Probably pretty boring but...

...I need to replace the fence around our backyard. Nothing special, it's a 6' wooden privacy fence (going to 6'6" w/ rot boards at the bottom) in a typical suburban Houston neighborhood. One neighbor is being a twunt about it. I only asked him to chip in his half for our shared fence. It's an 80' run and his share would be $700. He's griping about maybe not needing to replace the whole fence, etc.

I doubt it's the money- if you live in this neighborhood and can't handle $700 then there's bigger problems afoot.

He's probably late-50's and a cranky white dude because his mail-order Colombian bride left him once she got her citizenship. She's gotta be 25-30 years his junior and possesses many of the qualities your typical, red-blooded, American male covets. However, as they're divorced and she's only around for about 3 minutes at a time when they exchange custody of their daughter the opportunity is lacking. Plus, my wife would frown on such measures.

Anyway, if I decide the guy can piss off and build the fence anyway, are there any consequences other than a pissed off neighbor that I should worry about? We have the alternating sections where the rails face one way then the other- can I have all the rails facing his yard? I'm not concerned about the money as a motivating factor, it's the principle of the matter.

If he's not going to pay half, all rails go on his side.

I think as long as you replace it the same way (same alternating sections) you should be fine. I think you'll have to keep the alternating sections since it may be in the HOA bylaws or some other BS.

Also, are you doing it yourself or having someone do it for that price? I've got a similar size section that needs replacing and contemplating doing it myself vs paying someone based on the couple quotes I've received. In Tomball area

Since the $700 isn't really an issue to you, decide what looks best for your property and just get written permission from him to do the job. Make sure you're clear about exactly what is going to be done before he agrees.

So......Rule 1 on the Columbian ex wife.........and she's single now you say?

tlh3842 said:

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I think as long as you replace it the same way (same alternating sections) you should be fine. I think you'll have to keep the alternating sections since it may be in the HOA bylaws or some other BS.

Also, are you doing it yourself or having someone do it for that price? I've got a similar size section that needs replacing and contemplating doing it myself vs paying someone based on the couple quotes I've received. In Tomball area

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Check into that first. Many builders just do the "good neighbor" fence so that no one can complain (when in reality everyone hates the look). Some neighborhoods do require for sure, but I would never go back in with one when they don't require it.

I'm the oddball. Give then choice, I will almost always take the "bad side" . I'd rather have the rails on my side so it is a touch harder to get into my yard.

Ultimately I would always go in with building a fence assuming your neighbors aren't going to contribute, Hell you said it yourself, the money in your neighborhood shouldn't be an issue. You might find them a bit more willing to open their wallet when you are already willing to assume all costs vs asking for money up front.

I'm more interested in how you are getting 80' of privacy fencing done for $1,400.

Texmid said:

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I'm more interested in how you are getting 80' of privacy fencing done for $1,400.

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no kidding, I'd eat the $700 and be happy with the price

Texmid said:

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I'm more interested in how you are getting 80' of privacy fencing done for $1,400.

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for real

$700 for a mail order Colombian bride?

Clearly Rule #1 has been invoked.

If you are paying for all the fence, do what you want.

Twunt

Haha…gd.

O.G. said:

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So......Rule 1 on the Columbian ex wife.........and she's single now you say?

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I think she left him for some younger, wealthier dude. He's clearly Latino of some type. I've seen her with a dude twice but he never got out of the car. This all went down before we moved here in November 2021. The fence was **** then and we let it go as we've done other remodeling here first but now it's time for the yard to get re-done.

As for the price, getting like 315 linear feet for $5500, all-in. He is doing pressure-treated pine though (which is what's here currently) and not cedar. Cedar would be about 2.5 times the price. The fence is original to the house from 2012 but doesn't have rot-boards. I figure with the rot-boards and spraying the fence with a sealant will last at least 11 years.

From a different point of view...

My neighbor is a complete **** and so is his wife. Constantly complaining about neighbors dog's barking, leaves, drainage, etc. (Nothing extraordinary in the suburbs). His wife has multiple verbal trespass warnings from neighbors.

With that he wants to rebuild part of the common fence since "they want to" (some of it does). Expected me to split it 50/50 after they already decided to do the project. I objected mainly due to previous reasons, but explained to him that he was causing additional cost for me (stain, etc.) and I had already replaced all of the posts as part of a pool project. End of the day it became a 70/30 cost so he could keep his beta man card.

Flip side - any other neighbor would have happily split it.

Kind of hijacking the thread, BUT…

I have always wondered if you have a neighbor who does not want to help pay, and is against the fence replacement, can you still replace the fence to the property line, or would you be trespassing when you stand in neighbors yard to work. (I have a bsc neighbor).

The fence has been permitted by the city, and I have had a professional survey. The old bitty is saying we will be trespassing if we stand on her yard.

Whatever you do, don't build it with pressure treated pine. You'll be replacing in short order when all those boards are warped and your fence looks like *****

And, treated pine boards are much heavier compared to cedar, adding comparatively more stress to the support structure.

Then again, I'm not an engineer…

Build It said:

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Whatever you do, don't build it with pressure treated pine. You'll be replacing in short order when all those boards are warped and your fence looks like *****

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Well, it's what's already here and been here for 11+ years. And I'm not interested in paying $15K for a fence that can be done for $5500. The cedar might last 15 years but if the pine holds up the way this fence has I can replace it again and still be ahead. Plus, the replacement fence quote is for 3-rails vs. 2 that is original so that will minimize warping.

i just got quotes for 100' without a rot board and they ranged from 2950-3500.

SanAntoneAg said:

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If he's not going to pay half, all rails go on his side.

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And use those pink framing 2x4's on his side!

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late-50's and a cranky white dude because his mail-order Colombian bride left him once she got her citizenship. She's gotta be 25-30 years his junior

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Sounds like the dude had a good run and got what he paid for.

I'd eat the $700 and get on down the road. Not worth it, imo

BwdAg said:

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Kind of hijacking the thread, BUT…

I have always wondered if you have a neighbor who does not want to help pay, and is against the fence replacement, can you still replace the fence to the property line, or would you be trespassing when you stand in neighbors yard to work. (I have a bsc neighbor).

The fence has been permitted by the city, and I have had a professional survey. The old bitty is saying we will be trespassing if we stand on her yard.

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I'm pretty sure they can so no if they want and not let you step on their property short of a statue that requires a fence. You would have to build a fence on your property.

My parents did that with their old house. Lady behind didn't want the new fence my parents were paying for. So they left the old property line fence in place and built a new one right up against it. They put no trespassing signs facing her way in each fence section that she would see if she ever tore down her fence as they didn't want her trying to tie her side fences in if she was going to be that way. They sold shortly after, so don't know how that went long term.

I just went through this exact scenario and the consensus here was that it was all on me.

I sold my house and moved because the neighbor was that bad.

Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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late-50's and a cranky white dude because his mail-order Colombian bride left him once she got her citizenship. She's gotta be 25-30 years his junior

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Sounds like the dude had a good run and got what he paid for.

I'd eat the $700 and get on down the road. Not worth it, imo

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That's what I think I'm going to do. Maybe when I tell him I plan to go ahead with it without him and stick the rails facing him he'll change his mind. I'm not doing the work myself so I wonder if I could be liable for potential trespassing because they'll probably have to set foot on his property to do the work but even if they do I can't imagine the cops paying much attention.

TarponChaser said:

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Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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Quote:

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late-50's and a cranky white dude because his mail-order Colombian bride left him once she got her citizenship. She's gotta be 25-30 years his junior

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Sounds like the dude had a good run and got what he paid for.

I'd eat the $700 and get on down the road. Not worth it, imo

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That's what I think I'm going to do. Maybe when I tell him I plan to go ahead with it without him and stick the rails facing him he'll change his mind. I'm not doing the work myself so I wonder if I could be liable for potential trespassing because they'll probably have to set foot on his property to do the work but even if they do I can't imagine the cops paying much attention.

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If you get the feeling he's going to be difficult, be proactive and get a survey to make sure the fence does not sit on his side of the property line, and if your municipality requires a permit to replace your fence (You mentioned it being over 6' so it's highly possible) make sure you get one. Otherwise he could make your simple fence project a nightmare.

Belton Ag said:

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TarponChaser said:

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Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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Quote:

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late-50's and a cranky white dude because his mail-order Colombian bride left him once she got her citizenship. She's gotta be 25-30 years his junior

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Sounds like the dude had a good run and got what he paid for.

I'd eat the $700 and get on down the road. Not worth it, imo

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That's what I think I'm going to do. Maybe when I tell him I plan to go ahead with it without him and stick the rails facing him he'll change his mind. I'm not doing the work myself so I wonder if I could be liable for potential trespassing because they'll probably have to set foot on his property to do the work but even if they do I can't imagine the cops paying much attention.

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If you get the feeling he's going to be difficult, be proactive and get a survey to make sure the fence does not sit on his side of the property line, and if your municipality requires a permit to replace your fence (You mentioned it being over 6' so it's highly possible) make sure you get one. Otherwise he could make your simple fence project a nightmare.

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We already have a boundary survey and as-built survey as we're in a PUD. We're in the ETJ so no permits or regulations other HOA and that doesn't require approval as it will be in line with the already promulgated architectural rules in the CCRs.

TarponChaser said:

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Belton Ag said:

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TarponChaser said:

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Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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Quote:

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late-50's and a cranky white dude because his mail-order Colombian bride left him once she got her citizenship. She's gotta be 25-30 years his junior

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Sounds like the dude had a good run and got what he paid for.

I'd eat the $700 and get on down the road. Not worth it, imo

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That's what I think I'm going to do. Maybe when I tell him I plan to go ahead with it without him and stick the rails facing him he'll change his mind. I'm not doing the work myself so I wonder if I could be liable for potential trespassing because they'll probably have to set foot on his property to do the work but even if they do I can't imagine the cops paying much attention.

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If you get the feeling he's going to be difficult, be proactive and get a survey to make sure the fence does not sit on his side of the property line, and if your municipality requires a permit to replace your fence (You mentioned it being over 6' so it's highly possible) make sure you get one. Otherwise he could make your simple fence project a nightmare.

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We already have a boundary survey and as-built survey as we're in a PUD. We're in the ETJ so no permits or regulations other HOA and that doesn't require approval as it will be in line with the already promulgated architectural rules in the CCRs.

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Well then you *should* be good. Keep us in the loop if it goes sideways.

Funky Winkerbean said:

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I just went through this exact scenario and the consensus here was that it was all on me.

I sold my house and moved because the neighbor was that bad.

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Holy cow. Gotta share the story…

tamc93 said:

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From a different point of view...

My neighbor is a complete **** and so is his wife. Constantly complaining about neighbors dog's barking, leaves, drainage, etc. (Nothing extraordinary in the suburbs). His wife has multiple verbal trespass warnings from neighbors.

With that he wants to rebuild part of the common fence since "they want to" (some of it does). Expected me to split it 50/50 after they already decided to do the project. I objected mainly due to previous reasons, but explained to him that he was causing additional cost for me (stain, etc.) and I had already replaced all of the posts as part of a pool project. End of the day it became a 70/30 cost so he could keep his beta man card.

Flip side - any other neighbor would have happily split it.

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Sorry to hear about your ex-Columbian, ex-wife. Can you order another?

Quote:

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Anyway, if I decide the guy can piss off and build the fence anyway, are there any consequences other than a pissed off neighbor that I should worry about? We have the alternating sections where the rails face one way then the other- can I have all the rails facing his yard? I'm not concerned about the money as a motivating factor, it's the principle of the matter.

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Depends. My last HOA stated that it didn't matter who paid for the fence, it had to be a "good neighbor" fence with alternating sections facing each yard.

tsuag10 said:

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Funky Winkerbean said:

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I just went through this exact scenario and the consensus here was that it was all on me.

I sold my house and moved because the neighbor was that bad.

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Holy cow. Gotta share the story…

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Did your neighbor hunt hogs on the property, and did you have a propane cannon?

Waiting on the new catalog to come in.

I can always count on fence threads on OB. They deliver

TarponChaser said:

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O.G. said:

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So......Rule 1 on the Columbian ex wife.........and she's single now you say?

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I think she left him for some younger, wealthier dude. He's clearly Latino of some type. I've seen her with a dude twice but he never got out of the car. This all went down before we moved here in November 2021. The fence was **** then and we let it go as we've done other remodeling here first but now it's time for the yard to get re-done.

As for the price, getting like 315 linear feet for $5500, all-in. He is doing pressure-treated pine though (which is what's here currently) and not cedar. Cedar would be about 2.5 times the price. The fence is original to the house from 2012 but doesn't have rot-boards. I figure with the rot-boards and spraying the fence with a sealant will last at least 11 years.

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Did you consider using steel for the fenceposts? With lumber prices as they are, it seems like a better and better option.

tamc93 said:

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Waiting on the new catalog to come in.

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Suggest Ukraine, much more likely to stick around longer than the South American.