So, it’s time to remove that fence in your yard that you have been planning to get rid of for a while now, and you’re finally ready to begin. But you don’t know exactly where to start. Here are some helpful tips to make the fence removal a little bit easier.
- Getting Everything in Order. Even though it’s not something you may have thought about before, make sure you have property rights to that fence you’re planning to remove. If it crosses onto a neighbor’s land or is on the shared property line, you might need their permission to remove it. It’s a good idea to get any permission needed in writing as well, for your records. Once you have all the paperwork in order, you can grab your tools and begin the process. You are going to need: a saw or chainsaw, a sledgehammer, and a crowbar (or like items). A pair of gloves wouldn’t be a bad idea, either. Things can get messy!
- How’s it looking? If you plan to put another fence up after removing this one, you might want to keep your original fence posts if they are still in good shape. You could save them and reuse them for the next fence. You have two options:
- Option 1: Keeping the Original Fence Posts: Take your saw and vertically cut along the side the fence post to disconnect it from the post. Do this on each side of the post and carefully remove the interior fencing from the posts. Place the fencing aside for later disposal.
- Option 2: Getting Rid of The Fence Posts: If you don’t plan to keep the posts from the original fence, remove the fencing as instructed in option one and then take your saw and cut the post off at the base. Set the post aside with the rest of your fencing.
- Remember that it’s easy to recycle wood waste or other fencing waste by turning it into something new. Get creative with your scraps and turn an old fence into a beautiful art project.
- Dealing with the Concrete. Some of the fence posts may not be placed in concrete blocks, and in this case, you can simply wiggle the post back and forth until you can lift it out of the ground. If your fence was placed into concrete to hold it in place, you can either choose to leave the concrete squares in your yard or remove them from the ground. Most people choose to have them removed, or need to have them removed, if they are erecting another fence in the same spot. If you wish to remove the concrete squares from your yard, you can go about this in two ways.
- Shovel and a Crowbar. You should dig next to the cement block until you can push the crowbar underneath the block to remove it from the ground. This is easiest done with two people.
- Sledgehammer. Take your sledgehammer or similar tool and break up the cement block, removing the pieces from the ground after.
- Proper Disposal. For all the fencing you do not plan on keeping, you’ll want to dispose of it. Garbage collection companies may have different policies on how to properly dispose of your fencing. Calling your local disposal company and asking how to go about getting your fencing removed or picked up is going to be your best option.
Remember to keep your own safety in mind though. If you feel like you cannot safely complete the removal, stop and call someone that can help you finish the task.
Now that your fence has been removed, you can sit back and enjoy the new view or call us at Central Fence to erect a brand new fence in its spot.
