Advice from handy MFPs needed!

merimeaux
merimeaux Posts: 304 Member
edited November 8 in Chit-Chat
My boyfriend and I recently bought an old house that needs some TLC, and one thing we'd like to tackle this spring is ripping out the old homemade fence and replacing it with a new one. Here's a picture of the fence:

fence.jpg

The wooden boards/railroad ties are rotting; the gate is broken; and it's flat out ugly. We're wanting to build a retaining wall of some kind of stone in place of the wood and put in some kind of wooden picket fence where the ugly chain link/wood combo is. However, we don't know the first thing about any of this, and we're too cheap to hire it done (plus doing it ourselves will burn tons of calories!). Could any of the more handy MFPs on the forums point me in the right direction...perhaps to an online resource for this sort of thing, or something like that? Thanks for your help! :)

Replies

  • Carl01
    Carl01 Posts: 9,307 Member
    Get some gloves,a claw hammer,wrecking bar,shovel,level and just have at it.
    Rock will look nice but is probably 10 times or more expensive then you are thinking.
    A picket fence can probably be bought as a kit or in sections pre fab.
    Get acquainted with your local hardware store that sells building materials...they should have people that can help and advise.
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    <--- handsy
  • KnottyJen
    KnottyJen Posts: 1,070 Member
    <--- handsy

    THIS is exactly what I was thinking. Another reason I love you, Q. :-)
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    check out HGTV.com!
  • CaWaterBug8
    CaWaterBug8 Posts: 1,040 Member
    <--- handsy

    She does great work.
  • I_give_it_2_u_str8
    I_give_it_2_u_str8 Posts: 680 Member
    hmm... if you dont do a decent job, the pressure may push the sidwalk out gradually. may wanna check with your municipality to see if theres by-laws against this - they shouldnt have built the sidewalk a foot under lol maybe they'll come grade your yard for you
  • p0pr0cksnc0ke
    p0pr0cksnc0ke Posts: 1,283 Member
    YARDCRASHERS!!! Hang out at your local hardware store until they show up!
  • onefitdiva
    onefitdiva Posts: 331 Member
    You can google and find all kinds of info, also try youtube. But I have done a lot to my home and have either taken a class at Home Depot or Lowes and/or purchased a "how to" book and went from there.
  • merimeaux
    merimeaux Posts: 304 Member
    hmm... if you dont do a decent job, the pressure may push the sidwalk out gradually. may wanna check with your municipality to see if theres by-laws against this - they shouldnt have built the sidewalk a foot under lol maybe they'll come grade your yard for you

    This is interesting...the house was built in the 1930s, and now that you mention it, I notice that our neighbors' yards are level with the sidewalk. Weird...
  • I_give_it_2_u_str8
    I_give_it_2_u_str8 Posts: 680 Member
    hmm... if you dont do a decent job, the pressure may push the sidwalk out gradually. may wanna check with your municipality to see if theres by-laws against this - they shouldnt have built the sidewalk a foot under lol maybe they'll come grade your yard for you

    This is interesting...the house was built in the 1930s, and now that you mention it, I notice that our neighbors' yards are level with the sidewalk. Weird...

    you shouldnt have to pay out of your pocket to prevent the town/city's infrastructure from deteriorating. besides the ROW (the title to your property) doesnt extend all the way out to the sidewalk - so some of that property is theirs. i would just call them up and ask about it
  • merimeaux
    merimeaux Posts: 304 Member
    YARDCRASHERS!!! Hang out at your local hardware store until they show up!

    haha, this would be a blessing--I also want to put in a small patio made out of stones (I forget what that's called), possibly under a pergola. We have two old grapevines and I think the pergola would be a nice addition. Plus the previous owners left NO landscaping other than a barren mulched area in the front of the house that matches the bricks, so it looks like the house is melting. haha.
  • I_give_it_2_u_str8
    I_give_it_2_u_str8 Posts: 680 Member
    just say that this 'retaining wall' is causing drainage issues, and you want to take it out - but if you do, it may effect the sidewalk. they will have someone look at it ;)
  • merimeaux
    merimeaux Posts: 304 Member
    just say that this 'retaining wall' is causing drainage issues, and you want to take it out - but if you do, it may effect the sidewalk. they will have someone look at it ;)

    oooh, yes :) Great approach!
  • bikermike5094
    bikermike5094 Posts: 1,752 Member
    retaining walls are tricky. moisture, freezing and swelling, run off.. all that plays into setting one up. Check on your local building codes first. Being that close to a public access sidewalk, you could run into some real liability issues here if its not done correctly. That wall could bulge/collapse.
  • CatseyeHardcast
    CatseyeHardcast Posts: 224 Member
    Retaining wall is tough. replacing the existing wall with new treated pine sleepers would be the cheapest option. They even have these steel posts to make it even easier (no drilling, screwing or nailing)

    http://www.whiteswires.com.au/Products/WhitesWirescatalogue/tabid/123/ProdID/236/bRetain-iT-range--Converts-Sleepers-into-Wallsb.aspx

    May not look as nice as brick but will be an improvement on the one that has been there for at least 30 years.

    The picket fence should be pretty easy and as mentioned many come in kit form.
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