topic Re: What is proper fence etiquette? in Community Chat

What is proper fence etiquette?

wismiss — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:28:09 GMT

I have just bought a home. My dog is a barker--barks at cars going by, people walking by, bikers,etc. So, I want to install a privacy fence so her barking is kept to a minimum and the neighbors won't be upset.

If I choose to have a wood fence built, what is proper etiquette about the side that faces the neighbors? If I decide to paintstain the inside of my fence, do I paint/stain the outside (facing the neighbors) the same color, or should it just have a sealer put over it, or should I ask the neighbors if they want to paint/stain it a color of their choice (with my approval), or how do you handle that? I don't want to do a chain link fence because the dog can see too much to bark at, vinyl fencing is much more expensive (although it is my first choice if I can afford it), and a wood fence might be more in my price range. I woud like to do something like this on just a part of the fence and then put a sealer over the part that is painted/stained. So, do I paint/stain the side facing the neighbors blue/grey or just leave it? I really don't like the weathered look.

Also, do you install the fence far enough in from your lot line to be able to mow and still be on your property, or do you install it right on the lot line? I was thinking if you install it in about 4-5 feet, then you can mow and weed on the neighbors side so it looks better.

I have never lived in a city/town except for the first four years of my life, so I have never encountered a situation like this because usually our neighbors were at least 1/4 of a mile away. I just don't want to start off on the wrong foot by creating problems with the neighbors.

Thanks for any experiences (as an owner or as a neighbor) that you would care to share.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

deepwaterdotter — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:27:53 GMT

In our neighborhood, the type of fence you are describing is placed with the posts-exposed side facing the fence-owners yard. The decorative side faces the neighbors.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

lulu2 — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:28:25 GMT

Your fence, you paint both the inside and the outside the color you want. Also, do not put it right on the border rather slightly inside your property. That way the entire fence is on your property.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

IamMrsG — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:30:30 GMT

Congratulations and blessing, Wismiss, on your new home.

By all means, check your city's ordinances on fences. Among other things, some have requirements about which side should face you (usually the uglier side) and which side the neighbor gets.

I'd like to commend you for being considerate of your new neighbors. I have lived near neighbors with barking dogs and assure you it can quickly become a quality of life issue.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

Mj12 — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:32:25 GMT

Like Lulu said - paint/stain the entire fence whatever color you choose - but do it all the same, both sides. And sealer coat each year. And yes, move the fence in a few feet from the property line so it's entirely on your property, and so you can mow behind it (part of your property that adjoins the neighbors). You'll love having a privacy fence! Enjoy.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

1jenniferjuniper — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:34:02 GMT

@wismiss wrote:
I have just bought a home. My dog is a barker--barks at cars going by, people walking by, bikers,etc. So, I want to install a privacy fence so her barking is kept to a minimum and the neighbors won't be upset.

If I choose to have a wood fence built, what is proper etiquette about the side that faces the neighbors? If I decide to paintstain the inside of my fence, do I paint/stain the outside (facing the neighbors) the same color, or should it just have a sealer put over it, or should I ask the neighbors if they want to paint/stain it a color of their choice (with my approval), or how do you handle that? I don't want to do a chain link fence because the dog can see too much to bark at, vinyl fencing is much more expensive (although it is my first choice if I can afford it), and a wood fence might be more in my price range. I woud like to do something like this on just a part of the fence and then put a sealer over the part that is painted/stained. So, do I paint/stain the side facing the neighbors blue/grey or just leave it? I really don't like the weathered look.

Also, do you install the fence far enough in from your lot line to be able to mow and still be on your property, or do you install it right on the lot line? I was thinking if you install it in about 4-5 feet, then you can mow and weed on the neighbors side so it looks better.

I have never lived in a city/town except for the first four years of my life, so I have never encountered a situation like this because usually our neighbors were at least 1/4 of a mile away. I just don't want to start off on the wrong foot by creating problems with the neighbors.

Thanks for any experiences (as an owner or as a neighbor) that you would care to share.

I would not choose chain link for reasons that you mentioned and also because it cheapens property values.. A block wall is the best for trying to block out noise. It also lasts forever. Wood evenually will need to be replaced. Neighbors will like you more if your dog is not allowed to bark all day/all night.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

esmeraldagooch — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:35:30 GMT

A fence can be construed as property lines. My neighbor put hers on another's property and then won the overage in court.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

1jenniferjuniper — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:36:05 GMT

@1jenniferjuniper wrote:
@wismiss wrote:
I have just bought a home. My dog is a barker--barks at cars going by, people walking by, bikers,etc. So, I want to install a privacy fence so her barking is kept to a minimum and the neighbors won't be upset.

If I choose to have a wood fence built, what is proper etiquette about the side that faces the neighbors? If I decide to paintstain the inside of my fence, do I paint/stain the outside (facing the neighbors) the same color, or should it just have a sealer put over it, or should I ask the neighbors if they want to paint/stain it a color of their choice (with my approval), or how do you handle that? I don't want to do a chain link fence because the dog can see too much to bark at, vinyl fencing is much more expensive (although it is my first choice if I can afford it), and a wood fence might be more in my price range. I woud like to do something like this on just a part of the fence and then put a sealer over the part that is painted/stained. So, do I paint/stain the side facing the neighbors blue/grey or just leave it? I really don't like the weathered look.

Also, do you install the fence far enough in from your lot line to be able to mow and still be on your property, or do you install it right on the lot line? I was thinking if you install it in about 4-5 feet, then you can mow and weed on the neighbors side so it looks better.

I have never lived in a city/town except for the first four years of my life, so I have never encountered a situation like this because usually our neighbors were at least 1/4 of a mile away. I just don't want to start off on the wrong foot by creating problems with the neighbors.

Thanks for any experiences (as an owner or as a neighbor) that you would care to share.

I would not choose chain link for reasons that you mentioned and also because it cheapens property values.. A block wall is the best for trying to block out noise. It also lasts forever. Wood eventually will need to be replaced. Neighbors will like you more if your dog is not allowed to bark all day/all night.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

tansy — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:38:32 GMT

The fence we have is cedar and looks the same from either side.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

Lucky Charm — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:41:40 GMT

We have a custom made fence whereas neither side looks unfinished.

We left it up to the neighbor if they wanted to choose to paint it whatever color they wanted. We left our side natural, so did they.

Can't remember what type of wood it is, but it hasn't changed any yet. It's only 2 or 3 years old.

Congratulations on your new house!!! We just had an offer accepted today for one too!

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

stevieb — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:41:43 GMT

Generally, if you're purchasing the fence and installing it fully in your yard, you decide on the type and color of the fence, which is generally uniform on both sides. I'd say as long as you pick something normative, and not a really off the charts color, a heads-up to your neighbors that a fence is going to go up is all you need to do.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

Laura14 — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:43:55 GMT

Congratulations on your new home and, wow, would I trade my neighbors for a considerate one like you any day.

Just wanted to add that if you have an HOA, they'll tell you straight up what you can do and what you can't in the neighborhood.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

debbiE — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:45:06 GMT

Make your decsions and then go have an open and honest discussion with your neighbors. Be prepared for a lukewarm response, most folks don't like change. The fence posts should face YOUR property, color and style are your choice, as long as they conform with any neighborhood restrictions that might exist. Both sides of the fence effect your home's appearance and property value. Have a survey done and place the fence on your side of the property line. This will prevent future disputes when you or one of your neighbors go to sell. You can't predict the future, but you can control your effort to be a good neighbor.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

Chrystaltree2 — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:47:47 GMT

I'm chuckling at the idea that a fence will make any difference when It comes to all that barking from your dog. I feel sorry for those neighbors. I think if you want to be a good neighbor, you should discuss the fence with the neighbors first. It's on your property, you don't need their permission but it would be nice to bring them in on the plan and discuss the type, height and your chronic barker.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

Mj12 — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:49:01 GMT

@deepwaterdotter wrote:
In our neighborhood, the type of fence you are describing is placed with the posts-exposed side facing the fence-owners yard. The decorative side faces the neighbors.

Excellent point.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

Perkup — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:51:42 GMT

First check your city, town and neighborhood restrictions. For example, we are not allowed to use chain link fences. If your wooden fence qualifies, you might speak with the neighbors, but I am sure that they would prefer to have the finished side facing them, which I feel is a courtesy. I would not paint or stain their side without their "blessing". You might really tick them off if it's a color they don't like. Personally I would just leave it natural. Most people will either plant in front of it or stain it themselves. You can, of course, stain bothsides of the front as you like. As for placement, I think it is pretty normal to come inside your property line 4 to 6 inches here. It could go on the property line if you are sure it is well marked. You mght otherwise infringe on them and create issues. And since you have a dog - especially one that barks - be sure you take the fence down as far as possible to the ground and watch carefully to be sure your pup doesn't decide that he would rather dig under than be confined. He/she might miss seeing out of the yard where the passersby can't be seen. This could become a problem later.

It's true "Good fences make good neighbors", but only if you communicate with the neighbors first. Some people are paranoid about fences.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

candyagain — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:53:12 GMT

Good fences make great neighbors! I had to put one up to reinforce my property lines with one neighbor who later moved. New neighbors coming in now know exactly who owns what.

The first thing to do is to hire a qualified surveyor and have the property lines established. Whoever puts up your fence then has the surveyor's guides to make sure that you are within your own property.Most town's require a survey.

Right after securing the surveyor, tell the neighbors that you'll be putting up a fence. You're brand new so there's no hurt feelings. Best time to put up a fence. Then call your town hall or city clerk's office and make sure that you know the municipalitie's requirements.

Then hire a fence guy or company to install the kind of fence that you want. And, yes, the considerate thing to do -- and often what the town or city requires -- is to place the "good" side of the fencing facing your neighbor's property.

They may be upset at first but they will come to appreciate the fence as much as you will. Privacy and quiet works both ways. Your intentions are wonderful! And no disputes ever over who owns what!

Good luck!

Candy

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

flickerbulb — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:53:49 GMT

It depends on where you live on the type of fence you choose. I have a coated chain link fence and have dogs that literally grab the fence with their teeth and pull back and forth when they see someone/dog go by.

I would like to change the gates or the parts facing the street with a vinyl fence with no holes for the dogs to see passerbys.

Where I live, wooden fences rot and fall apart soon after installation. If you were to stain your fence, I would do the entire thing so as to match and protect the wood.

We have to have a permit for fences and they have to be within a certain guideline. My posts were placed a few inches inside my property line, but when the people next door moved in, they connected to my fence and they actually have a couple of inches of my property in their fence line. Check local ordinances.

Good luck with your new house!

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

shaggygirl — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:54:39 GMT

I don't know how it works where you live but when my yard was fenced in a few years back we had to hire a surveyor to come and mark out the property lines before it could be installed and then it was placed inside my property line. It was wasn't cheap for the surveyor, can't recall the exact figure but it was somewhere in the $1200.00 to $1400.00 range.

Re: What is proper fence etiquette?

brii — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:54:52 GMT

We left ours natural. I can't imagine the upkeep to paint or stain it. I love the stencil. Can you do that without staining the rest?

Our town has rules for where the fence goes. Do you need a permit to install one?

Our fence posts face into our yard.