-social. I'd be pretty pissed off to have a purple fence imposed on me, in my own garden.