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Painting fences with climbers growing

Does anyone have any tips on painting wooden fencing which has well established climbers growing up it? I think there is Clematis, Honeysuckle; Winter Jasmine and a Climbing Rose. One or two are grown through or tied to green wire mesh. This is for a customer whose garden I have just started on a regular maintenance round. This job was not included but they have asked me if I could do it. Any tips on pricing would be appreciated as well. I've read through some older discussions and there is some good advice there, but was wondering if a slightly reduced rate might be appropriate seeing as it is for a regular customer eg. could tag it on to a scheduled visit. Thanks.

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  • PRO
    If I'm doing small scale fence paints I just use the Ronseal sprayer and the one coat fence paint they do.

    Works well. Customers normally happy.

    You can normally paint lots of fences in a short period of time
  • PRO
    Don't be tempted to do it cheap just because you are going there anyway.
    If it's a seperate job to usual price it as seperate. Just my thoughts
  • Difficult to avoid the plants. Might be worth suggestting they are untangled and cut back and then make a wooden trellis that can be unscrewed from the fence in the future.

    I use Barrattine Premier Wood Preservative, but this is not plant friendly.I only ever use a brush, always seems to be windy round here.

    As a rough guide I can treat 8.5m sq in an hour. 5 litres covers about 13m sq. Bit sad to have a note of these things but it makes pricing a job easier.

    I charge £18.00 an hour, but always price for the job rather than by the hour.

    I agree with Richard, don't be tempted to do it cheap if you like them and they like you, they will appreciate that you can't work for nothing, if they just want a cheap job perhaps you're better not getting it. Plus do a good job and then book them in for next year.

    Just some of my thoughts and experiences Hope it helps.

  • if I use water base treatment I get something like Johnson's shed and fence treatment and water it down by 25% and use a pump action sprayer it is much faster but you have to clean the sprayer and jet out really well  as for sprit based I use a brush one job I do every 2nd year where the fence gets flooded by the river I creosote it using a long shafted window brush with the bucket right up to the fence

    as for climbers or shrubs on the fence they need to be moved off the fence I have used a fork and spade stuck well into the ground and a rope around them to pull them off till you have painted the fence  as others have said a trellis that can be unscrewed and laid down or the secateurs to get it away and do not do it cheap as you will find problems as you go along an it will take longer than expected   

  • Thanks for the help. I don't think a sprayer is an option as there are a lot of plants close to the fencing and the garden backs onto a golf course so there is a lot of wind.

    I'll see what they think of the removable trellis idea - sounds interesting although likely to push up the cost.

    I'll definitely take the advice on pricing as I know I've been guilty of going low for some people. It could be quite a big number as there is about 130 sqm of panel and 60 sqm of trellis, plus the access in places is very tricky!

    • PRO
      40 panels will take some doing especially with the trellis too! Good luck
  • if there is 130 2mts of fence that alone is 45 hrs and that is if its strait going ? trellis will take  longer than a panel by brush

  • forgot to say will covering the plants with a sheet  work

  • Thanks. I'm going back today to have a really good check on the climbers to see if any can be brought away safely from the fence. I suspect that if damage to them is possible, the customer might prefer to work around them instead as she is really concerned about them getting damaged.

    Still some big numbers though!

  • I would express my expert professional opinion & suggest that you wait until the winter when many of the climbers can be pruned & pulled back.

    When I start with a new regular client. I give them a list of what needs doing & when is the best time to do it.  Gives you lots of preplanned winter work.

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