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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Building Questions >> Installing a Wooden Fence into Tarmac? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1114603124 Message started by WiZeR on Apr 27^th, 2005, 12:58pm

Title: Installing a Wooden Fence into Tarmac?
Post by WiZeR on Apr 27^th, 2005, 12:58pm

My neighbour and I would like to extend our garden fence up the drive so that it is level with the front of the houses. The drive is tarmac. I was wondering the best method of getting through the tarmac to lay the posts? Is it a case of renting a pnumatic drill? Or sweating blood and tears with a pick axe?

Your advice would be most apprieciated....

Novice DIY'er

Title: Re: Installing a Wooden Fence into Tarmac?
Post by CWatters on Apr 27^th, 2005, 5:54pm

I'm not sure about the installation but best check with the planners that you don't need PP to extend the fence forward. Sometimes they are fussy about anything in front of the building line. On some housing estates there are also covenants in the deeds that cause problems.

Title: Re: Installing a Wooden Fence into Tarmac?
Post by Dewy on Apr 27^th, 2005, 10:55pm

When we moved in a neighbour asked the council what height a fence and gate could go up to in the front of the house.
They told him 3'6".
He didnt like his kids being able to go straight out of the front door with no barrier to stop them as they were so young.
When he went to put the fence up he was told that there was a covenant preventing any wall or fence being above 2' because it was an open plan estate.
The drives and paths to the front of the house were apparently the councils responsibility which allowed the bin men to walk to the gate but if they got injured it was on council property so they couldnt claim from you. The same applied to the postmen.
This gradually changed over the years with people starting o put their bins out to stop the binmen coming in and leaving the side gates open to how it is now where the council insist its a kerbside collection so we must take our own bins out.

The covenant expired many years ago but noone has built a wall or fence in the front garden.

Title: Re: Installing a Wooden Fence into Tarmac?
Post by WiZeR on Apr 28^th, 2005, 10:17am

erm, thanks for the advice on planning. But what I need to know is how to get get through the tarmac. As per the original post

Thanks

Title: Re: Installing a Wooden Fence into Tarmac?
Post by supersparky on Apr 28^th, 2005, 3:43pm

tamac is soft as it comes ;)

a brick hammer /pick axe and trenching shovel is bestbet

ss

Title: Re: Installing a Wooden Fence into Tarmac?
Post by WiZeR on Apr 28^th, 2005, 5:08pm

smashing, thanks.

Is there any specific technique to installing fencing? or is it a case of digging holes, installing the panels and filling the holes with postcrete. Obviously checking for level.

Title: Re: Installing a Wooden Fence into Tarmac?
Post by Lay-z on May 1^st, 2005, 11:39pm

pretty much mate, ive always seen holes cut through surfacing about 9 by 9 inch roughly and i think minimum depth of about 14 inches, 4*4 post sunk into the hole, concrete poured in arround it, the post is squared up in all directions and then the cement is packed down arround the post....might need to put some stays in to hold it in place temp whilst the concrete sets (be ok next day)

you could also use post spikes, not sure if they are used with cement or are an alternate fixing...somone will advice

then its left a day, and mount your panels in, using weather proof fixings ofcourse!

and then make good the surface

Title: Re: Installing a Wooden Fence into Tarmac?
Post by Dewy on May 1^st, 2005, 11:48pm

It all depends on how much hardcore is under the tarmac.
You wont get a post spike in through solid rocks and 14 is nowhere near deep enough for a post.
It needs going in 24" to hold firm.

Title: Re: Installing a Wooden Fence into Tarmac?
Post by JerryD on May 2^nd, 2005, 5:56am

Also I would fit the panels as you go (assuming its a panel fence). You can't get the spacing wrong then.

You'll need to brace this all along as you go, using scaffold boards or lengths of timber.

And yes, 24" deep post holes.

I've used a post hole borer in the past, a two man job with the big one. Possibly not suitable for hardcored areas but a very quick way to dig a post hole.