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Croney

(4,646 posts)
Sun Jul 14, 2019, 08:59 PM Jul 2019

Need opinions about a fence!

Neighbor behind us wants us to pay for half of a new stockade fence. We do need a new fence, it's rotting out. My husband told him the fence can face his side. Right now it faces us. It's our fence. I don't want to see the back. Then it would be his fence.

Surveys of our 1876 house have always used the fence as the property line.

I told my DH I feel like George Constanza -- I've got hand! And I don't wanta give it up!

Am I being unreasonable? Do they make fence that has the good side on both sides?

30 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Need opinions about a fence! (Original Post) Croney Jul 2019 OP
The people who put in my fences told me that the "good" side of a fence The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2019 #1
I like that fence! I just sent the link to DH. Croney Jul 2019 #4
That's the kind of fence that I got MiniMe Jul 2019 #13
There are many fences that look the same on either side. Farmer-Rick Jul 2019 #2
That was smart! Croney Jul 2019 #5
There's a style of so-called "good neighbor" fence which is popular in my suburban neighborhood RockRaven Jul 2019 #3
I googled it, and I am much happier now. Croney Jul 2019 #6
Rotate it in 8 or 10ft sections. It will look like a design JDC Jul 2019 #7
That's not a bad idea. Thank you. Croney Jul 2019 #8
Another popular solution is to alternate procon Jul 2019 #9
It's not a bad idea, and I'm going to do more googling. Croney Jul 2019 #11
Vinyl Fencing REPUguy Jul 2019 #10
I like vinyl, but wood will tie in with some other fencing we have around a storage shed. Croney Jul 2019 #12
Wood grain vinyl fencing REPUguy Jul 2019 #14
I looked into vinyl, discovered it was quite a bit more expensive than wood. The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2019 #17
Time to challenge your neighbor! Generic Brad Jul 2019 #15
Ha! First I had to challenge the hubby. Croney Jul 2019 #18
Keep in mind the "good side" is often harder to climb. Hassin Bin Sober Jul 2019 #16
Now, there's something I hadn't thought of! Croney Jul 2019 #19
I also prefer the inside (aka bad side) to be facing me. It makes it look like it's protecting me... PoliticAverse Jul 2019 #27
In my town, the person who puts up the fence gets the back side. Kaleva Jul 2019 #20
Yes, I've been reading that that is customary, but I don't think there's a law about it. Croney Jul 2019 #21
Check your local ordances and zoning laws. Kaleva Jul 2019 #23
That is wise advice. Croney Jul 2019 #24
Offer to pay 60% and you get the good side. bif Jul 2019 #22
That's a no-nonsense solution! Croney Jul 2019 #25
The back is the good side Blues Heron Jul 2019 #26
But in my case, the "outside world" is the back of a house seven feet from the fence. Croney Jul 2019 #29
Concertina wire, mines and dogs jberryhill Jul 2019 #28
Oh that's too close to our current horrible reality. Croney Jul 2019 #30

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,280 posts)
1. The people who put in my fences told me that the "good" side of a fence
Sun Jul 14, 2019, 09:06 PM
Jul 2019

faces out, that is, away from the owner's property. If you see the back of the fence that means it's your fence. But you can get a double-sided fence. On one side of my property I had them put up an alternating wood private fence like this one: https://www.midwestfence.com/wood-private-fences/alternating-wood-private-fences/ It looks the same on both sides.

Croney

(4,646 posts)
4. I like that fence! I just sent the link to DH.
Sun Jul 14, 2019, 09:16 PM
Jul 2019

To clarify, the back of the neighbor's house is eight feet from the fence and there is no back door, just some windows. In contrast, on our side the fence is all across our parking area at the end of the driveway, so it's much more visible all day every day.

Thank you for your input.

Farmer-Rick

(10,072 posts)
2. There are many fences that look the same on either side.
Sun Jul 14, 2019, 09:14 PM
Jul 2019

Actually some privacy fences look better from the outside.

We put a woven wire livestock fence between us and our neighbor's pasture inside 6" of our property. It is our fence on our property. We did that so we can control it and don't have to depend on our sometimes flighty neighbors.

RockRaven

(14,784 posts)
3. There's a style of so-called "good neighbor" fence which is popular in my suburban neighborhood
Sun Jul 14, 2019, 09:16 PM
Jul 2019

it looks identical from both sides. There are many variations of it, but the common feature is that instead of mounting the uprights on the sides of the horizontal runners, the uprights are pinned between a slotted horizontal runner below and above (and the bottom runner sitting on an on-edge 2X6 or 2X12 to prevent sagging).

I'd recommend googling "good neighbor fence" and looking at the images that come up -- there are lots of different approaches beyond the style I described, but what they have in common is looking the same on each side. Some look better than others, and if you don't want the "back" of a fence, there are a number of styles which are -- for lack of a better term -- backless.

procon

(15,805 posts)
9. Another popular solution is to alternate
Sun Jul 14, 2019, 09:25 PM
Jul 2019

each section. Some fences come in premade sections so you just put them up in an alternating pattern so both sides see a little front and back fencing.

For fences built on site, it's the same pattern. Just decide on the footage... 8-10 ft is common.

REPUguy

(88 posts)
10. Vinyl Fencing
Sun Jul 14, 2019, 09:32 PM
Jul 2019

Unless your fence has to be made of wood you might want to check it out, there are lots of styles. It has many other advantages too.

Croney

(4,646 posts)
12. I like vinyl, but wood will tie in with some other fencing we have around a storage shed.
Sun Jul 14, 2019, 09:35 PM
Jul 2019

Thank you for the suggestion!

REPUguy

(88 posts)
14. Wood grain vinyl fencing
Sun Jul 14, 2019, 10:29 PM
Jul 2019

I don't know how expensive it is but it's available in many styles and colors. I wish I had researched that before I put up my vinyl fence.

Croney

(4,646 posts)
18. Ha! First I had to challenge the hubby.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 05:26 AM
Jul 2019

But we kissed and made up. 35 years have taught us not to go to bed mad.

Hassin Bin Sober

(26,272 posts)
16. Keep in mind the "good side" is often harder to climb.
Sun Jul 14, 2019, 11:15 PM
Jul 2019

So if security is an issue you might want to consider it.

I prefer having the “bad side” toward me anyway. It’s less boring and you can string lights and add built in shelves.

I just built a fence an I’m in the process of stringing lights now. I’m in Chicago so the yard is smaller. Having the bad side available for decorative purposes makes sense to me.

Croney

(4,646 posts)
19. Now, there's something I hadn't thought of!
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 05:30 AM
Jul 2019

You are creative. In front of our fence are Rose of Sharon bushes, but they are sparse in winter so putting lights on the fence is a lovely idea. Thanks!

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)
27. I also prefer the inside (aka bad side) to be facing me. It makes it look like it's protecting me...
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 10:47 AM
Jul 2019

rather than keeping me out.

Kaleva

(36,146 posts)
20. In my town, the person who puts up the fence gets the back side.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 05:53 AM
Jul 2019

And it cannot straddle a property line.

Croney

(4,646 posts)
21. Yes, I've been reading that that is customary, but I don't think there's a law about it.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 08:46 AM
Jul 2019

At least I hope not! I'm too used to seeing the front side to be comfortable about changing, so I'm lobbying for a fence with two "front" sides, like ones people here have suggested.

Kaleva

(36,146 posts)
23. Check your local ordances and zoning laws.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 09:44 AM
Jul 2019

If i were you, I wouldn't put the fence right on the property line as you may get a new neighbor some day who could prove troublesome about the fence as part of it would be on his or her property.

Blues Heron

(5,898 posts)
26. The back is the good side
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 10:18 AM
Jul 2019

the front is too monotonous. You want the posts and beams etc on the side you look at. Also that's the etiquette - you give the so-called "good" side to the outside world and "suck up" the "bad side" for yourself. The dirty little secret is the "bad side" is actually easier on the eyes than a plain wall of unbroken slats.

Croney

(4,646 posts)
29. But in my case, the "outside world" is the back of a house seven feet from the fence.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 11:49 AM
Jul 2019

Most sources I google do think as you do, so I am ready to admit I might be wrong, but I'm still going to insist on a fence with two "good" sides. I just like it.

Croney

(4,646 posts)
30. Oh that's too close to our current horrible reality.
Mon Jul 15, 2019, 11:53 AM
Jul 2019

It does make my problem seem very trivial by comparison, huh.

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