If the wood fence on your property has seen better days, it may be time to tear it down and make room for a new one. It’s a job you can do yourself if you have the time and energy. However, before you put on your work gloves, there are three things you should do.
1. Notify your neighbors. Clue your neighbors in about your plans. Depending on the location of your fence, it may not be within your rights to tear it down. It’s crucial to determine who owns the fence before removing it.
2. Consult your local government. Call your local government office and ask if you need to submit plans or obtain a permit to demolish a fence. You can also discuss how to dispose of or recycle the old wood and nails.
3. Call your utility companies. Before starting the teardown, find out where your gas, electricity and water lines are buried. Hitting one of these lines while digging out your fence could cause severe damage to your property, neighborhood and yourself.
Tearing down the fence
Once you’re ready to get started on the fence demolition, make sure you have all the equipment you need, including safety goggles, heavy-duty gloves, closed-toe boots, a hammer, a crowbar, and a shovel and a saw.
Next, determine whether you want to keep the fence posts or not. If they’re in good condition, you can leave them be. However, if your posts are split, cracked or rotting, you can cut them at the base or dig them out entirely from their footings.
The best way to remove old fencing is to use a chainsaw or electric saw. Make vertical cuts along each section beside the fence posts. If you don’t have an electrical saw, you can dismantle the fence board-by-board using a hammer. Hammer each board until some of the nails are sticking out. Then, jiggle the nails and board out until they’re free.
Finally, to save yourself the trouble, you can hire a professional fencing company like City Fence Inc. in Toronto. As a full-service company, our team can handle everything from removing your old fence to designing and installing a new one. We carry wood, ornamental iron, chain link and PVC fencing to suit your specifications and style preferences.
Fencing tear down and installation in Toronto
If it’s time to replace the wood fence on your property, turn to the experts at City Fence Inc. Our fence builders have provided commercial customers throughout Toronto with fast and reliable fence installation, repair and maintenance services for over 35 years. Contact us today to schedule a free on-site assessment and estimate.