ArcaMax

While it doesn’t have the style of other fences, a chain link fence is a reliable and sturdy enclosure that requires little in the way of care and maintenance. When it does need a facelift a coat of paint will see it through many more years of service. The fence is built as a system of metal posts and rails that fit together, with mesh stretched across its frame.

A painting contractor will charge $268, including labor and material, to prime and paint 150 square feet of fence, such as one that is 3-feet-high and 50-feet-long with a gallon of paint.

You can do the job for $65, if you have painting equipment and the cost of materials and save 76%. Even a DIY wannabe can get this job right because the tools and paint are inexpensive, and you can learn the skills on the job.

Preparing the area around the fence is an important first step. Mow the lawn and cut back plants that border the fence so you can lay down a drop cloth and protect the area from paint splatter. Use wide masking tape to protect any other surfaces near the fence.

Use a wire brush to remove any rust or dirt, and then use a rust preventive paint like Rust-Oleum Chain Link Rust Preventive Paint on all the sides and surfaces. To paint the fence posts, hardware and horizontal supports use a heavy bristle brush. Use a paint roller with a 1 1/2-inch nap to paint both sides of the chain mesh.

Pro Cost: $268 — DIY Cost: $65 — Pro time: 5.9
DIY Time: 6.0 — DIY Savings: $203 — Percent Saved: 76%

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To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.

©2025 Gene and Katie Hamilton. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.