Improvised fence ideas

Glen Able · 2005-02-01T19:03:48+00:00

The 20' long wooden fence at the bottom of my garden is not going to survivemuch longer, as it backs onto a narrow public footpath and is often subjectto vandalism. (They seem to like kicking the fences and yanking off anybits they can).I'm trying to devise a robust replacement fence. A complication is thatthere's a mature hawthorn (+ a smaller tree) only just inside the boundary -the current fence has to bulge outward nearly a foot to get around thetree - so I guess a concrete block wall is probably not a simple option.I'm thinking about putting concrete posts in, which should be prettyindestructible. I'm not confident to use massively heavy concrete panels,so I'm wondering about making wooden panels, say 5' x 1', which would slotin easily - with the big advantage that any that do get damaged can bereplaced very simply.Any thoughts on whether this is a reasonable idea, and (if so) whatmaterials/method would be good for making some sturdy panels?thanks for any help!G.A.

Feb 01, 2005 26 Replies

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Glen Able 21 years ago

Yeah, I can imagine this being really solid + private - it's something I'd never have thought of, so ta for that. I'll have a play with these bits next time I'm at Wickes. I guess the thickness needs to be just right for them to overlap by just the right amount.

The other idea I'm keen on is similar to your other suggestion - take some kind of 1" thick, 1' high boards and thicken the ends by nailing some wood on, so they can be slotted firmly into the 2" slots in the concrete posts. Like you say, it might leave gaps, but on the plus side they'll be easy to slide out and replace if any do get damaged, especially where access is awkward right by the spiky hawthorn.

cheers for your help - this problem's been nagging at me since we moved here (this was supposed to be a quiet backwater too :)

G.A.

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Mike 21 years ago

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> Hell of a fence though at 4 per ton :)

Thanks. I want to build steps down a 1 in 4-ish slope and these sound just the thing to hold the soil in place.

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Al Reynolds 21 years ago

The only thing I would say about this is that sturdy horizontal wood in fences makes the fence much easier to climb over. Sorry if I have misunderstood the above design!

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Glen Able 21 years ago

No, it's a fair point. It might be necessary to add some security features. A few of the neighbours have put barbed wire along the tops of theirs - looks unnecessarily hostile IMO.

As the fence is for the bottom of the garden and obviously visible from the house, I'll probably want to hide it with some planting anyway. Which means I can put a few nasty Pyracantha or Berberis in there - far more deadly than any other (legal) security device!

cheers, G.A.

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Mary Fisher 21 years ago

Perhaps they know something you don't ...

And better looking. It sounds as though some extra protection is needed.

Mary

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Pete C 21 years ago

Hi,

If you need a lot of boards and have a local saw mill it might be worth getting a quote for sawn & treated.

cheers, Pete.

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andrewpreece 21 years ago

Good point, what about topping it off with trellis? Looks nice, but will deter intruders as it will not hold their weight. Could also support a rambling rose, a nice thorny one, or pyracantha as suggested. The downside is that some vandal could easily damage it if that is a problem in your area.

Andy.

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