With proper maintenance, a wooden fence can last 15 to 20 years. However, some parts of your fence can get damaged due to exposure and other issues. Eventually, there will come a time when you have to remove sections of the entire fence, making way for a new fence for your property.
So, how to dispose of an old wooden fence? Homeowners have several options, from recycling wood to disposing of them in the dump as construction waste. This guide will teach you what to prepare before disposing of used wood, how to remove fencing materials, and available paid and free disposal options.
Fence Removal Preparations
As you determine how to dispose of an old wooden fence, there are a few things you need to do before removing any parts. First, inspect your fence and determine which sections have rotted out and which panels can be reused or recycled.
Fences overlap or get interconnected in some neighborhoods. In such cases, make sure that you’re going to remove the fence that is on your property. You may have to check property lines to be sure.
Sometimes, phone cables, water lines, power lines, and other public utility hardware may have gotten entangled or have rested on your fence posts or other parts of its structure. Do not attempt to remove these materials. Instead, call the utility company that owns them and have them remove the wires and other hardware before removing the old fence.
Prepare a container large enough for the fencing material that you will remove. Finally, consider the amount of work necessary to complete the job. If the process seems too complicated, you may have to work with seasoned fence contractors.
How to Dispose of an Old Wooden Fence
The first step is the removal of different parts of the fence. Start working on the vertical boards since they’re the easiest to remove. Use a hammer to take them off the frame, stack them so they’re easy to haul, and then remove all the nails using the hammer’s claw end for safety purposes.
After the vertical boards have been taken down, remove the vertical frames. Make sure to remove all nails jutting from the wood to prevent cuts or other injuries. Someone may accidentally step on the nails or get cut when handling the wooden panels.
The last parts of the fence that needs to be removed are the posts, which are usually difficult to uproot. Some posts may be buried in dirt or some lighter substrate. However, some fence posts may also have concrete bases, making them more challenging to pull out.
Use a shovel to dig around the base of the fence posts. Try to remove as much soil and substrate as possible. You will have to use a lever, such as a T-post puller, to pull out fence posts buried deep in the ground.
Posts with concrete bases are more difficult to remove. If you’re not careful, you may pull out the wood, leaving the concrete base behind. When that happens, it is best to call the professionals to remove fence posts buried in concrete.
Disposal of Fence Material
Here are some of the ways you can dispose of the wood from the old fence:
- Repurpose the Wooden Material
Some parts of the fence that have been removed may still be good enough for other purposes. You can take some of the old wood that can still be useful to a local recycling center. The wood can be reused as furniture or other materials. Contractors can help you identify which wood can be used elsewhere. For instance, some wood panels and posts can work well for your deck or patio.
- Chipping
You can use a wood chipper to cut the wood into pieces small enough to use elsewhere. The small wood chips can be used as garden mulch if the wood isn’t treated.
- Give Them Away
If you have friends, neighbors, or anyone in your community looking for wood for their projects, you can donate the old wood to them. As long as the wood has no water damage, someone can find a use for them.
- Dump Them as Construction Waste
Finally, you can throw away the wood. However, it is important to learn about local construction waste regulations. Hiring experienced fencing contractors can help you comply with policies and laws to avoid legal problems. Contractors can dispose of them for you, but this service can come with a fee.
Working With a Seasoned Fencing Company
Nortex Fence & Patio is an experienced fencing company that has helped hundreds of homeowners recycle and dispose of old wooden fences. Our team can remove and dispose of your home’s old fence. Contact us today to get a free estimate.