Property/DIY
Neighbours have ruined my fence
ElsLouise · 14/03/2023 08:12
Very long story short, but my new neighbour has ruined our fence (in our deeds) by staining their side without our permission. They lied and told me it was a treatment, when I asked them when it would dry clear (which they also assured me it would do!) As it's a stain, it cannot be jet washed or sanded off. It's affected about 30/40ft of around 120ft of our boundary. We hate the colour so will not be staining ours, plus it would only damage our other fences when it seeps through. I just want to know where I stand. I've reached out, they offered to go halves on the stain (jokers!!... Not happening) in my eyes the only way to rectify this is by replacing the whole thing. I've read that this is criminal damage?
I've reached out and they were semi playing ball, then she deleted Facebook so I posted her a note and have not heard back so will be knocking on her door this week but wanted some further info first. They also have stopped painting the rest of their fences which to me proves guilt!
Excuse the dead winter grass these images were taken last year lol. It's died down a little but the darkness is still there.
bussteward · 15/03/2023 11:22
Another option, which would take time, would be to verrry verrry gently prise each slat apart and force through blobs of neon paint to the neighbour’s side to replicate the ugly seepage on your side. Purple and lime green gets my vote. Then you paint your side a dark green-black and grow plants up it: the dark fence plus plants gives the impression of a larger garden. Deny all knowledge of neon paint when the neighbours pop round; you’ve never even heard the word neon.
ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 15/03/2023 12:23
ReluctantFishLady · 14/03/2023 08:40
I can see why you are annoyed, I would be too, but after all this time I think you need to calm down about it. Talk of criminal damage and replacing the fence is way over the top. Do you really want to enter into a legal dispute with your next door neighbours and do irreparable damage to relations with them? They probably just didn't forsee this would happen and had no malicious intent agains you and your fence.
As annoying as it is, it is easily fixed by picking a stain or paint that you like and doing your side. Id ask them to pay for that, but not a whole new fence, that's just ridiculous.
Seriously?
CorsicaDreaming · 15/03/2023 13:08
I'd be tempted to find a Cuprinol Shades colour I liked (I like the Dusky Gem, a subtle grey)) and paint it. Check a small inconspicuous area first to ensure it will key on top of the dribbles of their dark staining. Cuprinol seems to stick to anything so it probably will.
Unfortunately some is likely to dribble though and run down their side of the fence... but them's the breaks...
picklemewalnuts · 15/03/2023 14:40
If I was forced to stain it, after all this, I'd choose a colour called 'You're a dick' and lt it dribble down on their side.
But the reality is you need to live with them so it isn't feasible.
Those of you saying it's no big deal, could you please think twice before painting your side of someone else's fence, because it might be TO THE OWNER OF THE FENCE !?
If you don't like the fence, ask the owner about staining it, and if it's a no then put your own up just inside or put plants on your own side.
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 15/03/2023 21:06
donttellmehesalive · 15/03/2023 16:10
Everybody wants to assert their rights over their fence until it rots away or falls down, then they usually want their neighbour to pay half IME.
We didn't. We wanted to pay so we could get a decent fence! It also gave DH the opportunity to kill their ivy that they'd allowed to grow up and wreck the previous one
bellabasset · 16/03/2023 09:15
You probably have legal cover with your buildings insurance so you could contact them and get them to write to the neighbours telling them what they cannot do to the fence ie colour, screw in posts, attach climbers. It looks as though it's post and rail rather than a fence panel.
This is an old fence which has silvered which is how OP wanted theirs to look. As it's on old allotment behind my garden and windy gaps were left between planks. (Ignore the naughty cat 🐈 who despite a metal hip is a hunter and likes to bring me and his owners back his catches.
Barannca · 16/03/2023 10:11
but you also need to re-treat them, ideally every year or every couple of years. Exposure to sun and rain damages the wood and once the water can get deep into the wood it will start rotting away.
not if the wood is treated properly. We E have a lot of Wii's in our garden When the builders said it was designed to fade over time but wouldn't need treating again for at least ten years. The fence is now 11 years old still very strong and a lovely natural colour. When we do treat it we won't stain it, it's possible to use a non colour treatments.
fruitbrewhaha · 16/03/2023 12:04
TwigTheWonderKid · 14/03/2023 09:24
Yes, they shouldn't have done it and I would definitely get them round to see the damage.
However, I don't understand why anyone would want to have such an enormous bare expanse of fence in their garden. Imagine how beautiful it would look if you get rid of that gravel and plant some lovely, compact trees and climbers along there. You'll cover the mess and gain a much more attractive garden.
This.
Dig some flowerbeds and put in some shrubs and perennials. You’ll have a much better view all round
fruitbrewhaha · 16/03/2023 12:05
bellabasset · 16/03/2023 09:15
You probably have legal cover with your buildings insurance so you could contact them and get them to write to the neighbours telling them what they cannot do to the fence ie colour, screw in posts, attach climbers. It looks as though it's post and rail rather than a fence panel.
This is an old fence which has silvered which is how OP wanted theirs to look. As it's on old allotment behind my garden and windy gaps were left between planks. (Ignore the naughty cat 🐈 who despite a metal hip is a hunter and likes to bring me and his owners back his catches.
How can anyone ignore the cat! He’s a beauty.
SchoolTripDrama · 16/03/2023 12:18
ElsLouise · 14/03/2023 08:12
Very long story short, but my new neighbour has ruined our fence (in our deeds) by staining their side without our permission. They lied and told me it was a treatment, when I asked them when it would dry clear (which they also assured me it would do!) As it's a stain, it cannot be jet washed or sanded off. It's affected about 30/40ft of around 120ft of our boundary. We hate the colour so will not be staining ours, plus it would only damage our other fences when it seeps through. I just want to know where I stand. I've reached out, they offered to go halves on the stain (jokers!!... Not happening) in my eyes the only way to rectify this is by replacing the whole thing. I've read that this is criminal damage?
I've reached out and they were semi playing ball, then she deleted Facebook so I posted her a note and have not heard back so will be knocking on her door this week but wanted some further info first. They also have stopped painting the rest of their fences which to me proves guilt!
Excuse the dead winter grass these images were taken last year lol. It's died down a little but the darkness is still there.
Beautiful cat! 😻
seratoninmoonbeams · 16/03/2023 13:53
ThatsNiceVeryNice · 14/03/2023 08:50
Some posters don't understand stand what normal weathered fences should look like. There is nothing obviously wrong with the OPs fence other than the ugly stains that have seeped through from the neighbours.
I was going to say this. This sort of wood comes pre treated. If you leave it it naturally weathers and lasts just as long as if you mess about with stains and things. I prefer the natural look and this seepage from their awful dark colour would really piss me off.
AppleandSpice · 16/03/2023 15:07
I’d be Pissed off too, not for the fact they’ve stained thier side but for the mess that they’ve left on your side.
My Neighbours decided to paint their whole garden dark grey but using a spray gun….my whole (natural stone) fence along thier side had to be repainted to get rid of the splatter, not only did it splatter my fence but also my back door, the side of my house and anything that was stood in front of the fence was duly splattered as well!
(I may or may not have accidentally dripped my paint onto their newly painted fence covering up the mess! 😉)
But anyway I’d give it a go with a pressure washer, I’ve successfully removed stain and paint from fence/decking wood taking it back to the original colour. Just be careful not to get too close with the nozzle or you can damaged the wood. But with a bit of patience it can be done.
TheMatriarchy · 16/03/2023 15:49
You could try small claims court if you are sufficiently annoyed. I dont know what the outcome would be. But if you own the fence and paid for it and they damaged it then I would think they need to put it right. Id be livid I had to paint my fence because CF neighbours did something they had no right to.
Youcancallmeirrelevant · 16/03/2023 15:54
They probably didn't realise they weren't supposed to as not 'their' fence. In real life, not mumsnet, everyone paints/stains their side of the fence. I would just get them to fully cover the cost and labour of getting all yours done.
Fence panels need painting/staining anyway to protect them, what was your plan?
bellabasset · 16/03/2023 15:58
My untreated fence is over 15 years old - it's thick wood. OP's looks as though it's post and rail rather than fence panels so is thicker. She now needs to look at what she can do. I'd be inclined to spray it with garden buildings paint, a silvery grey, might work knowing it'll show the other side. Say it's 20' I'd do both sides of the garden to match providing it won't upset another neighbour.
@ElsLouise
ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 16/03/2023 15:59
I've never lived anywhere that people felt free to paint or otherwise deface a fence that isn't theirs. I chose my fencing because it was likely to age to a silver-grey. If the neighbours don't like it, I suppose they could put up their own fence. But painting or otherwise damaging mine would lead to a problem.
That said, if not a natural aged silver, i do prefer the darker stained fences that are popular today; they provide a more elegant backdrop than the pine-y look. In the OP's shoes I'd ask the neighbor to pay for doing my sides of the fence too. Just to get the situation over with.
picklemewalnuts · 16/03/2023 16:20
PigletJohn · 16/03/2023 16:02
A jet-washer will blast off fence stain.
It will leave woodgrain slightly roughened but this does not matter on a fence.
Do you really think so, given that it's coming through at the knots? I'd assume it's right through the wood, not on the surface, so can't be blasted off.
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