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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:
Laiste · 18/05/2023 15:57

If a neighbour of mine put up a fence and then painted it making bleed through coloured paint (or if the whole thing was painted both sides when it went up) I'd be covering it with a fence of my own on my own boundary to cover the colour.

Unfortunately this would mean that the coloured fence people wouldn't be able to access my side of their fence in future. For wood treatments ect.

If i were you OP i'd paint your side carefully what ever colour you like and let them paint their side if they want or let them leave it natural. Live and let live - unless you are lucky enough to live in a detached property you have to make compromises otherwise life gets messy.

The wood will be pre-treated unless the carpenters were cowboys, so wont need treating at all.

GrumpyPanda · 18/05/2023 15:58

With all those walls I don't really see why you need fences at all! Looks claustrophobic.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 18/05/2023 16:00

GrumpyPanda · 18/05/2023 15:58

With all those walls I don't really see why you need fences at all! Looks claustrophobic.

Well, we can't all live on the edge of a meadow!

And if you look at the height of the gate, I suspect without the fencing toppings, the walls are at that awkward height where you can see each other in neighbouring yards.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 18/05/2023 16:02

GrumpyPanda · 18/05/2023 15:58

With all those walls I don't really see why you need fences at all! Looks claustrophobic.

You can clearly see how low the walls are.

Losttheplotsometimeago · 18/05/2023 16:04

My fences are painted in summer damson and purple pansy respectively. They look great

oioimatey · 18/05/2023 16:09

Wood stain and varnish go through wood, not paint. Just let them paint their side what they want, as long as it's actually paint. If they get a bit of colour on your side of then fence then just top it up from your side. Then both of you can be happy.

Don't be that person that forces them to have a purple fence. You'll end up in a crappy Mirror article.

booksandbrooks · 18/05/2023 16:12

I vote summer damnson

fatsdominospizza · 18/05/2023 16:20

Absolutely do it!!

IsItHalfTermYetHelp · 18/05/2023 16:36

Did you tell the neighbours in advance that the fence was going up? If so surely the colour was discussed then? If not I suspect they might already be pissed off that you’ve put it up without discussing it!

Thelnebriati · 18/05/2023 16:42

Summer damson is a darker, muted shade, not garish at all. I think it will look great, especially with some greenery next to it.

Original poster
Ladysaurus · 18/05/2023 16:42

@IsItHalfTermYetHelp they were aware that a fence was planned as part of the house renovations I'm currently undertaking. They weren't aware of dates as I haven't actually seen any of them (There's at least 6 adults and a child living there) for about 3 weeks so have been unable to notify them of dates between agreeing quote/booking and the job being done. The guys had space for the small job that my fence would be. Or id have had to wait until space in September, all so I could remind them of what was planned and previously discussed.

OP posts:
IfYouDontAsk · 18/05/2023 16:49

Eek I don’t think it’s going to go down well. Purple is going to be very imposing in a small terraced garden/yard like that. Yes technically you can paint their side purple if it’s your fence I’m not sure that this is a hill I’d want to die on when it comes to neighbourly relations.

I also agree with others who say that with that sort of fence you’d be able to paint both sides different colours without it bleeding through to the other side.

chickawhoo · 18/05/2023 16:50

I have a rainbow fence so don't see the problem. You wouldn't be painting their side of it anyway so they can have whatever colour they wish on their side.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 18/05/2023 16:54

IsItHalfTermYetHelp · 18/05/2023 16:36

Did you tell the neighbours in advance that the fence was going up? If so surely the colour was discussed then? If not I suspect they might already be pissed off that you’ve put it up without discussing it!

The OP doesn't need to discuss the fence with the neighbours. It's been affixed to her side of a joint wall, and no part of the fence encroaches on any of the neighbours premises.

IsItHalfTermYetHelp · 18/05/2023 16:59

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 18/05/2023 16:54

The OP doesn't need to discuss the fence with the neighbours. It's been affixed to her side of a joint wall, and no part of the fence encroaches on any of the neighbours premises.

Show quote history

She’s doesn’t legally need to but it’s the neighbourly thing to do. My ex neighbour dug up the hedge along our joint boundary and installed a fence (6in over into our side) without discussing it first and I was rather annoyed. Caused a lot of drama and upset that could easily have been avoided with a two minute chat!

StarlightLady · 18/05/2023 17:25

It wouldn't be for me but it's your fence.

What is the other side of it though? Is there a risk of "bleed through" to the other side?

GasPanic · 18/05/2023 17:40

I can imagine telling your neighbours off for trespassing, then requesting that you should be able to go onto their land to paint a fence an unusual colour they may well not like is unlikely to be met with a positive response.

Laiste · 18/05/2023 17:51

GasPanic · 18/05/2023 17:40

I can imagine telling your neighbours off for trespassing, then requesting that you should be able to go onto their land to paint a fence an unusual colour they may well not like is unlikely to be met with a positive response.

Good point.

'' Ger'of my land ..... but let me onto yours so i can paint your side of this fence purple weather you like it or not''.

Really isn't going to go down well.
😂

DappledThings · 18/05/2023 17:54

Just paint your side whatever colour you want (I think the purple sounds fab) and don't worry about the other side. No need to overthink it.

Whitebeamtreelover · 18/05/2023 18:54

IsItHalfTermYetHelp · 18/05/2023 16:59

She’s doesn’t legally need to but it’s the neighbourly thing to do. My ex neighbour dug up the hedge along our joint boundary and installed a fence (6in over into our side) without discussing it first and I was rather annoyed. Caused a lot of drama and upset that could easily have been avoided with a two minute chat!

Show quote history

What difference would it have made for them to spend 2 mins telling you?

Mountainpika · 18/05/2023 19:03

To paint my new fence purple?

I read 'fence' as 'face'.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 18/05/2023 19:07

IsItHalfTermYetHelp · 18/05/2023 16:59

She’s doesn’t legally need to but it’s the neighbourly thing to do. My ex neighbour dug up the hedge along our joint boundary and installed a fence (6in over into our side) without discussing it first and I was rather annoyed. Caused a lot of drama and upset that could easily have been avoided with a two minute chat!

Show quote history

If they are the kind to encroach into your boundary, then a 2min chat wouldn't have been of any value. That's a different scenario though as they did something which wactually came onto your land, which the OP isn't doing.

Inkypot · 18/05/2023 21:30

Mountainpika · 18/05/2023 19:03

To paint my new fence purple?

I read 'fence' as 'face'.

🤭🤭🤭

Original poster
Ladysaurus · 18/05/2023 22:08

Mountainpika · 18/05/2023 19:03

To paint my new fence purple?

I read 'fence' as 'face'.

No paint required. Just some intense cardio. 😂

OP posts:
OhcantthInkofaname · 18/05/2023 22:11

Purple is fine with me. But then I hate green.