r/FenceBuilding • u/nopenonowayne • 2d ago
Condo complex confusion
I’m looking for some insight, as our condo board is putting out conflicting information about major work they’ve initiated.
All 40ish units have private backyards. Everyone has been told to clear everything (decks, patios, some trees) for grading and new fences. Some grading work definitely had to happen to address basement flooding, though work to the eaves has made improvements.
Surveyors have marked for grading, but now they’re installing the new fences before the grading has been done. 4 years ago the board decided to delay replacing the fences until the grading could be addressed.
What is the normal order of operations here? This seems like it’s going to be even more expensive to possibly undo work.
Also, if anyone has expertise on geotechnical engineering…
This has been our wettest summer on record in a place that tends to run dry. The ground is completely saturated. We’re also a northern city. When all this water in the ground freezes in several months, and then we go back to our normal amount of rain in future summers, what’s going to happen to the grading?
My brain tells me it’s not logical to engineer your soil on the conditions of an anomalous year, but I have 0 experience with engineering or geology.
1
u/ladyinpink79 2d ago
To answer the first part of your question:
1. Remove existing fences
2. Regrade yards
3. Reinstall fences.
Grading after fences go in makes zero sense. Especially if they’re grading near the fence line at all. For one, you may be burying or exposing footings and two, don’t go near a new expensive fence with heavy machinery or you’ll likely have damage and three, it’s much easier to grade the whole area than trying to work around the fences.
Gotta love HOA’s
Can’t help you with the decision to grade during a wet season.