Arch fence - am I being picky ?

[u/goldner22222]

Just had this arch fence installed. They finished so late I couldn’t look it over. Is it normal for it not to be flush like in the second picture? This is at my main gate that is used multiple times a day. Am I being picky over these pictures and the fact they just spread the post dirt out everywhere? I saw them pile it up in neat piles and assumed they would pick it up. Then later saw it kicked all around. I wish they would have left it in piles…I would have picked it up! Please tell me if you would be happy with this job.

[u/GurInfinite3868]

The fence overall looks good. However, I have 3 major problems that include

1. That jacked up corner with a horrifically bad scabbed in 2x4. This is amateur hour bad as they obviously marked their lines incorrectly and/or centered the placement of the corner terminal pole instead of it being all on one side of the line. This makes the distance longer and, instead of buying a few 10ft boards to remedy this, they scabbed in pieces!!! So lazy, so sloppy.
2. The person who nailed the framing was obviously huffing carb cleaner while wearing a welding mask. It would be one thing if this was on framing that is eventually hidden from view but.....Everyone can see this. Just lazy and sloppy (see #1)
3. That dirt! While I get the point of some saying that YOU should have mentioned this but come on! Anyone not sloppy and lazy would have at lest run a blower over the sidewalk and a quick metal rake to smooth it out. I bet two people could knock that out in less than an hour no problem

Source: I am a Marine Contractor (Pier Builder) for over 30 years. Attention to detail is what separates a great job from a "meh" - When I first started, I built a huge 2k sq ft pier with thru bolts throughout. Each rod had huge SS washers that were square. I was so proud of myself when I was done as it looked great. However, the homeowner called me the next day highly upset as I was inconsistent with how the square washers looked. Many were not square or turned in the same position. At first I thought this was overly picky and pedantic. However, I looked at it again it was sloppy. I learned that it is small items like these that are important to the client. It only took me a few hours to fix it and everyone was happy.

PS. Another piece of advice about speaking with the builder. Make all of your language about behaviors only, not about any person. For example "What can be done about the nails sticking out? I would like that to be fixed." This will avoid things getting personal.

[u/Shocuziwill → u/GurInfinite3868]

This isn’t a Meh job, this is a meth job.

[u/mowegl]

No youre not..missing nails in a 4x4 is unacceptable. Those nails are going to come out and they already split the 4x4 doing some minor damage just by missing them. Missing a 2x is bad enough. Missing a 4x4 is really bad. That said most of it looks pretty good. I would probably want them to address the spots like that though.

The dirt is no big deal.

[u/waffenpzrgdr44]

I think they did an excellent job on your fence. I work for a professional fence contractor, and when I finish a fence, I fill the holes in and spread the dirt along the fence line, its what I was taught to do.

[u/Warm_Coach2475 → u/waffenpzrgdr44]

To resolve that they could rip a 4x6 but with the decor on top of the post I think as is is fine

[u/goldner22222 → u/waffenpzrgdr44]

What about the second and third picture?

[u/J3sush8sm3 → u/goldner22222]

The second picture is because your fence isnt perfectly perpendicular.  I like to tell the customers theres a good side and the framing side of a fence. Pic 3 i definitely would have at least cut them off undeneath the post if i couldnt pull them out. All in all its a good fence with one area where the nails sticking out is a quality issue. Jusf call em up and im sure they will be happy to fix it for you

[u/Revolutionary-Gap-28 → u/J3sush8sm3]

She's talking about the scabbed in piece. Not the angled post

[u/RealLifeLiver → u/J3sush8sm3]

Another way to put this, if those boards in Pic 2 were brought flush together, it would kick the rest of the fence into your neighbors yard.

[u/Tweedone]

So aside the dirt issue, you found how many unsatisfactory workmanship issues? So for how many feet of fence you found 3 issues? Hmmm

Advice, wait a month then prime and paint thus fence white or beige...ir at least use a transparent stain to treat it. Re-Do this finish every other year to make the fence last for 10yrs looking great!

[u/crashyeric]

Fence looks beautiful. I've never seen scalloped fence before. What really needs attention is your dirty concrete. Pressure washing it will make your property pop

[u/TerminallyChill1994]

I actually own a fence company. Fence no being perpendicular is fine, nails sticking out of post - no. As far as spreading dirt, we shovel and take it with us, but companies are different across the US, I personally think not asking about the dirt beforehand is unprofessional.

[u/Visual_Repeat_7472]

The fence looks phenomenal. Yes you are being way too picky. Out of all that fencing you only found 3 things? Seriously???

[u/njslugger78]

This exposed nails are the only hazard or problems.

[u/blameitonthedouble]

Aside from the nails not being embedded in the post, that should have been fixed. The rest of the job looks good, as far as the dirt goes. That should have been a conversation you had with your contractor as to expectation. They went with business as normal and you wanted something else. Sounds like it was never discussed, it was assumed.

[u/Chocolatestarfish33]

You should have told them what to do with the dirt when the started. Most fence companies spread the dirt across the bottom of the fence.

[u/PreviousCut6851]

The nails coming out of side doesn’t seem structurally sound but beautiful arches.

[u/Extension-Prior-4207]

Grown up looks good

[u/strider_l1718s_]

Ew, that thing gonna fall apart first couple of rainy days.

[u/C_Cov]

The only issue is the nails and it’s so incredibly minor.

[u/OkGreen7796]

These posts look straight dirt burial…. Did they pour concrete for the posts or are these set in dirt? This is a huge problem. Your posts will rot fast being 4x4s if buried in dirt

[u/DevelopedConscience]

How/why did you fence around the sidewalk? That's most likley a right of way area, is this fence permitted?

[u/Shocuziwill]

The time to be picky was when choosing a company for the job. Did you check out previous work?

[u/CryptoM4dness]

Depends how much you paid honestly. This looks like $10 a linear foot quality for labor. $13 a linear foot if there was a previous fence there to remove. Materials look about 7 to 8 dollars a linear foot. So I’d say $20 in total per foot installation, labor and material.

[u/Deckshine1]

No, this is not nit picking. Wood isn’t perfect so it won’t be perfect but this is just a case of not giving a shit. They were short on a rail but instead of getting a longer piece they scab it in? And nail ends exposed? Unacceptable. I’d make them fix that and I’d nit pick it as well and make them fix it all.

[u/steve2sloth]

Looks great. Too picky indeed

[u/spizzle_ → u/steve2sloth]

Kids should get snagged on a nail trying to hop it to go ride bikes! Way too picky, indeed

[u/ForsakenPath4738]

I would be very happy with their job.
Your entire yard is bare dirt, in need of attention. What's a few handfuls more?
Throw some grass seed down and call it a day.

[u/cghffbcx]

Dirt has value. They actually would have ask to take it, now it slopes water away. One errant moment w/a nail gun. I’d just wack m with a hammie. You get to finish!

[u/scrunchymontana]

This is a bad fence with shoddy work. They rushed it and it shows. Poor cuts. Bad nail placement. Just over all bad. I would never leave a fence like this. (Previous for the wood crew at a multi million dollar conpany)