The Best Positioning for Your Fence: Facing Your Neighbor or Inside Your Property
When installing a fence, the general guideline is to place it in a way that is courteous and often preferred in many communities. However, it's always a good idea to check local regulations or neighborhood agreements as they may have specific guidelines regarding fence installation. Additionally, discussing your plans with your neighbor beforehand can help maintain a good relationship.
Positioning Your Fence: UK Perspective
In the UK, if a fence is not challenged for long enough, it can become the property line. Therefore, it's important to position your posts accurately. Typically, the outside edge of the post should be on or marginally inside the property line.
The most common fencing materials are lattice fence panels, which look exactly the same from either side. If used with concrete posts, these panels can be easily removed or replaced if they become damaged or require re-staining. This type of fence has two identical sides, making maintenance straightforward.
If you use wooden posts, the attachments should be made on your side of the fence, meaning the visible side of the posts is the neighbor's side. For palisade or feather edge fences, all the attachments should also be made on your side of the fence, so the posts are only clearly visible from the neighbor's side. Due to the difficulty of restaining both sides of these types of fences, it is useful to have some form of agreement about fence maintenance.
Practical Considerations for Positioning Your Fence
It is a matter of common decency that the fence positioning should ideally face your neighbor. Typically, both sides of the fence look similar. In cases where they do not, the back side of the fence faces your neighbor's side, similar to hanging curtains.
To keep good relations with your neighbors, the fence posts should be placed on your side, and the flat or show side of the fence should face the neighbor. This positioning ensures that your fence looks aesthetically pleasing on both sides and avoids any disputes.
The positioning of the fence also depends on who is paying for it. If the neighbors are splitting the cost, the fence posts would typically be exactly straddling the boundary line. There is no good reason for a fence to have different-looking sides. A properly designed fence should look good from both sides, so this should not be an issue.
If a fence has a good side and a bad side, this could indicate that the designer or builder is incompetent or that someone has been cutting corners. It is important to ensure that the fence is of high quality and well-designed to avoid future issues and maintain good relations with your neighbors.
By carefully considering the positioning of your fence, you can ensure a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing result, while also complying with local regulations and maintaining good relations with your neighbors.
Conclusion
The installation of a fence is a significant investment, and it's crucial to ensure that it is positioned correctly and in a manner that is courteous and aligns with local guidelines. By taking these factors into account, you can create a well-designed fence that enhances your property and maintains good relations with your neighbors.