Before you build anything that requires you go anywhere near your neighbor’s property line, it’s essential that you know where those lines are. Often an otherwise good relationship between neighbors gets ruined when a fence goes up in what one or the other considers to be the wrong place. When you’re starting to plan for a fence that might border on your neighbor’s property, there are a few things that you’ll need to look into before you start digging for the posts.
Right at the beginning you’ll want to get your facts right, so that you can be sure you know where the lines are, and the best way to do that is by getting a copy of and studying the lot plan that was likely obtained when you purchased the house. If you don’t have a copy or can’t find the one that was obtained, you local municipality should have one for you. Remember, that the surveyors drove metal stakes into the ground when they finished their job, since that is the only way your plan could have been registered.
If you can find one of these stakes, your property plan, and a little basic geometry, it will enable you to find the boundaries in a short period of time. One of the best ways to determine the boundaries of your property is to drive marker stakes in beside the metal bars. Once you’ve established these boundaries, a few simple techniques will enable you to map the location of the fence line in an accurate way. Although some municipalities have decided that they won’t get involved in boundary disputes between neighbors, a location survey from a reputable company will serve as legal notice if any disputes arise.
And even after that fence is done and in place, it’s important to remember that you need to maintain it so that it will last for years, especially if it is wooden. There are some simple fixes to the most common problems, and these generally don’t cost a lot. Still, it’s important to remember that any situation left untended over a period of time will cost more in the long run. Here’s a good example of a quick fix. A loose fence post set in soil can often be stabilized be pressing down around the post with a tamping bar.
If the fence post needs even more added support, bolt a sister post beside it. If the post if extremely damaged, the only course of action might be to replace it completely. Still, it’s important to remember that the first step in any of these procedures is to find the exact location of your property lines.
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