Important Fence Question - ***EXCITING UPDATES WITHIN*** (1 Viewer)

[ChiefD]

So, I'm planning on installing a fence later this year. I am attaching to my neighbors fence to the west of my house, but that doesn't really matter.

What matters is where I bring the front line of that fence on that side of the house. I have attached a drawing for your visualization pleasure.

There are two possible locations as you will see on the drawing. I can make a case for why I would want the fence on either location. On the street of my house are two pretty good streetlights, so the street and front of my house is well lit at night.

Take a look, vote in the poll, and post your thoughts if you don't mind. I'm interested to see what the concensus is and how it aligns with my wife and I. We both agree that either spot would work. There would be a gate on that side. There will also be another gate on the other side.

 

[belljr]

I assume you are putting a gate in if its Location 1

 

[ChiefD]

I assume you are putting a gate in if its Location 1

There will be a gate in either spot. Also a gate on the other side of the house. 

 

[belljr]

THen I vote 1

 

[nirad3]

Do you use the side door often?   Or I guess the question should be... when do you find yourself using the side door more?  When you are in your backyard doing stuff, or when you're in the front yard?

I think, with all things being equal, I'd want it in location #1.

Also - follow-up question:  is the fence going to be long enough to squeeze a gate in the middle?

Edit:  Never mind, just saw response to gate question.  Then #1 fo sho.

 

[Cjw_55106]

I would definitely want my garage door within my fenced area

 

[wikkidpissah]

dang........was hoping to finally share some of my expertise in disposal of stolen property....

ETA: instead maybe i'll write a "Who's on first?"-type sketch about a guy trying to sell a stolen fence.

 

[ChiefD]

Do you use the side door often?   Or I guess the question should be... when do you find yourself using the side door more?  When you are in your backyard doing stuff, or when you're in the front yard?

I think, with all things being equal, I'd want it in location #1.

Also - follow-up question:  is the fence going to be long enough to squeeze a gate in the middle?

I use the side door every day when I'm out in the garage. Which is pretty much every day when it's warm. And there is plenty of room for the gate. Distance to neighbors fence is about 20 feet. 

 

[TLEF316]

Do both. Extra security.  And a moat to the east

 

[belljr]

Actually I have a couple more questions.

Are the bedrooms above the garage used by outside people (or they part of the house)? Or is that just after the porn is watched.....

The first part of that question is serious.  Also do you have another door to the back?

 

[ChiefD]

I would definitely want my garage door within my fenced area

Any concern that a thief could hide behind the fence as he tries to pry open that door?

 

[ChiefD]

Actually I have a couple more questions.

Are the bedrooms used by outside people? Or is that just after the porn is watched.....

The first part of that question is serious.  Also do you have another door to the back?

Bedrooms are for us only.  Porn is really for me only. And probably the teenagers but I don't ask those sorts of questions.

We have a door from the family room to the backyard. I should have put that on the drawing. 

 

[belljr]

Bedrooms are for us only.  Porn is really for me only. And probably the teenagers but I don't ask those sorts of questions.

We have a door from the family room to the backyard. I should have put that on the drawing. 

this may change my answer - as if that was your only other door I would say defintiely behind fence...... Now I need to think about it.

But as far a security..... i guess lock on gate wouldnt prevent much?

 

[ChiefD]

That door to the garage is braced well. I have a something similar to this with a 2x4 as extra security.

 

[ChiefD]

this may change my answer - as if that was your only other door I would say defintiely behind fence...... Now I need to think about it.

But as far a security..... i guess lock on gate wouldnt prevent much?

I probably won't lock the gates. I'm in and out of the backyard so much the lock would drive me nuts. The question for me is:

Would I rather have a thief hidden trying to get into that door or out in the open where someone from the street could see him?

 

[belljr]

I vote 1..... that way  all the nude yoga in the garage you can use the side door ...... plus whatever you may want to store there

 

[ChiefD]

I also have a regular front door on the house. 

 

[offdee]

Definitely Location 1, for a number of reasons:

1) A little bit extra security barrier of someone getting into your garage

2) if you have a dog, can just let them out your side garage door, if ever needed, then they are directed to the back yard versus running to the street side of the house  (or I suppose same story for little kids too)

3) the big one....looks like most of your yard work/exterior maintenance will be in the backyard/back of the house.  Getting/carrying tools, lawnmowers, ladders, etc out of that side door much easier without then also having to go through a fence gate.   Just out the side garage door and to the back yard.  If you need to do work on the front of the house then just open the main garage door.

4) Just the overhead visual lines of the house make location 1 be the winner...lines up perfectly with the front of the main house.  Like the fence is an extension of the main house on the other side of the garage.

 

[Gally]

I would mover location 1 to the edge of the house so it's not right next to the door.  A simple wireless camera or motion light near the outside door should be enough deterent to prevent a "hiding" thief from trying to get into that door.  If it's not then the fence location really doesn't matter.  

 

[belljr]

I probably won't lock the gates. I'm in and out of the backyard so much the lock would drive me nuts. The question for me is:

Would I rather have a thief hidden trying to get into that door or out in the open where someone from the street could see him?

Have you had a lot of break ins in your area?  Serious question

 

[belljr]

I would mover location 1 to the edge of the house so it's not right next to the door.  A simple wireless camera or motion light near the outside door should be enough deterent to prevent a "hiding" thief from trying to get into that door.  If it's not then the fence location really doesn't matter.  

Code might not allow it to be even with the front of the house

 

[NutterButter]

I'd probably do 2 if you're using that garage door often so I didn't have to go through the gate every time.   I value convenience over security though.  There's nothing in my house worth stealing.  

 

[ChiefD]

Have you had a lot of break ins in your area?  Serious question

No not at all. It's a pretty safe neighborhood overall.  But it's in an older suburb of Kansas City (house is 55 years old).

 

[Gally]

Code might not allow it to be even with the front of the house

Go back a foot or so if that's the case.   I just wouldn't want it right at the door.  I would want some space to maneuver for getting things in and out if need be.  

 

[Poke_4_Life]

I have a similar setup to you and the fence has always been at location 1.  I like this because I also have the trash cans inside the fence but accessible from that door.  I could in theory take out the trash naked.  Also can use that door to let the dog out, etc. like others have said.  

 

[belljr]

I'd probably do 2 if you're using that garage door often so I didn't have to go through the gate every time.   I value convenience over security though.  There's nothing in my house worth stealing.  

Yeah - Chief when you say you use that door often - is it from garage to yard or yard to garage more than not......

As in location 1 - you would go through the gate often to use that door.  Or you usually come out of that door to the yard.  If that makes any sense..

THIS IS IMPORTANT

 

[offdee]

I'd probably do 2 if you're using that garage door often so I didn't have to go through the gate every time.   I value convenience over security though.  There's nothing in my house worth stealing.  

Just open up your main garage car door then to go to the front of the house.

 

[ChiefD]

Definitely Location 1, for a number of reasons:

1) A little bit extra security barrier of someone getting into your garage

2) if you have a dog, can just let them out your side garage door, if ever needed, then they are auto fenced in the back yard

3) the big one....looks like most of your yard work/exterior maintenance will be in the backyard/back of the house.  Getting/carrying tools, lawnmowers, ladders, etc out of that side door much easier without then also having to go through a fence gate.   Just out the side garage door and to the back yard.  If you need to do work on the front of the house then just open the main garage door.

4) Just the overhead visual lines of the house make location 1 be the winner...lines up perfectly with the front of the main house.  Like the fence is an extension of the main house on the other side of the garage.

These are all very good points.

And yeah, the dog one is a big one. We just put down our 13 year old Lab a few months ago but are thinking of getting another one later this year. (hence the fence. old dog never ran away).

Letting a muddy dog through the garage is a major plus.

 

[offdee]

location 1.  I like this because I also have the trash cans inside the fence but accessible from that door.  

I thought about the trash can angle too.  If you keep the trash bins outside this is better cuz the fence would prevent them from being an eyesore and seen when driving up to or passing the house.   

 

[ChiefD]

Yeah - Chief when you say you use that door often - is it from garage to yard or yard to garage more than not......

As in location 1 - you would go through the gate often to use that door.  Or you usually come out of that door to the yard.  If that makes any sense..

THIS IS IMPORTANT

I would come out of the door FIRST almost always. Mainly because I have to unlock it/remove the barricade to go out, and I just keep going. When I'm hanging out in the garage I always leave that door open for cross ventilation when the weather is nice.

 

[urbanhack]

I'd add a second fiber box so you can get more porn.

 

[ChiefD]

I have a similar setup to you and the fence has always been at location 1.  I like this because I also have the trash cans inside the fence but accessible from that door.  I could in theory take out the trash naked.  Also can use that door to let the dog out, etc. like others have said.  

I thought about the trash can angle too.  If you keep the trash bins outside this is better cuz the fence would prevent them from being an eyesore and seen when driving up to or passing the house.   

Hadn't thought about the trash cans. Right now I keep them in the garage next to the door that goes into the house from the garage. Easy for the kids to dump recyclables that way every day.

 

[ChiefD]

I'd add a second fiber box so you can get more porn.

YES! 

 

[Poke_4_Life]

Hadn't thought about the trash cans. Right now I keep them in the garage next to the door that goes into the house from the garage. Easy for the kids to dump recyclables that way every day.

I have trash cans outside that door and behind the fence, but recycling in the garage.  Gets too hot where I am to have stinky trash in the garage.  

 

[NutterButter]

I thought about the trash can angle too.  If you keep the trash bins outside this is better cuz the fence would prevent them from being an eyesore and seen when driving up to or passing the house.   

Provided he has a stone path way from the side door to the street, then I'm sold.  You my friend know a lot about fence placement in relation to a garage door.  

 

[ChiefD]

I would mover location 1 to the edge of the house so it's not right next to the door.  A simple wireless camera or motion light near the outside door should be enough deterent to prevent a "hiding" thief from trying to get into that door.  If it's not then the fence location really doesn't matter.  

I don't want to go all the way to the front simply for aesthetic reasons. It wouldn't look right with how my house looks. I do like the idea of the camera somewhere over the door or up in the eave.

 

[offdee]

Hadn't thought about the trash cans. Right now I keep them in the garage next to the door that goes into the house from the garage. Easy for the kids to dump recyclables that way every day.

Yep, that's why I didn't list it in my original list of big plusses.  Nice to keep them in the garage and then you can just open up the door to the garage and throw them in the bins without having to go outdoors.  Some people don't have the room in the garage to keep them there though, but I assumed from your drawing that you did.  If you ever need that extra space in your garage though then outside the side door with the fence in front of it is the next best option (which still makes location 1 the winner)

 

[belljr]

Official vote is 1!!!

I too was considering the option listed (trash, dog, dirtc etc)

 

[ChiefD]

Provided he has a stone path way from the side door to the street, then I'm sold.  You my friend know a lot about fence placement in relation to a garage door.  

A stone path is not there yet but will probably be added. I am getting a new driveway, garage floor, and front steps/stoop sometime in the next month. 

 

[Cjw_55106]

Any concern that a thief could hide behind the fence as he tries to pry open that door?

Oh, I’m a FBG, we don’t allow thieves in my neighborhood 

 

[ChiefD]

Oh, I’m a FBG, we don’t allow thieves in my neighborhood 

I'm in tier 3 of the FBGers.  Safe but thieves are possible. 

 

[belljr]

A stone path is not there yet but will probably be added. I am getting a new driveway, garage floor, and front steps/stoop sometime in the next month. 

Well pending what you decide etc. You could put pavers down in that area from the garage side door to the fence. Like a mini patio to keep trash cans on, etc.    Not necessary just an idea 

Also add a paver path to driveway to that side door

 

[jwb]

I had this exact scenario. I went with location 2 (and that's what I voted).

Reasoning was we use that side door to go in and out to our cars all the time. Behind a gate would be very annoying. I also have a backyard shed for tools/etc, so no issue bringing garage stuff out back.

In terms of security, it takes as much nerve to kick in a door as it does to open/go through a gate for nefarious reasons. If someone really wants in, they are getting in. My security/locks/etc are to keep honest neighborhood kids honest. Not really too worried about the rest. 

 

[Cjw_55106]

I think a fence deters a thief more than offers protection, but I could be wrong. 

 

[Nugget]

Option 3 - behind the chimney. 

 

[NutterButter]

I had this exact scenario. I went with location 2 (and that's what I voted).

Reasoning was we use that side door to go in and out to our cars all the time. Behind a gate would be very annoying. I also have a backyard shed for tools/etc, so no issue bringing garage stuff out back.

In terms of security, it takes as much nerve to kick in a door as it does to open/go through a gate for nefarious reasons. If someone really wants in, they are getting in. My security/locks/etc are to keep honest neighborhood kids honest. Not really too worried about the rest. 

That was more of my initial line of thinking, but after further consideration, like most things in life, i came to the conclusion that it didn't matter so I just agreed with offdee.  

 

[ChiefD]

Option 3 - behind the chimney. 

Hadn't even thought of that.  Would certainly give me more room to manuever coming out of that door.

 

[offdee]

but after further consideration, like most things in life, i came to the conclusion that it didn't matter so I just agreed with offdee.  

 

[NutterButter]

Option 3 - behind the chimney. 

Perfect spot for a third fence.   Its gonna be like american ninja warrior trying to get into chief's backyard.  

 

[offdee]

Hadn't even thought of that.  Would certainly give me more room to manuever coming out of that door.

How does the connecting to the neighbor's fence all come into play here?   Where are you connecting to?