Fence replacement and installation on Cincinnati's west side

Replacing old chain link: what comes out and what goes in

Older chain link often has posts set in concrete footings that have held for years, top rails that have rusted at the joints, and fabric that sags or has been patched. Removing it properly means pulling or cutting the posts and dealing with those old footings. Sometimes footings can be broken out and removed; sometimes they are left in place and new posts are set beside them. Either way, the proposal should say which approach is planned and how the old material will be hauled away.

Many homeowners replace chain link with wood privacy fencing for screening, or with vinyl for low upkeep. Others stay with chain link but upgrade to vinyl-coated black or green fabric and posts, which looks much better and still lets air and light through. Aluminum is a good choice where you want an open, cleaner look along the front or around a garden.

• Ask whether old footings will be removed or new posts offset from them.
• Confirm hauling and disposal of old fabric, posts and concrete.
• Check whether a shared fence needs a neighbor conversation first.
• Decide if the new fence follows the old line or a surveyed one.

Steep yards and changing grades

West side hills mean many yards drop noticeably from front to back or from one side to the other. A fence on that kind of ground has to be either racked, with the rails following the slope, or stepped, with level sections dropping at each post. Wood can usually be racked neatly, and so can many chain link and aluminum systems. Rigid vinyl privacy panels are more often stepped, which leaves wedge-shaped gaps under each section that may need filling if you have a small dog.

Steep yards also affect how posts behave. Soil on a slope tends to creep downhill slowly, especially through repeated winter freeze-thaw cycles, and posts near the top of a bank can lean over time. Setting posts deeper, below frost depth, with well-shaped concrete footings helps, and so does keeping the fence line back from the steepest drop where you can.

Retaining walls and fences on top of them

Retaining walls are common on west side lots, from short landscape walls to taller walls holding back a hillside. Homeowners often want a fence along the top of one, either for privacy or as a safety rail at the drop. That is not as simple as bolting posts to the wall cap. A fence adds wind load and leverage, and posts driven or cored into a wall can crack blocks or disturb the wall's drainage.

In many cases the better answer is to set the fence posts in the soil behind the wall, far enough back that they do not load the wall. For taller walls, or walls that are already bulging, cracking or leaning, get the wall looked at before adding a fence. Wall repair or rebuilding is a separate kind of work from fencing, and a fence contractor should tell you plainly if the wall is the real issue. Also check with the township or city whether a fence atop a wall has height or design requirements.

Narrow side yards, alleys and tight access

Older lots in Westwood and parts of Delhi can have narrow side yards between houses, sometimes with only a few feet between the foundation and the lot line. Gates in those spots need careful sizing so they swing without hitting downspouts, meters or air conditioning units, and so you can still get a mower or trash can through. Placing a gate a few feet back from the front corner of the house is often more practical than trying to fit it flush.

Some streets back onto alleys, which changes both the design and the work plan. A rear fence along an alley may need a vehicle or garbage-can gate, and the posts must stay on your side of the line rather than in the alley right of way. Alleys can also make material delivery easier, or harder if they are narrow or steep. Work out access during the site visit so the contractor knows how posts, concrete and old fence debris will move in and out.

Mature trees, roots and falling limbs

Established neighborhoods mean big trees, and big trees mean roots at post locations and limbs that come down in spring and summer storms. A contractor should adjust post spacing to avoid large roots and hand-dig near trunks. When a limb lands on a fence, the damage is often limited to a few sections, and a repair may be straightforward if the posts are sound. If the posts snapped or pulled out, or if the fence was already aging, it can be a reasonable time to replace the whole run.

Permits, neighbors and the site visit

Green Township, Delhi Township and the City of Cincinnati each have their own rules for fences, so the first step is knowing which one your address falls under. Check height limits, front-yard rules and whether a permit is needed with the right office. If a fence is shared or sits near a lot line, talk with your neighbor before work starts, and consider a survey if the line is unclear.

During the site visit, the contractor will walk the fence line, check grade, trees, walls, gates and access, and ask about pets and privacy goals. Pricing and final scope come from the contractor once the yard has been seen in person. The proposal should cover removal of old fencing, the material and height, racking or stepping, post depth and setting, gates and hardware, utility marking, permits and cleanup. Homeowners near Colerain and other west side areas can expect the same approach.

Common questions here

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