If you paint your side of a fence, does the colour seep through onto the neighbour's side?

[WellTidy]

I would like to paint our fence, which I don't think have ever been painted or treated. I would love for it to be a sage green, nothing too dark. I think it is "our" fence each side (we are the middle in a row of three identical detached properties), but I haven't seen the deeds to confirm that. Either way, I wouldn't want to annoy my neighbours either side by painting a fence that discolours from their side. I know that both sides are happy with the way the fence looks to them in their garden and don't want to change it in any way. Will it seep through, do you think, and is there a way of avoiding that happening?

My neighbours sprayed there's.

Weeped through to my side, covered my garden furniture, plants and patio. Gits.

Do it carefully with a brush and it should be fine.

I think I remember your post on this, if you have posted about it before. Was it you who lost a load of perennials when your neighbours did this when you were away. Or maybe I am confusing you with another poster, sorry.

Absolutely, I would do it with a brush.

My neighbours painted their side of the fence with a brush. It dribbled through the holes on our side. I really don’t care as they are lovely neighbours. It might be worth trying a patch first but it depends on your relationship with them and how fussy they are.

Ha ha @TheQueenOfWands I was about to offer a spraying story too! Nice splatters on our shed which is at least 20 cm from the fence. So in your case I would not worry too much if you're painting with care, but depending on how well you know the neighbours, have a quick chat?

Our neighbours painted their side of the fence with a brush and it seeped through to our side.

We didn’t mind too much as it’s not too visible thanks to greenery on our side. Plus the neighbours asked if we were okay with them painting the fence first.

I was less impressed with them managing to splatter my car with fence paint in the process.

My neighbour and I went halves on a new fence between us as the old one was only being kept up by the shrubs growing next to it. She wanted her side painted and I wanted my side natural wood. I think the fence guy used a brush, or possibly a roller or those foam things, to paint and none of it came through to my side.

Thanks all. Both sides are fussy. They do to want to change their side of the fence in any way.

Some of the coloured fence paints are very watery so will run through easily.

No, there were no perennials. Just rosemary and stuff in pots.

That must've been the neighbour on their other side...

I use regular emulsion when I painted mine, BTW.

Nice and thick so no runniness.

Use a brush that's not fully loaded so it doesn't drip. Don't paint the top and go extra easy near holes and at the top or bottom of the slats if they're vertical.

Queen, did the normal interior emulsion wash off at all?

No, no.

It stays put.

I used the B&Q one in a rectangular tub. I think 2 runs for about 15 fence pannels.

I also used a B&Q exterior wood paint for my garden table (fussia pink) and that went on nicely too.

Maybe experiment? Tester pots are about £1 each.

I am going to give it a go down at the bottom of the garden. Fingers crossed!

You can only paint a fence that you actually own. If it is your neibours fence then you will need their permission even though it faces into your garden. The same as if you want to put trellis up it or wires for climbing plants.