9 Tips For Tearing Down and Hauling Off an Old Fence in Dallas, Texas

How To Tear Down & Haul Off An Old Fence

There are plenty of great reasons to install a new fence around your home. You might be ready to move, which means a new fence is an important part of improving your curb appeal. Your existing fence could fail to meet your safety standards. You might have simply decided that your home is in dire need of an upgrade. Before you can make the most of your new fence, however, you must first tear down and haul away the old one. These tips for tearing down and hauling off an old fence in Dallas, Texas will help make that process easier.

1. Do your research.

If you aren’t perfectly clear on where your property line is located or you’re unsure about who actually owns the fence, it’s best to check with your neighbor before beginning your fence restoration project. You don’t want to rip the existing fence down, only to discover that it wasn’t yours to begin with! If the fence actually belongs to your neighbor, you’ll need to make some changes to your plans. You’ll also want to have a discussion with the local utility companies to ensure that you won’t be working around vital utility lines. Even digging up your fence posts can unexpectedly knock out power or cable to those around you–and that can add a hefty fine to your fence budget.

2. Choose a great company that will help you from start to finish.

If you’re going to be using a company to install a new fence, work with one that will help you with the process of getting rid of the old one. Even having someone who knows where to take that old fence will help immensely when it comes time to take down your existing fence.

3. Develop a plan.

What will you be doing with the wood from the old fence? You might not want to reuse it for your new fence, but reclaimed wood has a number of uses that will make it valuable around your property. From creating gorgeous artwork to using the wood for firewood or even creating a tree house for the kids, that reclaimed wood can be an amazing resource. If you’re going to reuse the wood and not have it hauled away as junk, however, you’ll need to make sure that you remove all of the nails and screws from the wood before piling it up to use later.

As part of your plan, you will also want to decide whether you’re taking down the whole fence or you’re leaving the posts intact. In many cases, posts that are in good shape can still be used to support the new fence. Deciding this before you begin, however, can make a huge difference in your project.

4. Recruit help.

If you’ll be taking down your fence on your own, it’s important that you have help with the process. Taking down an existing wooden fence is much easier when you have an extra set of hands there to help! Recruiting help is also an important safety measure in taking down your fence, especially if it is some distance from your home or there isn’t anyone in the neighborhood who will notice if you have a problem.

5. Safety first!

You’ll need to be sure you have the appropriate safety gear on hand for your tear-down project: eye protection, heavy gloves, and boots are a must when you’re disassembling a fence.

6. Gear up.

It’s not just safety equipment that you’ll need. You’ll also need to make sure you have the right equipment for your project: a truck to haul away the debris, a drill or screwdriver, claw hammers, and pry bars are a must. If you’ll be removing the posts with the rest of the fence, you’ll need a shovel, too.

7. Start with the gates.

Remove the gates from the hinges and set them on your pile first. This will make it easier to proceed with the rest of your project safely and provide a clear starting point.

8. Remove the panels.

When you put up your fence, you might have been able to put up an entire section at a time. Taking your fence down, however, will require you to pull off the panels one at a time. You have two options: if you aren’t planning to salvage the fence posts, you can saw through the wood to remove the panels. Keeping the fence posts, on the other hand, will require you to use your hammer to bang the boards outward, then pry them loose with a pry bar. If you’re planning to use the wood for another purpose, you’ll want to make sure that you remove nails and screws as you go. Keep up with those items carefully: you don’t want to leave them strewn along the fence line!

9. Deal with the posts.

It’s relatively easy to determine whether or not your fence posts are still sound. Put your weight against them: if they’re easy to move, they probably aren’t structurally sound enough for your new fence. Posts that sit directly in the ground can be wiggled loose and pulled free. If you’re working with posts that have been secured in concrete, you may need to create a lever by nailing boards to your post, then using it to pop them out of the ground.

If you’re ready to install a new fence on your property in the Dallas, Texas area contact us today! We’re ready to work with you to increase the natural beauty and curb appeal of your home through a stunning fence design that will meet all your expectations.