Whether it’s dirty and rotted or leaning precariously over a tree or building, an old fence can be a major eyesore. If fence repair services would cost more than the fence is worth, it may be time to demolish your old fence.
Tearing down an old fence is no easy task. Our Florida fencing company has years of experience taking down and installing fences in the Gainesville area, giving us key insight into the entire demolition process. Continue reading to learn about the steps our expert installers take to prepare for a fence demolition project.
Before demolishing an old fence, our contractors will first verify ownership of the fence and the land on which it was installed. A once well-maintained fence can quickly become abandoned and forgotten when owners of a property change, making it often difficult to know which neighbor the fence belongs to. According to Florida Fence and Property Law, fences belong to the owner of the property on which it has been installed. If a fence predates you or your neighbors’ tenancy, our fence installation company will call out a land surveyor to verify the property line. If the fence lies completely on your side of the property line, you own the fence in its entirety, and our contractors are free to continue with demolition.
If the fence is located directly on the property line, then this process may not be quite as easy. Fences erected on a boundary line are owned by both neighbors, so you will need your neighbor to agree to tear down the fence before you can proceed.
Even after verifying ownership of your fence, it is a good idea to inform your neighbors of your plans before beginning demolition. Are you planning to erect a replacement fence, or will your neighbors need to make plans of their own if they want to continue to enclose their yard? While you are not legally obligated to inform your neighbors of your plans, sharing this information is a good way to avoid hostility in the future.
If you live in a county or HOA that has strict fencing rules, you may need to reach out for permission before you can demolish your old fence. Many HOAs require fences in your front or back yard, so be sure to plan accordingly to avoid legal fees down the line.
Tearing down a fence is not a simple, non-invasive endeavor. Fence posts are often buried deep underground, set in with a thick layer of concrete and gravel that will need to be physically dug out. Before digging anywhere in your property, our Florida fence company will ensure we won’t be digging near any utility or water lines. If there are any lines near where we plan to work, the city will send someone out to mark their location on your property, free of charge.
Are you planning to repurpose any part of your old fence? If your fence posts are still stable, you may be able to use them to rebuild part of your new fence. Are the wood panels still in relatively good condition? Consider saving these panels to reuse in a different project.
Regardless of what materials you plan to salvage from your old fence, it is important to have these plans solidified before you begin demolition. Make it clear to our fencing company what you want to save, and our contractors will delineate space for these materials during the demolition process.
Don’t let the sorry state of your old fence fool you – strenuous physical labor is required to remove even the most fragile of old fences. To tear down an old fence, even the most experienced of fencing contractors will need a good-quality hammer, pry bar, drill, and shovel to make the process as easy as possible.
At Gainesville Fencing Company, LLC, our contractors supply all of the necessary tools and equipment for a fence demolition. We also invest in safety equipment, such as steel-toed shoes, thick gloves, and safety goggles, to protect our feet, hands, and eyes from hazardous nails, screws, and wood scraps.
You can’t have excessive amounts of wood, nails, screws, and concrete hauled away by your everyday garbage and recycling services. To make the disposal process easier, our contractors will organize your trash into recyclable and non-recyclable piles as they work. Depending on the services provided by your city, our Gainesville fence company will transport your scraps to be recycled, rent a dumpster, or hire a junk hauling company to dispose of your old fencing materials. By preparing for disposal before the demolition process, your fence removal project will be cleaner and more efficient.
If you are looking to tear down an old fence on your property, you don’t have to work alone! Gainesville Fencing Company, LLC, offers both fence removal and fence installation services. Whether you are looking to outsource the demolition of your old fence or are looking for a reliable fence installation company to install your new fence, our team is happy to help. Contact us to learn more about our fencing services and receive a free estimate today!