Help/Suggestions with garden fence problems.

[lou100]

I really hope somebody has suggestions or help with this as I am at a loss what to do. I have a 3 ft picket style fence, over the last week people have been pinching slats from the fence. These can be replaced, and its not expensive but its time consuming and its really not the point. I am getting so upset by all of this. I am going to try and put more nails in each one but has anybody advice on things I could do or has anybody had the problems themselves? Please help..its really getting me down. Thanks in advance.

[ursula62]

Move your fence about a foot inside your boundary and then plant some nice prickly hedges in front of it. That should stop the batardes!

[jake-the-peg]

How about anti-climb paint?

[Octavius]

Are they actually pulling the nails out to nick them? Perhaps if you paint the fence a different colour get it all spruced up with some hedging, this might cure the problem. Otherwise, try and catch the swine in the act and go at 'em with a shovel.

[gardenknowin]

I'm most intrigued as to why people should want to pinch your fence slats ! Is it vandalism or something more sinister? If you really want to keep your slats in place, would suggest you use threaded bolts and locknuts (from any good DIY outlet or Screwfix) - 'twill take a liitle while to fix them, but unless your predators are prepared to saw through the support rails, they should do the job. Or you could try anti-vandal paint which doesn'y dry and will create havoc withe furniture of the mother of the little horrors who keep nicking your fence

[stanleyman]

This is criminal damage and theft. Can you not rig up a CCTV to catch them at it? Some practical things to do are, buy a box of long screws and using a battery drill fix each slat much more securely or run some chicken fencing or wire over the slats and fix with staples so that it is all one piece and paint the back of the fence only with anti-vandal paint.

You will need to display a sign if you use this paint. You have to be careful if it is beside a public right of way so you can't use my favourite of fixing razor blades into the back of the slats!!! Only joking of course.

[logman]

I agree with stanleyman, you cant beat a good long scew ! Bolts will cost you an arm and a leg. there are some good screws on the market with extra deep grooves which should go in, in no time with a cordless driver, or if you can get hold of the kind of nails that they knock pallets together with, they are really tough !

A thorny hedge might stop the little blighters too. Good luck..

[gardenknowin]

Slightly disagree, logman, bolts aren't that expensive in relation to the time spent repairing fences! However, annular nails are a good alternative.

[lou100]

Thanks for the suggestions, its so annoying and whats more frustrating is if I catch them at it (I've been out on both occasions so far) as much as I would love to stick the fence where the sun dont shine, you dont know if thats just playing into their hands and giving them the reaction they want.

I dont know why its started to happen, hopefully they will get sick of it soon. If it continues I will be informing the police, as you say its criminal damage to my property.

I dont live in a bad area, have never had run ins with anyone at anytime. I think its local kids to be honest. I will be painting some vandal paint around the fence but the fence is around my front garden so understand there are rules about this - also annoying, why should I have to have unsightly vandal paint around my lovely fence......

I would also love to put prickly bushes&hedges around but unless they grow overnight its not an option at the moment.

I will also be using the suggestion of extra screws to make it a bit stronger. And if I could believe me I would be putting barbed wire around the bloody thing, that'd teach them... Its just mindless yobs who think its a joke.

[gardenknowin]

Well said, lou 100 - pleased to hear you don't normally suffer from vandals - try living here! I construct fences as part of my business and as fast as I build 'em, the local toerags destroy them, climb them or "autograph" them - maybe fence slats are a sort of trophy, a modern day version of indian scalps perhaps....best of luck with your efforts (PS there are loads of nails, screws etc on the market these days - try www.screwfix.com (NO, I don't work for them!)

[Scarlett]

I would firstly tell yout local bobby, and your local councillor. Then you have made them aware of the foul antisocial behaviour you are having to endure. The I would rig up a camera indoors, pointing at the fence and film them at it. Then take it to the police. THEN I would pur something over the slats- grease or bleach or something, and let them get it all over themselves. You could also ask the police for their advice, and follow that.

You could also pay a professional gardener or builder to construct something more substantial- be it bolts or long nails, so they would have a harder job. I would also go round the top of them with a knife and make lots of nasty splinters all round the edge. It may spoil them visually, but it would make the point. You could also paint them and varnish them and leave them nice and wet.

Whatever you do, don't take this burden on your own. People are paid to help deal with this sort of thuggish behaviour.

[Scarlett]

http://www.nwepaints.co.uk/acatalog/AntiVandal.html

[lou100]

Thanks Scarlet, the world really is coming to something isn't it when you can't have nice things and make your home nice without people spoiling it.

The thing which gets me most is that you have to to take into consideration that you can get into trouble for trying to protect your property. I would ideally love to put barbed wire around the fence but then "they" may hurt themselves and I'd be the one in trouble!!

Its soo frustrating....you cant even tell them off without fearing you've antagonised them even more and could find a brick through your window.

I will definately be going to the police if/when it happens again, this fence cost me alot of money!

Feel better for getting that off my chest.

[Scarlett]

You must go to the police/local councillor, 'cos they will be able to advise you the best way to tackle the problem without getting into deeper water. And if something worse does happen, the law will be on your side cos you will have reported it, and it will have an incident number. A court will be more sympathetic if you have reported it and nothing has been done to hrlp you, than if you take matters into your own hands...

Good luck !! x x x

[summersl]

How spooky I had a similar problem, I have purchased a new property and when kids notice no cars on the drive they use our picket fence as a short cut to school so I managed to stop them by nailing Carpet Gripper Rods on both sides of the fence at the top and painted Anti vandal paint across the top. To say it was good to see them try and climb over would be underestimated and to say they dont do it again :-))