How to Remove an Old Fence

Your fence has served you well over the years that you’ve had it. Maybe it came with the house as-is when you moved in.

Perhaps you had the fence built some time ago and have noticed that it’s wearing thin lately.

Whatever the case might be, you’re in the market for a new fence. But first… you need to take the current one down. That shouldn’t be taken lightly.

In fact, removing a fence takes a bit more thought than most people realize. There are factors to consider before starting the fence removal. Here’s how to remove a fence and make room for the new one.

1. Is It Time Yet?

While you might be starting to research how to properly remove a fence, you might still be indecisive on whether it’s time to pull the trigger.

It’s completely understandable that you’d want to make sure. After all, you don’t want to pour money into a repair project prematurely.

Fortunately, there are signs for when it’s time to replace your fence. When those signs start to pile up, that’s when you know it is in fact time to do so.

For example, are there holes in your fence? Is the wood splintered and jaded? Is the wood rotting? If even one of those is a “yes”, then it’s a bad look and needs to be corrected right away.

2. Is the Fence Yours to Remove?

One mistake that many homeowners make is tearing down a fence that doesn’t belong to them. You don’t want to run into a situation where you’ve torn down a piece of your neighbor’s property.

If the fence was there before you bought the home, ask your neighbor if they were the ones that originally built the fence.

After you know in full confidence that the fence is yours to tear down, you can continue with the rest of the fence removal process.

3. Consider the Circumstances

Not all fence removal projects are created equal. Some require a lot more hassle and manpower than others.

Depending on the type of fence you’re dealing with, you may be in for a project that’s over your level of expertise. If so, it’s always better to play it safe and call in a trusted fencing expert.

For example, if you live in a region where the ground is made up of a significant amount of clay, it will take a lot of digging to reach the bottom of the fence posts.

You also want to consider how much room for error there is. You’re bound to have a mishap or two if you’ve never removed a fence before… Is your fence in too close quarters to the neighbors’?

4. Determine the Best Route to Take

When deciding to remove a fence and build a new one, there are essentially two routes that you can choose: do it yourself or hire a professional to do it.

If you have prior experience with fencing or know someone that does, then you might be able to handle the removal process without a professional. However, building the fence is an entirely different story.

For those of you that don’t have much knowledge of tools or the necessary handyman equipment, you may not want to start now. Removing a fence has a lot of moving pieces to it, and a mistake or two could wind up being costly.

Consider this: what might take you an entire weekend to do (weather permitting) can be done by a professional crew in a matter of hours.

5. Assemble the Proper Equipment

The amount and type of equipment that you’ll need depend on the type of fence that you’re trying to remove.

For example, if you’re removing a chain-link fence, then you’ll want a shovel, pliers, gloves, safety goggles, and a reciprocating saw.

However, if you’re going to be taking down a wood fence, then you’ll need a shovel, hammer, gloves, wrench, and C-clamp.

There are several pieces of safety equipment you’ll want to consider as well. No matter the type of fence you’re removing, you’ll always want to protect your eyes and hands from harm.

6. Plan According to the Type of Fence You Have

One of the biggest factors in how you should proceed with removing your fence is to consider the type of fence you have.

For instance, the process of removing a vinyl fence is entirely different than removing a wood fence. The same goes for removing a chain-link fence, or any other type that you own.

There are cost-effective services that will remove your fence and make a seamless transition from removing your old one to installing your new one.

You’d be surprised to find out that you’re actually not saving all that much by doing the removal yourself. After all the time, resources, and energy you’ve placed into removing it, it’s better to have a trusted service remove the fence instead.

Leave the Fence Removal for the Professionals

Now that you’ve seen all the preparation and factors to consider when attempting to perform a DIY fence removal, it’s clear that you should call an expert instead.

Otherwise, you and your family will have to shut down the entire backyard for a DIY removal project that could experience tons of setbacks and last for several weekends.

Be sure to read this article on several other signs you need a professional to step in and take charge of the fencing project for your residence.

For more inquiries, please begin by filling out our online form for a free estimate and we’ll be happy to assist you further!