Fence construction advise

[jimbomaybe]

The back of my property has a North-South solid faced fence 6”high vinyl construction, 5” posts. There is a little over 60’ between the fence and the back of my house. The other side of the fence is a large open field, A few months back we had a thunder storm come through from the west, significant but nothing remarkable for the weather here, the fence was none the less damaged, panels blown out, sections leaning west. The fence is in a “special easement zone”, I being responsible for its maintenance. It seems prudent to me that looking into increasing the strength of the fence would be a good idea along with and before considering any repairs. The first step would be getting the specs on the original install. I contacted Dist. government and Property management and was told to contact the installer, “Tri County Landscaping” “they could supply that information” My first Email to Tri County asked for the specs as a first step the response was my request would be given to a supervisor, that they could schedule an inspection regarding repairs,, for a fee of $105.00, deducted from any work done, my response was that I need the specs to know how I would proceed, no response, repeated the request with no response. Re-Contacted the Villages looking for guidance as of yet no response. In the meantime I took a closer look at the fence. It appears that the fence posts were just seated in a hole not much larger than the 5” post, a small amount of concrete, not necessarily on all sides of the post just a few inches down was used to hold the post on place. I am not by any means a structural engineer but to my untrained eye I don’t’ think you would put up a 6’ solid faced fence of any kind up anywhere in this country that way, much less here with the weather and sandy ground conditions. Be all that as it may I need to fix the fence, my idea,, 24” embedment, 12” concrete footer, two 3/8 , 22” vertical rebar 90* east and west of fence line attached to two 10” 3/8 circular rebar, 8” from top and bottom of vertical rebar.
Looking for input, suggestions from that remarkable, diverse, talented, slice of Americana that is the Villages,, TIA

[Altavia]

The installer does not establish the specifications, the Developer does.

Have you tried Home Warranty?

Page not found - The Villages Residential Construction and Home Warranty : The Villages Residential Construction and Home Warranty (https://www.thevillageshomewarranty.com/We)

Any possibility to make an insurance claim?

Suggest quotes from fencing companies.

[jimbomaybe]

The installer does not establish the specifications, the Developer does.

Have you tried Home Warranty?

Page not found - The Villages Residential Construction and Home Warranty : The Villages Residential Construction and Home Warranty (https://www.thevillageshomewarranty.com/We)

Any possibility to make an insurance claim?

Suggest quotes from fencing companies.

I tried "Property management" they directed me to the installer for the specs, certainly the developer would give specs on any contract and have them somewhere in file, my understanding is there is no building code in my county (Sumpter) on fence construction , that would underline the need for specs to be supplied, need to know what's to be done before any bids, rebuilding to current would seem pointless, gets duck in a row first and explore any insurance possibilities

[Altavia]

Frustrating for sure. Risky to do anything until finding who will approve the replacement?l.

Curious how old is the fence and where is this?

[jimbomaybe]

Frustrating for sure. Risky to do anything until finding who will approve the replacement?l.

Curious how old is the fence and where is this?
A couple of years old ,in one of the newer sections

[dtennent]

Not sure what the purpose of the 6’ high fencing is. (Privacy?) In addition to what you have mentioned, have you considered a fence design with less frontal area for wind to hit?For instance, there are designs that have a solid area up to 4 ft and a lattice above that mark. With my house up north, we had a storm come through that blew out sections of the 6’ vinyl fence but left the posts standing and the cross supports in place.

[shut the front door]

Welcome to the land of developer throws it up on the cheap, leaves repairs to you. Look at the poorly constructed sewer and drainage systems that caused the "sinkholes", which are actually subsidence incidents.

[Miboater]

A couple of years old ,in one of the newer sections

You wouldn't happen to live in Hawkins? I can't remember exactly when the storm came through, I'm thinking late June, but I have polywood Adirondack chairs on my patio behind my lanai and the wind blew them both about 30 feet. Lucky that the railing stopped them or they would have been in the preserve. They have to weigh about 60 pounds.

[jimbomaybe]

Not sure what the purpose of the 6’ high fencing is. (Privacy?) In addition to what you have mentioned, have you considered a fence design with less frontal area for wind to hit?For instance, there are designs that have a solid area up to 4 ft and a lattice above that mark. With my house up north, we had a storm come through that blew out sections of the 6’ vinyl fence but left the posts standing and the cross supports in place.
I have no input as to design, any changes have to go through ARC, don't think ARC would pass on any cosmetic changed , non visible below ground structure different, my understanding is that when and if the developer acquires the property they have a free hand as they would not be infringing on my view, I would have put up one of those masonry walls, I guess I missed the meeting where that was decided

[villagetinker]

I am sure a call to the county building department will get you the specifications for a suitable fence, including installation requirement, and inspection requirements (if any). I know they have these for pergolas which is similar to fence construction. One of the items was 'wind loading' which gets into foundations and structure strength. You will also get knowledge of any other requirements when you contact them. Good luck with your project.
IMHO, take pictures for the existing installation in case you need to go back to the original installer for damages.

[Lindaws]

Not sure what the purpose of the 6’ high fencing is. (Privacy?) In addition to what you have mentioned, have you considered a fence design with less frontal area for wind to hit?For instance, there are designs that have a solid area up to 4 ft and a lattice above that mark. With my house up north, we had a storm come through that blew out sections of the 6’ vinyl fence but left the posts standing and the cross supports in place.

On Nash Loop in the Villages of Hemingway, we have a small neighborhood
of homes(not villas) that our entire back yard ,all 3 sides, is surrounded by
a 6ft, high vinyl fence. Love it!

[Mrfriendly]

The back of my property has a North-South solid faced fence 6”high vinyl construction, 5” posts. There is a little over 60’ between the fence and the back of my house. The other side of the fence is a large open field, A few months back we had a thunder storm come through from the west, significant but nothing remarkable for the weather here, the fence was none the less damaged, panels blown out, sections leaning west. The fence is in a “special easement zone”, I being responsible for its maintenance. It seems prudent to me that looking into increasing the strength of the fence would be a good idea along with and before considering any repairs. The first step would be getting the specs on the original install. I contacted Dist. government and Property management and was told to contact the installer, “Tri County Landscaping” “they could supply that information” My first Email to Tri County asked for the specs as a first step the response was my request would be given to a supervisor, that they could schedule an inspection regarding repairs,, for a fee of $105.00, deducted from any work done, my response was that I need the specs to know how I would proceed, no response, repeated the request with no response. Re-Contacted the Villages looking for guidance as of yet no response. In the meantime I took a closer look at the fence. It appears that the fence posts were just seated in a hole not much larger than the 5” post, a small amount of concrete, not necessarily on all sides of the post just a few inches down was used to hold the post on place. I am not by any means a structural engineer but to my untrained eye I don’t’ think you would put up a 6’ solid faced fence of any kind up anywhere in this country that way, much less here with the weather and sandy ground conditions. Be all that as it may I need to fix the fence, my idea,, 24” embedment, 12” concrete footer, two 3/8 , 22” vertical rebar 90* east and west of fence line attached to two 10” 3/8 circular rebar, 8” from top and bottom of vertical rebar.
Looking for input, suggestions from that remarkable, diverse, talented, slice of Americana that is the Villages,, TIA

I’m surprised the contractor wouldn’t accept photographs of the damage to be able to tell you how much it would be to fix it? When finally repaired, perhaps a few L brackets holding panels to the post would give it extra strength. Good luck.

[DAVES]

A couple of years old ,in one of the newer sections

Sounds like the run around. When you call, you speak to someone who may not care. I would call at a different time and hope to get someone else. I would ask to speak to a supervisor. If, a corporation you can easily research who the president of the corporation is. Old school perhaps.
A registered return receipt letter and you have proof you have notified them. I'm not an attorney but far as I know If, they refuse to sign for the letter, it is still legally delivered.
The villages offices. I've always found them to be helpful. Perhaps, as above you were not speaking to the right person. That fence. Perhaps calling it a safety issue would help. Again, I am not an attorney. Notifying then in writing changes their ability to deny they have been notified. Telling them they did not do it right. Is not your job-it is theirs. Your goal is to get it fixed.

[rogerk]

I am sure a call to the county building department will get you the specifications for a suitable fence, including installation requirement, and inspection requirements (if any). I know they have these for pergolas which is similar to fence construction. One of the items was 'wind loading' which gets into foundations and structure strength. You will also get knowledge of any other requirements when you contact them. Good luck with your project.
IMHO, take pictures for the existing installation in case you need to go back to the original installer for damages.
Great answer.

You live in Sumter County, not the county you mentioned in the original post. If you don’t spell it correctly you’ll never find the correct phone number. You can find the number in The Villages Phone Book!

[Nana2Teddy]

Just be sure the rebuild looks exactly like it did before it was damaged or they’ll make you redo it. They’re very strict about the fencing and walls. It has to match exactly as the rest of the fencing in your village neighborhood. Get ARC approval.