Hit and Miss fence panels

WeAreGhosts

I have this type of fence (also sometimes called ventilation panels). They are currently fixed at both sides with screws. I want to take the panels out and paint the other side (neighbour won't give me access so will have to do it the hard way). Can I put them back using screws only at one side? I imagine I will have to use more screws for stability, but will the fence be ok with screws only in one side? Or is there another way to fix a fence from one side?

Bendy_House

Ok, I'll ask - why do you want to paint the other side?

WeAreGhosts

Bendy_House said:

Ok, I'll ask - why do you want to paint the other side?

Because I've been told it prolongs the life of the fence. (It's not on the boundary line, so if the neighbour doesn't like it they can put their own fence up.)

Brie

Please tell me you're going to paint the neighbour's side lurid orange or something equally nasty.  I think it's only what they deserve.

Bendy_House

WeAreGhosts said:

Because I've been told it prolongs the life of the fence. (It's not on the boundary line, so if the neighbour doesn't like it they can put their own fence up.)

Fair enough. But if the slats are the usual thickish boards - ~1/2" - and are kept away from the ground, they should last many years.

I presume this fence has horizontal arris rails, and then these boards are fitted - alternately spaced - to either side with nails? As I suspect you realise, the usual fixing method is to nail through the thinner material - the boards - in to the thicker one, the rails. So the issue you'll have - even if you manage to remove the boards from the other side (how will you do that - 'mallet' them away?) - is how to reattach them. I see no easy way to do this. Even if you skew-screwed through the rails into the backs of the neighbour's boards, it would be hugely tricky to judge the depth from being too little (so boards not secured) to too deep (so lost of screw tips protruding).

Of course, you could use many many dozens of small angle brackets...

I think your best bet would be to load up a garden sprayer with clear preserver such as 'Everbuild Lumberjack triple-action', stand on a stepladder, lean gently over the top, and spray the neighbour's side from 'your' side - that would be a marginal encroachment of their air-space. If necessary, do this when they are out!

Or, make an official request for legitimate access for maintenance.

Or, considering  that most of the rot occurs along the bottom edges where water collects to drip off, wait until it's bone dry, and spray the backs of these boards (ie, the sides facing you) along the bottom third, allowing the preserver to soak the bottom edge as rain does.

WeAreGhosts

Bendy_House said:

WeAreGhosts said:

Because I've been told it prolongs the life of the fence. (It's not on the boundary line, so if the neighbour doesn't like it they can put their own fence up.)

Fair enough. But if the slats are the usual thickish boards - ~1/2" - and are kept away from the ground, they should last many years.

I presume this fence has horizontal arris rails, and then these boards are fitted - alternately spaced - to either side with nails? As I suspect you realise, the usual fixing method is to nail through the thinner material - the boards - in to the thicker one, the rails. So the issue you'll have - even if you manage to remove the boards from the other side (how will you do that - 'mallet' them away?) - is how to reattach them. I see no easy way to do this. Even if you skew-screwed through the rails into the backs of the neighbour's boards, it would be hugely tricky to judge the depth from being too little (so boards not secured) to too deep (so lost of screw tips protruding).

Of course, you could use many many dozens of small angle brackets...
Curious about this. Are they usually used for materials that are 90 degrees to each other? How would this work?

I think your best bet would be to load up a garden sprayer with clear preserver such as 'Everbuild Lumberjack triple-action', stand on a stepladder, lean gently over the top, and spray the neighbour's side from 'your' side - that would be a marginal encroachment of their air-space. If necessary, do this when they are out!
Not likely. If some paint so much as drips onto their plants they'll have the police round like a shot!

Or, make an official request for legitimate access for maintenance.
Ppppfttt. I envy people who have nice neighbours!

Or, considering  that most of the rot occurs along the bottom edges where water collects to drip off, wait until it's bone dry, and spray the backs of these boards (ie, the sides facing you) along the bottom third, allowing the preserver to soak the bottom edge as rain does.
Yes, I might try that, thank you 

In bold

grumbler

Bendy_House said:

WeAreGhosts said:

Because I've been told it prolongs the life of the fence. (It's not on the boundary line, so if the neighbour doesn't like it they can put their own fence up.)

Of course, you could use many many dozens of small angle brackets...

Treated roofing batten cut to pieces will be much cheaper

Slinky

I'd make a particularly poor job of painting 'your' side, ensuring that there are plenty of visible dribbles running down 'their' side. Perhaps then they will see the sense of letting you paint 'their' side.

WeAreGhosts

Slinky said:

I'd make a particularly poor job of painting 'your' side, ensuring that there are plenty of visible dribbles running down 'their' side. Perhaps then they will see the sense of letting you paint 'their' side.

You mistake my neighbours for decent, sensible people  
They're the kind of people who chop the tops off plants that show above my fence.

Bendy_House

I wasn't really serious about the brackets, WEG, as it would be a huge hassle. Grumbler's idea of roofing battens is the same, but would be nicer, indeed.

If you visualise; the vertical boards sit tight against the horizontal rails, yes? Ok, if you drew lines on the backs of the boards to show where the rails touch along their tops, remove the boards, screw short pieces of 2x1 battens to them sitting on these lines, then you could replace the boards by sitting these battens on the rails and screwing down through them.

But, man, what a palaver. I really wouldn't suggest it.

By spraying a clear water-based preserver, nothing would be visible, and I doubt it would harm their plants. But, it would 'technically' be trespass, so best not done. Is your fence fully within your land - is there an inch or two between it and the true boundary? If so, then a spray lance with a bent-back nozzle could be used from totally within your own land. Again, tho', I don't think I'd bother.

Do THEY paint 'their' side of your fence?

I wouldn't worry about the police in cases like this - they'd only be p'eed-off with one person, since there'd be nothing valid in their claims. On the other hand, if they damage plants on your side of the boundary, then you'd have a valid claim against them, and would be entitled to call the police. BUT, you'd need evidence. So if they do this regularly, then get a CCTV camera going.

Other than that, you act normally - don't have your normal day-to-day behaviour tempered by these folk.

EmmyLou30

I wouldn’t bother painting either side tbh, coloured water based paint will do nothing to protect the fence. Outdoor wood is pressure treated so needs nothing painting on to it to prolong its life. You’re just making an ongoing chore for yourself.