Yesterday we had our back fence replaced, and wow! A side by side comparison really shows just how old, rotten and beat up the old fence was. There were no real issues installing it, thankfully, and we gained a bit of our property back.
Neighbor Jane, on the right in the above picture has her back fence on the property line. Neighbor Dave, on the left, has told me that his fence is a foot or two this side of the property line because when he installed it he didn't want to put it up a little hill he has at the back. What they ended up doing is moving the fence line closer to the actual property line by several inches by the compost bin and the other side maybe just an inch or so, basically splitting the difference again. So, no, it's not perfectly straight across the yard but you can't tell by looking at it.
Also, I wanted it straight across on top and there is a slight dip in the ground in the middle so while it is at ground level on the ends the middle is about 2 inches or so above the ground. I can easily fill that in come spring, then the hostas will cover it all.
Overall, I'm very pleased. And after seeing it without a fence I am so very glad we have it. It gives us so much more privacy back there and we don't have to look at the neighbor's odd junk behind and alongside their garage. I should have done it last year as the cedar would have been a bit cheaper but the miser in me wanted to get every last bit of use out of the old fence. Oh well, it is done now and looks pretty good, I think.
If you're interested, pictures of the process will be after the break.
6 comments:
I love the colours in that wood. And it looks as if they did a good job. How long did it take, and do they work iin the UK? ;)
Interestingly, if that was the UK, you'd have to put the fence the other way around - best side towards the neighbours.
Did the neighbours come out with tape measures to make sure you weren't stealing their land by moving the property line?
Good job there.
Will you let it weather naturally or apply an oil or other coating to protect the wood from the elements?
Hi guys. It took them about 6 hours, I think. One guy did go knock on the neighbor's door but said they never answered though he saw them open the blinds. They did not come out at all, I think they're renters. And since it's cedar I'm just going to let it weather naturally. It'll probably take 30 years to get as bad as the old one.
Interestingly, there are some municipalities around here that do require you to put the good side toward your neighbor. Thankfully, Madison is not one of them. I didn't post specific pictures of all the garbage behind and especially alongside their garage (another reason we think they're renters), so the good side would be wasted on them.
Our beehives are made of western red cedar. The oldest are now 26, and while they are now silver rather than the colour of your fence, they are structurally sound and don't get covered in algae or moss. So, yes, a good choice of timber for that sort of fence. I don't think I've ever seen WRC used for fencing over here - it would be too expensive as it's all imported. Mostly it's softwood, with oak sometimes used for the posts.
I don't know the specific cedar the fence is, but looking it up it appears WRC is the most abundantly available. Apparently iron in the soil gives it the red color, and more so in the center of the tree. Interesting. But I did know it has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties that allow you to leave it untreated. Likely why you don't see algae or moss.
I didn't know that about the iron! But I did know about the natural resilience to nasties - which sorts the outside, and the bees sort the inside with propolis etc.
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