Featheredge fence problem

Bendy_House

These slots are to take 'arris' rails, which are the horizontal rails to which the vertical fetheredge slats are attached.
You are right - depending on how much is cut off the top of a post, that could encroach on a slot. 

Tbh, with the current arris rails almost certainly running parallel to the gravel boards and the existing fence tops, they will be sloping up and down in a seasick fashion like the rest of the fence, so visually it would remain a 'mare for your neighb, even if you did go for the easy option of just trimming the fence and post tops. That's only being mooted as a possible 'solution', but certainly not the proper cure. 

The simplest 'fix' remains this, tho'; run a tensioned string along the fence tops, from the lowest points. Judge whether this new fencetop line would work. If 'acceptable', measure how much would require trimming off the tops in order to achieve this new line - does it encroach on to the arris rails, for example? IF this has potential, then chat with your neighb about how they can then make it look ok from their side - would they be happy to attach, say, decorative trellis to the trimmed-down fence in order to disguise the weaving gravel boards and arris rails?!

That's the simplest solution (other than living with it!), but I'm not at all suggesting you should accept such a bodge. 

I think you need to get another fencer out to assess and quote - choose someone who's been in the fencing business for a good while, and is well recommended. Based on what they say, you should be able to arrive at a decision on what to do.

Do you have Legal Protection on your house insurance? If so, they'll help guide you through this. 
Do you have a receipt or other paperwork for the fence - can you demonstrate clearly the 'contract'? Even texts and emails re fine for this.

And just one more little detail, although I can understand your neighbour also being p'eeoff with the appearance of this fence, it is actually none of their business - they cannot dictate to you what to do about this fence. You obviously DO want to remain on good terms with them, but if they are getting a bit bolshie, then know what your 'obligations' actually are. 

rajanm

Bendy_House said:

These slots are to take 'arris' rails, which are the horizontal rails to which the vertical fetheredge slats are attached.
You are right - depending on how much is cut off the top of a post, that could encroach on a slot. 

Tbh, with the current arris rails almost certainly running parallel to the gravel boards and the existing fence tops, they will be sloping up and down in a seasick fashion like the rest of the fence, so visually it would remain a 'mare for your neighb, even if you did go for the easy option of just trimming the fence and post tops. That's only being mooted as a possible 'solution', but certainly not the proper cure. 

The simplest 'fix' remains this, tho'; run a tensioned string along the fence tops, from the lowest points. Judge whether this new fencetop line would work. If 'acceptable', measure how much would require trimming off the tops in order to achieve this new line - does it encroach on to the arris rails, for example? IF this has potential, then chat with your neighb about how they can then make it look ok from their side - would they be happy to attach, say, decorative trellis to it to disguise the weaving gravel boards and arris rails?!

That's the simplest solution (other than living with it!), but I'm not at all suggesting you should accept such a bodge. 

I think you need to get another fencer out to assess and quote - choose someone who's been in the fencing business for a good while, and is well recommended. Based on what they say, you should be able to arrive at a decision on what to do.

Do you have Legal Protection on your house insurance? If so, they'll help guide you through this. 
Do you have a receipt or other paperwork for the fence - can you demonstrate clearly the 'contract'? Even texts and emails re fine for this.

And just one more little detail, although I can understand your neighbour also being p'eeoff with the appearance of this fence, it is actually none of their business - they cannot dictate to you what to do about this fence. You obviously DO want to remain on good terms with them, but if they are getting a bit bolshie, then know what your 'obligations' actually are. 

To be honest, I think the best option is to take the fence posts out for that section and put them in at the correct level. What I'm not sure about is whether they can be dug out easily now that they've been set. I'm also not sure if the Arris rails could be reused as they'd have holes in them. 

For the actual wooden strips we have plenty spare so in less worried about those

victor2

stuart45 said:

To put it right that section of fencing will need to come down.

I agree. It was a terrible job. Personally, I would want the top to be in a straight line, or stepped slightly if really necessary. Extra gravel boards at the bottom if/as required.

I've dug out posts set in postcrete before now. Hard work, especially if they're at the proper depth, but they will come out and the concrete just breaks off the post once out. Of course, it could need even more postcrete to put the post back in, but that's their problem. Didn't they have their own cement mixer for such a job?

You might find the posts weren't put in to a decent depth too...

stuart45

Key question is whether you have paid for the job yet?

rajanm

stuart45 said:

Key question is whether you have paid for the job yet?

Sadly I have but we messaged the chap who did the work and he told us not to worry and that he'd sort it out. 

He's only 22 and his company has a few five star reviews so I think he knows it's in his interests to sort it out 

Bendy_House

rajanm said:

Sadly I have but we messaged the chap who did the work and he told us not to worry and that he'd sort it out. 

He's only 22 and his company has a few five star reviews so I think he knows it's in his interests to sort it out 

Cool, that's promising.

I personally wouldn't be concerned about most of this stuff being reused. The arris rails will be peppered with small nail holes from the featherboards, but I can't see that mattering - it'll be hidden. More awkward is getting the posts to the correct heights.

That can be done in a few ways, I guess, from smashing up the concrete (which I'd personally hate to do if it's been done well), to cutting the posts off at top-of-concrete level and drilling out the embedded timber stubs, with the idea of planting the new posts straight in to the resulting holes (might need planing down* and then gluing), to even cutting the posts at, say 2' above ground level with a neat slope, and bolting the new posts to them, but that might be a bit more of an eyesore for the neighb :-)

Anyhoo, it sounds like a learning curve for the guy, so it'll be an effective lesson for him.

* in which case a darned good soaking in more preservative would be needed.

rajanm

Bendy_House said:

rajanm said:

Sadly I have but we messaged the chap who did the work and he told us not to worry and that he'd sort it out. 

He's only 22 and his company has a few five star reviews so I think he knows it's in his interests to sort it out 

Cool, that's promising.

I personally wouldn't be concerned about most of this stuff being reused. The arris rails will be peppered with small nail holes from the featherboards, but I can't see that mattering - it'll be hidden. More awkward is getting the posts to the correct heights.

That can be done in a few ways, I guess, from smashing up the concrete (which I'd personally hate to do if it's been done well), to cutting the posts off at top-of-concrete level and drilling out the embedded timber stubs, with the idea of planting the new posts straight in to the resulting holes (might need planing down* and then gluing), to even cutting the posts at, say 2' above ground level with a neat slope, and bolting the new posts to them, but that might be a bit more of an eyesore for the neighb :-)

Anyhoo, it sounds like a learning curve for the guy, so it'll be an effective lesson for him.

* in which case a darned good soaking in more preservative would be needed.

Yes it's probably about a fifth of the entire fence that would need to be sorted and it may be he just needs to pay for a few new posts and some other bits. Let's see what he says on Monday

Bendy_House

Cool - keep us posted, please.

rajanm

Bendy_House said:

Cool - keep us posted, please.

Will do. Thanks for your help. One other thing, we can see small gaps when the fencing is viewed from an angle. Is this normal?

stuart45

No, it's not normal. The nails are in the wrong place, they should go close to the overlap. You should use a timber spacer as a guide when fixing to get an inch overlap, and also use a level to check for plumb every 4or 5.
The spacing looks uneven and they look out of plumb.