D
Joined: May 26, 2006
Posts: 487
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D
VALLEJO, CA
On 2006-10-24 22:39, Coco Loco wrote:
So for the past three weeks the guy has been bugging me to put up a new fence because the old common fence needs replacement. Yeah, agreed. We've got the good side of the fence, so it's our responsibility.
However, he doesn't want a bad side, so he's willing to share the cost of a higher end fence. Great, except that it costs 3x as much...and he wants it done now?! Okay, I'll pull $3000 out of my pocket today and put up a new fence IMMEDIATELY. Yeah.
[ Edited by: Coco Loco 2006-10-24 22:51 ]
Hey Coco,
Yea, things could be worse.....here's my fence story, then I'll bitch about Vallejo in general!
My neighbor, (who rents), complained that MY BAMBOO was pulling down our common fence, (which was covered in IVY mostly from HIS side of the yard).
I paid $400 to have some guys come out and remove all of the ivy and bamboo while I was out of town. When I returned the ivy, the bamboo AND THE FENCE were gone!
It turns out that the fence was likely as old as our house, (110 years), and when the ivy was removed the fence disintegrated, (you could crumble it in your hand).
So now we have a problem, we have 2 dogs, the neighbors have mean dogs and kids, we're pretty much financially tapped out but we HAVE to have a fence!
We have a Historically Registered house in a Historically Registered Community.
First I have to file for a permit of Historical Appropriateness, then after that a Building Permit....oh, but wait, did I forget to mention that when the fence came down we discovered that our property is "terraced" about 3' feet higher than the neighbor's?
So now we need a retaining wall also! Upon inspection they can't make the retaining wall in wood because it's too high. So now that means concrete. But because we're in a "Historical" area Historical Appropriateness defines that we can't use concrete, (or at least have any "visible"), so that means facing the concrete that's along the back alley, (visible to the public), with stone to make it look more appropriate! $$$$$$$$$
Can you hear the dollar signs?
Here are some dimensions: Pour concrete retaining wall 120' length with another 70' length along the back yard, 3 1/2' high, 6" thick with rebar and an L footing.
6' Custom, (this was WAY OVER Home Depot's heads),Redwood Fence same lengths.
Total costs to us: $15,000 DOLLARS! We couldn't get the neighbor, (renter, owner or otherwise), to pay a nickel of it! Then a year later the City of Vallejo calls me
at work to tell me that the Retaining Wall was never "signed off". They send a guy out with paperwork claiming that NOW we're supposed to also repair our driveway and the CITY SIDEWALK, (because the city has no remaining funds to repair city streets and sidewalks), to get them to sign off our retaining wall!
I'll let you imagine the choice words that I gave them on the advice of where they could put their paperwork! :x Good thing we aren't planning on moving!
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