Putting a fence up

[Kwikasfuki]

If you've seen any of my bike pics, the more astute of you will have observed that my garden is falling to bits. To remedy that, we'll be getting decorative concrete put down this week, and all that will be left is landscaping the front lawn and putting up a new fence at the back. To save some cost I'm thinking of putting the fence up myself.

From what I've read so far, it appears the fence poles need to be sunk into the ground and concreted over (same as the current fence poles). However this is based on the assumption that the fence is freestanding. Is there any reason why the poles can't be fixed to a wall instead? The wall is 3ft high and the fence will be 6ft. Given that 3ft of the fence pole will be fixed against a wall, shouldn't that provide sufficient strength?

[routemaster]

It depends on a number of things?

1) Is the wall yours or a neighbours?
2) How strong is the wall? Would it support the wind blowing against a 6ft fence supported by the wall - a moderately strong winds would exert a significant force on the fence panels.
3) Can you actually fix the the new fence posts to the wall?

If the wall is a single skin ie a single line of bricks then I would be doubtful unless there are supporting brick piers
If you get it wrong you could need to replace both the wall and the fence  :(

If the wall is yours, strong and wide enough you can get fence panels and supports that will fix to the top of the wall.

Hope that helps

Steve

[Lonewolf]

Depending on who the wall belongs to could you not place your new fence on top of the existing wall? That way you would have a three foot wall and a three foot fence.

[Kwikasfuki]

Thanks for the replies so far.

It depends on a number of things?

1) Is the wall yours or a neighbours?
2) How strong is the wall? Would it support the wind blowing against a 6ft fence supported by the wall - a moderately strong winds would exert a significant force on the fence panels.
3) Can you actually fix the the new fence posts to the wall?

If the wall is a single skin ie a single line of bricks then I would be doubtful unless there are supporting brick piers
If you get it wrong you could need to replace both the wall and the fence  :(

If the wall is yours, strong and wide enough you can get fence panels and supports that will fix to the top of the wall.

Hope that helps

Steve

There's two walls - one that belongs to the neighbour and one that belongs to us. Ours is the older of the two walls and it appears the neighbours wall is cemented to ours. The fence will be fixed to our wall.

The wall is old. I would guess its been there since the house was built (80+ years?) but seems sturdy enough. It should be possible to use RawlBolts between the post and wall. As for with standing wind, it is going to be a long fence (approx 4m) but should (I hope) be protected from the wind. Our house is at the bottom of a hill, and on one side its protected by a hedge and on the other by elevated fencing of the other houses. Just in case the wind is an issue, rather than spacing the poles 6ft out, I could maybe do 5 ft to ease the pressure.

Depending on who the wall belongs to could you not place your new fence on top of the existing wall? That way you would have a three foot wall and a three foot fence.

What would the fence be attached to? The top of the wall? I guess its possible but not sure how sturdy it will be.

Alternatively, maybe I should bite the bullet and get a professional to do it.

[Lonewolf]

You could mount the wooden fence panels and posts on the top of the existing wall using the metal sleeves which the wooden posts are dropped into. The metal posts can then be rendered over making it look like part of the wall and hiding them in the process. You could always build some pillars between some of the wooden panels to break up the design and this would also help to strengthen the wooden panels.

[Rusty]

Put some pictures of your wall up as it may help ;D

[Kwikasfuki]

I obviously wasn't thinking straight. Now that the whole garden is going to be broken up and then concreted, why don't I just get the workmen to concrete in new poles?

[Lonewolf]

If you get them to put some new footings down then you could just build a new wall yourself in your spare time.

[Ziderman]

Fugin hate Gardens..that's why I have two Flats , both with Garages , what more does a Man want..Fences sheds Mowers.... :D

[routemaster]

I obviously wasn't thinking straight. Now that the whole garden is going to be broken up and then concreted, why don't I just get the workmen to concrete in new poles?

Why not ask the builder for his opinion of the best option and see what they suggest

Steven

[Lonewolf]

Why not buy next doors house and then you wouldn't need a fence up at the bottom of your garden? You could use your neighbours fence or wall.

[Rusty]

..... And then knock his house down and build a massive garage with heated floors and a wash bay with drains and heated water hoses and a polishing machine and ..................

[Lonewolf]

..... And then knock his house down and build a massive garage with heated floors and a wash bay with drains and heated water hoses and a polishing machine and ..................

Now your just being silly Mr Rusty.  :)

[Rusty]

You think so ? Had it all mapped out in my head .... some may say there's a lot of empty space up there ;D

[Kwikasfuki]

You think so ? Had it all mapped out in my head .... some may say there's a lot of empty space up there ;D

There is. That's why we have rich southerners buying holiday homes up here and devastating communities :D