Ask three companies to quote the same fence and you'll usually get three different numbers. That isn't automatically a scam — it's usually a different scope. Here's what actually drives a fence staining price in Central Texas, so you can compare quotes on equal footing.
The price is set by the fence, not the stain
- Linear feet. This is the single biggest factor — stain, labour and prep all scale with it.
- Height and style. A 6ft privacy fence has roughly 50% more surface than a 4ft one; pickets and rails add more than a flat panel run.
- Condition. Light gray needs a wash. Deep gray, mildew, or a failing previous finish needs washing plus brightening — and sometimes a second pass.
- Access. Sloped ground, tight side yards, gates to work around and landscaping against the fence all add time.
- Repairs. Loose pickets, popped nails and rot have to be dealt with before staining, or the finish fails at those spots first.
- Product and colour. Transparent and semi-transparent stains, dark versus light colours, and one coat versus two all change the material cost.
What a real quote should spell out
- Washing, brightening and the dry time between cleaning and coating
- The stain brand and line, and how many coats
- Whether one side or both sides of the fence are included
- Protecting plants, pavers and paint, and hauling away the mess
- A walk-through before the crew packs up
If a quote is dramatically cheaper than the others, something in that list is usually missing — most often the prep, the dry time, or the second side of the fence.
How to compare two quotes
Compare scope line by line, not just totals. Ask what happens if it rains mid-job, which stain they're using and how many coats, and whether you can see recent work nearby. A written scope is what lets you do that — which is why ours always is.
Our estimates are free, written and no-obligation: linear feet, prep, product and coats are all spelled out before anyone picks up a brush.
Want it done right the first time? We clean, brighten, dry and seal fences and decks across Central Texas.