Fencing

FaceHead

First of all, here are some pictures of the fence in question for you to take a look at before my post colours your judgment of it.

I’m obviously having some building work done, and want to improve the fence before I do the rest of the garden.

I think this fence is gross and probably about to fall down. It’s clearly had some makeshift repairs over the years and I think it just needs to go, and be replaced with something proper (concrete posts and some new panels).  The fence is actually being supported by the neighbour having tied it across their garden to the next fence along (see top of posts in last photo), as it’s that unstable.

Before ripping it down and replacing it (at my own time and cost) I thought it was good idea to let the neighbour know that I’d be doing them the favour of removing this mess and replaced with a decent fence.

The neighbour’s reaction was a little unexpected, as he’s ‘recently repaired it’ think it’s ‘fine’ and if replaced would then ‘have to paint it’. TBH I got the feeling that they were a bit sentimentally attached to their bodge work, and were a bit offended that I didn’t think their handiwork was Chelsea flower show standard.

Who owns the fence? Unclear. Based on the matching bit at the bottom of my garden (last photo), I’d say it was put up by my previous owner but that’s just guesswork. It’s then clearly been "maintained" by the neighbour and neglected by my previous owner. I don’t think who owns it matters – I think we should simply be able to agree on what happens rather than playing the ‘it’s my fence’ card.

I’m now thinking of putting some 2x2 battons horizontally attached to my side of the existing fence, and then put feather edge boarding up along, to basically clad the current mess. Cladding is not preferable to it just being decent, and I’m concerned the fence will fall down anyway next time there’s a gust of wind and I’ll be back to square one, having gone to that effort this summer.

Thoughts appreciated.

Martin_the_Unjust

Simplest solution would be to build a proper fence just inside the existing one.

travis-powers

Fair to say that fence has seen it’s day!
Honestly do not understand some people, if my neighbour replaced that I would be more than happy to give it a coat of stain, as you say fixing battons to a unstable fence and adding extra weight is going to be a recipe for disaster!

FaceHead

Martin_the_Unjust said:

Simplest solution would be to build a proper fence just inside the existing one.

Thanks . Agree that's an option. A several of ways in which I see it as sub-optimal: 

1. It costs me 5" of garden (or whatever the thickness of a concrete fence post is). This 5" seems significant to me in a 200" (5m) wide garden. 
2. The rickety fence will inevitably fall down, and then just be leaning on mine
3. It seems quite unfair that the neighbour should have "their" [it isn't] fence on the boundary, whilst mine has to be inside.  
4. Two fences sounds like a pain to maintain and just generally unnecessary 


EDIT: Another option I'm considering is to say, 'OK it'll replace it and stain your side. What colour do you want?' Better than losing 2.5% of my garden. Seems so wrong that I should be replacing the fence and then staining it to their specification, but (to me) it looks preferable to the two-fence option. 

Alter_ego

Wait for a bit of wind, help it to fall down.

travis-powers

The trouble with having a fence next to a fence is one side never gets treated and never sees the sun.
At the end of the day it’s only going to cost you an extra tub of stain

Alanp

The problem with running fencing  alongside the existing one is when you start to dig your new posts you will inevitably come up against the old posts concrete that was used to install them, you could mis align them but that will throw out the panels, now would be a perfect opportunity to rip out everything and fit maintenance free panels, either eco plastic ones or metal fencing, yes it’s way more expensive, but you can buy it already coloured and would be sort of fit and forget maybe the occasional hose down, same for your neighbour, it’d look smart and they wouldn’t have to do anything to it. 

NSG666

FaceHead said:

EDIT: Another option I'm considering is to say, 'OK it'll replace it and stain your side. What colour do you want?' Better than losing 2.5% of my garden. Seems so wrong that I should be replacing the fence and then staining it to their specification, but (to me) it looks preferable to the two-fence option. 

You could try saying "I'm replacing the fence with this (show him) buy what colour stain you want and I'll apply it for you" looking at his garden it will be easier to stain the panels before they are slotted into place. He might say no or he might be proud and grumble but say he'll do it himself to make sure 'it's done properly'

Anyway. if you are going to the cost of replacing the fence you'll want to make sure it's treated to give it the longest possible lifespan.

Ant555

NSG666 said:

You could try saying "I'm replacing the fence with this (show him) buy what colour stain you want and I'll apply it for you" looking at his garden it will be easier to stain the panels before they are slotted into place. He might say no or he might be proud and grumble but say he'll do it himself to make sure 'it's done properly'

Anyway. if you are going to the cost of replacing the fence you'll want to make sure it's treated to give it the longest possible lifespan.

If you are both agreed on the same colour then I agree that it likely to be far easier to paint the panels when not in the posts, you get to treat both sides of the fence (he might not do his side until next year for instance and he may not even be able to paint it due to whats growing on his side), you get to treat all the edges as well as all the nooks and crannies and also zero risk of discolouring your new posts and base.

I did this a few years ago when we had a new fence, I propped up each panel  on the lawn and painted both sides - didn't care about drips, dry in no time.  

Jeepers_Creepers

FaceHead said:

Martin_the_Unjust said:

Simplest solution would be to build a proper fence just inside the existing one.

Thanks . Agree that's an option. A several of ways in which I see it as sub-optimal: 

1. It costs me 5" of garden (or whatever the thickness of a concrete fence post is). This 5" seems significant to me in a 200" (5m) wide garden. 
2. The rickety fence will inevitably fall down, and then just be leaning on mine
3. It seems quite unfair that the neighbour should have "their" [it isn't] fence on the boundary, whilst mine has to be inside.  
4. Two fences sounds like a pain to maintain and just generally unnecessary 


EDIT: Another option I'm considering is to say, 'OK it'll replace it and stain your side. What colour do you want?' Better than losing 2.5% of my garden. Seems so wrong that I should be replacing the fence and then staining it to their specification, but (to me) it looks preferable to the two-fence option. 

That makes sense.

It might help to understand the full situation and the alternatives.

1) You say the neighb claims it's 'their' fence, and you say "it isn't". Yet, you don't actually know whose fence it is? It's on the LH side as you look at your house from the road? That traditionally used to mean it was the neighb's fence, but that's not writ in stone, and may have changed at some point. But you don't know whose fence it is...

2) If it's the neighb's fence - and good chance it is - then they don't have to maintain it, or even have a fence there. So how can you push this issue? Well, you could 'put them on notice' that their fence is in a dangerous condition, and they will be liable for any damage should it come down in a wind. Then what? Wait for a gale? And what if a couple of panels crash down - but don't cause any damage other than a squashed plant? Are you going to bill them for that plant? And what will they do? Yup, reassemble their fallen panels and reattach it...

So, it looks like the only way to resolve this is for you to build this fence at your cost. You now have two choices...

1) Build your fence on your side of theirs, lose 5" of your garden, and also put them on notice that if their wobbly fence starts to damage yours, then you may claim for damages. You really going to do that - take legal action against them if their fence remains there, banging into yours? You could, but it wouldn't be nice for anybody. Or, you ignore their fence, and their fence stays there getting worse and worse, and causing slow-but-certain long-term damage to yours, whilst also preventing you from treating the back of your fence. Or, they do listen to your 'putting on notice' - and also clock the nice new fence - and they happily take theirs down and also enjoy their extra-wide garden. Basically, if you just put up another fence on your side, you will lose garden width, and you will not have removed a significant long-term issue. So, there's...

2) Put on your biggest, brightest smile, and tell them you are happy to replace the whole fence at your cost, and will happily paint their side whatever colour they like! (As said above, paint them before fitting, because you ain't going to get through these trees and bushes to do it afterwards, and you wouldn't want to...) Can they actually see their side of most of that fence?! If not, def give yourself the 'nice' side if your chosen panel has 'sides'. I'd be prepared to fork out for a 'proper' fence, definitely concrete posts well sunk, and concrete gravelboards. Good, thick, treated vertical closeboard panels - so if they do repaint their side, the colour should seep through. Fit and forget, and with a "You are VERY welcome!" beaming smile to your neighb.

You will be happy you did it this way.

FaceHead

Jeepers_Creepers said:

2) Put on your biggest, brightest smile, and tell them you are happy to replace the whole fence at your cost, and will happily paint their side whatever colour they like! (As said above, paint them before fitting, because you ain't going to get through these trees and bushes to do it afterwards, and you wouldn't want to...) Can they actually see their side of most of that fence?! If not, def give yourself the 'nice' side if your chosen panel has 'sides'. I'd be prepared to fork out for a 'proper' fence, definitely concrete posts well sunk, and concrete gravelboards. Good, thick, treated vertical closeboard panels - so if they do repaint their side, the colour should seep through. Fit and forget, and with a "You are VERY welcome!" beaming smile to your neighb.

You will be happy you did it this way.

Thanks - agree that this option is the best of a bad bunch, so will see what they make of the offer. TBH painting five fence panels doesn't sound like a great hardship.

In the meantime, could I get some recommendations for panels where the ghastly red stain won't soak through, please.