My neighbor is building a planting area up agains the fence we share. Wont the dirt and moisture cause damage?
Question:He is building up dirt to make a planting area up against he fence. Wont the moisture and wet dirt rot the fence and make it push out?
Answers:
Yes, it may well do that.
Unfortunately, I don't think you can do anything about it (other than talk to him), because he's doing it on his side.
Yes, unless the wood was pressure-treated. then it would be rated for use even buried.
Ask him to install a back piece, to isolate it from the fence.
Since he is building up the dirt area in a right of way and it probably has to do with water drainage, go to your village hall and talk to the engineering department. Most states have a law the prohibits changing the drainage on right of way property.
You may share the fence but who is actually responsible for its maintenance, usually you are only responsible for one side of your property.
Have a word with him and get him to back it with a sheet of polythene or roofing felt before he stacks the dirt.
Isn't the fence in dirt? Don't worry about it, it's fine. Just be happy you have neighbors that care enough to want to make the neighbor hood nice.
most states have laws that say there is a neutral zone on either side of the property line. In my state it is a foot. Meaning you can't build, alter, or plant (trees or other anouyances) that will infringe onto your neihbors dwelling. They're other laws about changing drainage paths also. So you need to do a little homework on your local laws. Trying to get your local goverment to enforce these rules is like pulling teeth! They have bigger problems on hand, like getting thier own road repaved, or sister DWI abolished. Can you talk to these folks about your conserns?
it won' cause any damage if the fence is pressure treated lumber or the fence is made out of a wood that resist rot like cedar
Yes it will allow moisture to stay in contact with the wood.
"earth to wood contact"
If it stays "wet" the pressure treatment, probably Copper Naphthenate will slowly wash away.
If the weather stays fair, and the humidity is high most of the time, and you live in an area known to have subterranean termites (any west or southern coastal regions) then;
Untreated wood will have subterranean termites in 6 months or so.
Treated wood may last 2 years.
Still it is very cheap to replace a plank
If one of the posts break, install a metal pole right next to it (and strap them together), as if you were installing a chain-link fence.
You could also replace any damaged wood with other Non-wood products.
Check with the structural pest control board's website for your state.
(To avoid allowing them into your house, make sure that the fence is NOT Attached to the house)
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