Nightmare neighbour and new fence panel!

[Northernlass1234]

Background: elderly lady 70s, lives alone, rarely goes out, has two adult sons, one nice, one not - we were previously friendly but had loft extension and neighbour got very upset about lots of things - that was two years ago and i thought things were de-frosting

anyway she texted saying she was repairing fence post but got home from work to find this - see pic.

anything i can do as she clearly did this to wind me up?

Presumably she has the same view so it's not like she is doing it just to be annoying. In your pic they look the same design?

You could ask to paint/stain them if that bothered.

It's madness to expect anyone, particularly a single pensioner, to replace a full set of undamaged fences just because you can't be bothered painting/waiting for them to weather.

Did you take that photo on a potato OP

Um, repairing the fence almost certainly means replacing the panel.

As far as I can see, the panel is exactly the same design. It's a different colour because it's new. It will look exactly like the old ones over time.

I genuinely don't understand what your gripe is.

How is it a different design?

pin hole potato 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Its a functional fence panel, replaced at no cost to you.

You being anally retentive isnt her problem. Paint the whole damn lot on your side, problem solved. Or move.

I genuinely dont see the problem.

HAving had another look, it is a bad pic but could it be that the "different design" is actually them having put in the panel upside down? If its a slot in one, you could switch it around when she isnt there and she probably wont notice.

Even if she did say 'repairing', it's often difficult to know how easy it will be to repair something like a fence panel - and far from uncommon to reach the conclusion that a new fence panel is going to be the most sensible course of action.

I’ve done this with a fence panel that blew down. It’s how they come, god knows where you would go to find pre-weathered ones as suggested up thread. Better go and check my neighbours don’t now hate me.

To be honest, when you see a broken panel replaced by a similarly-weathered but unbroken panel, it's usually because the person has gone around the corner at night and nicked somebody else's fence panel. At least this neighbour obviously bought a new one and didn't just steal one from another house.

Did youn expect her to replace it with an equally ancient panel , that has been outside for a decade or more, so they looked the same?

Just paint your side of the fence.

If its a slot in one, you could switch it around when she isnt there and she probably wont notice.

Unless she's commissioned a beautiful mural on her side of that particular panel and you leave her with a likeness of her grandkids standing on their heads

Can't see how that new one differs part from in colour. Were the same posts used? It is tricky to repair panels effectively.

Goodness, how dare she replace a broken old fence panel with a brand new one. You would think she could have made more effort and replaced it with another manky one. What a total bitch.

Oh and I wouldnt consider 70's to be elderly these days. The women I know in their 70's do far much more than I do, and have far more fun! I am a hair's breadth from 50 and spend my time working, looking after the kids and being knackered, my mother spends her time doing voluntary work with islotaed elderly people (Av age....85) hill walking, gardening and lunching with other ladies of a certain age!

And if that is the case then its worth doing for the shits and giggles

Elderly is not a value judgement. What you do is not related to the term. 70's is elderly whether you're having fun or not.

Is this a reverse?!

In case it's helpful to the OP and anyone else reading...There is a way of accelerating the aging process of wood. You make up a mixture of vinegar and steel wool (a brillo pad - having first washed out the soap - works ). Leave the steel wool soaking in the vinegar for a few days, and then paint the wood with the vinegar solution. It turns the wood silvery-grey, and continues working over the next few days. Google 'aging wood with steel wool and vinegar' for tutorials. I've used it very successfully on untreated weatherboard - not sure if it will work as well on treated wood.

She repaired the fence by replacing the panel. It is rarely cost effective to repair a panel when it gets that knackered. I think you mixed up fence and panel in your head but are now fixated on replace and repair.

Go and ask her if you can stain the fence. It might improve your "garden", does the rest of it look as neglected?

Trust me, you’re lucky she’s actually fixed her fence and maintaining everyone’s privacy.

Sorry to derail but how do you know which fence is yours?

What is the issue?

it’s a new panel. And looks nice.

the rest of the fence hasn’t been maintained, that’s why it looks awful. Just paint everything on your side the same colour, it will look nice and last for longer. Fences need regular maintenance. The old bits look scabby because they haven’t been looked after.

Looks the same style but newer. Sorry but that alone doesn't make her a problem neighbour!

Eh?

She could have just decided she didn't need a fence at all.

Ok I’m done - thanks - maybe i will calm down about it!

how can i delete this post?

Don't delete the fence post, she might replace it and you will hate it!