Day 1
Today I went to two different DIY stores to get an idea of what is available and prices.
I came away with two brochures, one of which included a ‘how-to-do-it’ leaflet. Just a rough consideration of prices is encouraging. It looks as though something just under £300 is possible.
At first I was concerned about fixing the fence to the posts, since my current fence is secured to the posts using nails. I was imagining finding that difficult to do without splitting the wood, and felt it was not going to be that long lasting. But I discovered that fence clips are available which go round each post and then fix to the fence.
I also found out that to prevent wooden fences rotting where they meet the ground I need to buy ‘Gravel Boards’, which are normally concrete (can also be preserved timber) and about 6″ high. These go on the bottom, next to the ground, and the fence sits on them.
To prevent wooden posts rotting at the bottom I’ll require Metal Post Sockets. These sockets have a metal spike which is driven into the ground. To protect the metal sides of the socket when it is hammered into the ground I’ll need a Drive-in-Tool (a chunk of strong timber, or metal, which fits into the socket).
I must get myself a sledgehammer (or maybe I can borrow one from my builder brother?).
At the moment my main concern is the length of fencing I require. The fencing I want comes in 6ft lengths, but of course the total length of my fence is not an exact multipe of 6ft!
The length of my fence, which goes from my house wall to a wall at the end of my garden, is about 9.76m. This equates to about 32ft. So I am going to have a little bit left over!
So a few problems to solve. Let’s see how we go.
Day 2
By the way I am spending a short time each day on this. I do have other important things to attend to!
I have now worked out a more precise estimate of costs – not sure yet what sort of discounts might be available when I get to the store.
So, using just one store’s prices, here is my list:
A total for the fence of £203.77
A total for the Gate of £44.78
A grand total of £248.55
Well much better than my best quote anyway!
Day 3
I spent just a short time today considering things. One thing I have not mentioned is the fact that the wall at the far end of the garden needs a little repair. So this means that I will need to do a bit of touching up, or pointing as it is called, something I have not done before. And also can I really do it all without another person to help – not sure about the gate for instance! I think a call to my brother is necessary!
Day 4
So what progress? Well I have chatted to my brother and he has also lent me a sledgehammer (plus a spirit level if I need it). He gave me some general advice which was helpful. One point he made was that I should put up the posts gradually, as I put up the fence itself. In other words it is not a good idea to put up all the posts first, because however accurate your are with placement just a small difference in fence length could cause great problems. He also reckons the wall is not that bad and any touching up could be left until fence is erected. Another suggestion was the use of wooden batons, nailed to parts of my fence to keep them upright, whilst I am placing the posts.
So am I ready to buy the fence and the gate? One thing I am not sure about yet is delivery – uncertain about the firm’s delivery service and what it costs.
Day 5
Today was very hot and poor old me felt very lazy. I also had to mow the lawn and do various other things. Anyway I have put some thinking time in! I checked again, very carefully, the length of fencing I require. Unfortunately the fencing that I am replacing has one much longer section which means that, using the set 6ft sections, I am going to be about 6″ short! Also the new posts have a smaller width, which increases the shortfall to about 8″. So the only solution is to use at least one extra post, either at one end, or maybe at both ends. The shop does provide wider posts, but they do not provide the spikes to seat these. I think I have made up my mind exactly what I need now, so to the shop I go during the week.
I am also thinking seriously about re-laying my patio! Now shall I do it before the fence, or afterwards?
Day 6
Today I actually purchased all the ‘bits’ for the fence. Here is the price list:
Total cost = £258.29
Day 7
So there it all is laying on my lawn – ready for some action!!
The driver who brought the fence materials gave me some advice – he suggested I treat the wooden gravel boards; even though they have been treated already. In fact he reckoned that concrete gravel boards were much better – oh well just have to make do! First job then is to look into what is the best treatment available. I am also wondering if I need some wooden supporting trestles for when I need to do any sawing.
Day 8
It was down to the store again today. Bought some creosote, gloves, spirit and a brush.
Creosoted the gravel boards and all the posts. Straight forward, but a bit mucky; and it was very hot – sweat poured off me. I was in and out of the house to have a ‘wipe down’. Tomorrow is a bank holiday, so a chance to make more progress.
Day 9
What a horrible, rainy today!
Still I managed to make progress. Knocked down the first part of the fence, nearest to the house. I really needed a claw hammer, to force out some of the nails; but I managed (used a pair of grass-cutting shears instead!). I will, however, be getting myself a claw hammer very soon. So now I have a pile of wood which needs removing – down to the recycling depot later in the week I think.
Day 10
I think it is worth pointing out to everyone that I do not always spend much time each day on this project. I spend a few hours sometimes, other days it may be just a few minutes. Today it was about 45 minutes.
I took some of the old wood down to the recycling depot – probably about half of it (car also contained a fair amount of cardboard, so not much room for the wood). Then I spent the rest of the time contemplating a couple of problems.
I want to fix one of my posts against an old post which is still fixed to the wall. How do I do this? Maybe I can get some metal joiners, or it may be a case of using very long bolts, or screws. The post I plan to use is 10cm square.
The other problem is the ground. The ground where the fence is to go is not particularly level, with some old cement which will need to be replaced since a lot of it is badly breaking up.
Day 11
Okay some definite progress – two posts have been erected, more of the old fence knocked down!
Doesn’t sound much, but there was quite a lot involved.
The first post had to be attached to an old, but sound, post affixed to the wall. I also had to shorten this first post. The post is 100mm square and took some sawing to make it shorter. My old saw has seen better days and is not too sharp. So there I was finding it difficult to keep the saw going. It may have helped to use a chisel (if I’ve got one!) to wedge the cut open slightly and allow the saw to keep going. But I perservered, attacking the post from different sides on occasion, and finally made it.
Then I had to drill holes at 4 places for the fixing screws. But my electric drill was minus the special tool for tightening the chuck, and the drills were just a little short to drill all the way through. I managed to tighten the chuck easily when drills were sitting fully in the chuck, but it was much harder to tighten properly when drills were not pushed right in (which I needed to do to be able to just about drill all the way through the post).
The second post was a little easier – just a matter of driving the metal post spike into the ground and placing the post into it. That has been done and I am now ready to put up my first bit of the new fence.
Days 12 onwards!
What with holidays (lovely trip to Ukraine!), a bit of rain and my ongoing business, progress has faltered over many weeks. I have got to the stage now where there is just the last section of fence to slot in. But this last step has to be left until I fit the new gate. This is because I am using the last section to act as a temporary gate! So I have fitted one new gate post and have started on the other new post. I have still to actually construct the gate from the kit I bought initially. I need to decide on height of gate and the correct width to fit the gap I have.
What I did not predict is the number of new tools that I have needed to purchase. Since I was not a regular ‘do-it-yourselfer’ I did not have a vast set of tools. Maybe I could have borrowed a few more, but I prefer to have my own. The questions is will I use these tools in the future? I do have a shed that really needs replacing; so that could be my next project.