MI Homesiding & Roofing
Sherwin-Williams Certified fence staining — built for East Tennessee humidity, rain, and UV. 20+ years serving Knoxville homeowners.
Most fence staining problems in Knoxville trace back to skipped prep — not the stain itself.
We inspect fences every week where the stain looks fine on top but is peeling underneath because the wood was still wet when applied. Or the previous contractor never used a wood brightener. Or they applied stain over mildew that just came back through in 3 months.
That’s why our process is 30% product and 70% preparation. It’s the only way stain lasts 5-7 years in East Tennessee weather instead of failing in one season.
For deck projects, see our deck staining page.
Fence Painting & Staining Services
🪵 Wood Fence Staining — Cedar, pine, pressure-treated
🎨 Wood Fence Painting — Solid color, full opaque coverage
🔩 Metal Fence Painting — Wrought iron, aluminum, steel
🖤 Wrought Iron Restoration — Rust removal, priming, painting
🔗 Chain Link Fence Painting — Powder-look finish
💧 Fence Sealing — Clear waterproof protection (wood)
🧼 Fence Cleaning & Prep — Pressure wash + wood brightener
🔧 Board/Panel Replacement — Damaged pickets or panels repaired first
🎨 Color Matching — Match your home, deck, or landscape
Common Fence Problems in Knoxville
Graying wood — Untreated cedar loses color in one summer of Tennessee UV.
Mildew and black spots — Shaded fence sections in humidity develop mold within 12-18 months.
Cracked pickets — Wet/dry cycles from spring rains and summer heat split boards over time.
Loose or leaning posts — Ground shifts in Tennessee clay. Posts need addressing before staining.
Old peeling stain — Previous solid stain applied over dirt or without wood prep. Very common in Knoxville.
Sun bleaching on south side — Uneven fading. South-facing fence lines fade 2-3x faster than shaded sides.
Sherwin-Williams Certified Contractor
We are the only certified Sherwin-Williams contractor in East Tennessee focused on exterior wood staining. We use SuperDeck products exclusively for fence work:
- 🪵 SuperDeck Semi-Transparent Stain — Cedar look, wood grain visible
- 🎨 SuperDeck Solid Color Stain — Full color, hides old wood, 5-7 year life
- 💧 SuperDeck Waterproofing Sealer — Clear penetrating protection
- 🧼 SuperDeck Deck Wash & Brightener — Restores wood before staining
Direct access to Sherwin-Williams color library, technical color matching, and premium primer lines that off-the-shelf products don’t offer.
Metal Fence Painting
Metal fences in East Tennessee face rust — the #1 enemy. Rain, humidity, and dew cycles corrode wrought iron and steel fast without proper coating.
Our metal fence process:
1. Rust removal — Wire brush, sanding, or media blast on heavy rust
2. Rust-inhibitive primer — Sherwin-Williams Kem Kromik or DTM Bonding Primer
3. Enamel finish — Sherwin-Williams Industrial Enamel or Pro Industrial
4. Two coats minimum — Full coverage on both sides and hard-to-reach spots
Colors: matte black (most popular), satin black, custom colors matched to your home trim.
Our Fence Staining Process
1. On-site inspection — Check every picket, rail, and post for damage, rot, and prep needs.
2. Repair first — Loose boards, broken pickets, and leaning posts fixed before any staining.
3. Pressure wash — Remove dirt, mildew, and failed stain from all fence surfaces.
4. Wood brightener — Restore natural wood color and open pores for stain penetration.
5. Full dry time — Wood must be under 15% moisture before stain application (24-72 hours in East TN humidity).
6. Stain application — Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck applied evenly on both sides of the fence.
7. Final walkthrough — Owner-led inspection with the homeowner before we leave.
Metal Fence Painting Options
| Metal Type | Finish | Lasts | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🖤 Wrought Iron | Matte or satin black | 7-10 years | Traditional/historic homes |
| 🔩 Aluminum Fence | Sherwin-Williams DTM | 8-12 years | Modern homes, low maintenance |
| 🔗 Chain Link | Rust-inhibitive enamel | 5-7 years | Yards, dog runs, commercial |
| ⚙️ Steel Fence | Industrial enamel | 7-10 years | Security, heavy-duty |
Fence Painting & Staining Cost in Knoxville, TN
Pricing depends on fence length, height, condition, prep work needed, and stain type.
| Fence Service | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| 🪵 Wood Fence Staining (up to 100 LF) | $600 – $1,500 |
| 🪵 Wood Fence Staining (100-200 LF) | $1,500 – $2,800 |
| 🪵 Wood Fence Staining (200+ LF) | $2,800 – $4,500 |
| 🖤 Wrought Iron Painting (up to 100 LF) | $1,200 – $2,500 |
| 🔩 Aluminum Fence Painting | $900 – $2,200 |
| 🔗 Chain Link Painting | $500 – $1,800 |
| 🧼 Cleaning + Prep (all types) | $150 – $400 |
| 🔧 Board/Panel Replacement | $10 – $150 per piece |
| 🔍 Technical Assessment | $350 (credited to project) |
For fences with structural damage, rotted posts, or extensive board replacement, the $350 Technical Assessment is credited back in full if you move forward.
Built for East Tennessee Weather
Knoxville fences deal with rain, humidity, direct summer UV, and freeze-thaw cycles.
Cedar untreated loses color in one summer. Pressure-treated pine cracks within 2 years without stain. Fence posts in Tennessee clay soil shift with moisture, loosening pickets over time.
We adjust our stain selection, application timing, and prep methods for each fence exposure — south-facing vs shaded, near trees vs open yard, older wood vs new construction.
Why Cheap Fence Staining Fails
The most common shortcut is applying stain to a dirty fence. Looks fine day one. Peels off in 6 months.
The second is skipping wood brightener after pressure washing. Result: blotchy uneven color that looks worse than before.
The third is using cheap fence stain from big box stores. Fades in one Tennessee summer.
The fourth is staining wet wood. Adhesion fails and the stain peels off in sheets.
Most fence jobs we redo in Knoxville started as a cheap quote from another contractor who cut prep. Our process avoids all four failures.
Structural Integrity & Hidden Damage Policy
If rotted posts, broken pickets, moisture damage, or structural issues are discovered during fence prep, we stop and document with photos.
We provide a written Change Order before staining continues.
We never stain over rotted or damaged wood. Ever.
Why Knoxville Homeowners Choose MI
Sherwin-Williams Certified. Owner-led inspections. Root-cause repairs before any staining starts.
We are a painting, deck, siding, and roofing contractor with 20+ years in East Tennessee. That means we understand how fences fit into the bigger picture of your exterior — moisture, drainage, landscape, and structural integrity.
Licensed GC · Workers’ Comp Insured · BBB Accredited Business · Sherwin-Williams Certified · GAF Certified · Family Operated since 2004 · Bilingual English/Spanish.
Call for a free fence staining estimate: (865) 243-1243
Serving Knoxville & Nearby
We serve Knoxville and the 40-mile radius, including Farragut, Maryville, Alcoa, Oak Ridge, Sevierville, Powell, Corryton, Halls Crossroads, Louisville, Rockford, and surrounding areas.
FAQs – Fence Staining in Knoxville, TN
❓ How often should a fence be restained?
Semi-transparent stains last 2-3 years. Solid stains last 5-7 years. South-facing sections and fences near sprinklers may need earlier attention.
❓ Are you Sherwin-Williams Certified?
Yes. We use Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck stain, sealer, and deck wash exclusively for fence projects. Sherwin-Williams gives us access to premium products and technical color matching that big-box stains cannot match.
❓ Can you stain a fence that has old peeling stain?
Yes, but the old stain must be fully removed first through pressure washing and sometimes light sanding. Skipping this step causes the new stain to peel off within a season.
❓ What if you find rotted posts during prep?
We stop, document with photos, and provide a written Change Order. Rotted posts and damaged boards are repaired before staining continues. We never stain over rot.
❓ Do you offer free fence staining estimates?
Yes. On-site estimates are free for standard fence projects in Knoxville. For fences with visible damage or structural concerns, we offer a $350 Technical Assessment that is credited back in full if you move forward.
❓ Do you stain decks too?
Yes. Fence and deck staining are often coordinated together using the same Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck product line for a consistent look across your yard.
❓ How long does it take to stain a fence?
Standard fences take 1-2 days. Larger fences take 3-4 days depending on prep, drying time between coats, and East Tennessee humidity.
❓ Are you BBB Accredited?
Yes. MI Homesiding & Roofing is a BBB Accredited Business, Licensed General Contractor in Tennessee, and fully insured.
❓ Do you paint metal fences?
Yes. We paint wrought iron, aluminum, steel, and chain link fences using Sherwin-Williams industrial-grade primers and enamels. We handle rust removal, priming, and 2-coat application for long-lasting protection.
❓ How do you handle rust on wrought iron?
We wire brush, sand, or media blast heavy rust down to bare metal. Then we apply Sherwin-Williams rust-inhibitive primer before the finish coat. Skipping this step causes rust to bleed through within 6-12 months.
Ready to Get Started?
If your fence is graying, cracking, fading, or showing bare wood, now is the time to act before rot sets in and repairs get expensive.
Call for a free fence staining estimate: (865) 243-1243
Licensed GC · BBB Accredited · Sherwin-Williams Certified · GAF Certified · Insured · Family Operated · Bilingual Service
5-Star Rated on Google · Serving Knoxville & East Tennessee