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Concrete Beneath Soil 🤔

lturner83lturner83 Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hello,
I wondered if anyone could help with a problem we have in our front garden....
we had a large area of overgrown hedges, bushes etc which we have had cleared so all that remains is soil.
We have bought some picket fencing to run along our boundary where the soil meets the public pavement.
my husband has dug down to install the metal supports for the posts but has discovered a lot of concrete. He has tried breaking it up but it will not budge.
We’ve no idea how to move forward now! We’d like to do it ourselves to save on cost but does this sound like a job for a professional with heavy duty tools? Just to make four holes for the fence posts?
I wouldn’t even know who to call - landscaper? Builder?!
I would be grateful for any help or advice! 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If it's level [the concrete] you can buy post supports which bolt onto  a hard surface.
    Does the concrete go further into the garden? If it's not too wide, you could simply bring your fence in from the boundary a bit. I did that with my fence, as the concrete footings for the pavement prevented me putting the posts right at the edge.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • lturner83lturner83 Posts: 3
    Thanks so much for your reply!

    It sort of slopes from the pavement towards our soil and is quite uneven.

    We thought about bringing the fencing back slightly but thought it might look a bit strange as our neighbour has one running along his boundary line so they wouldn’t line up. 





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It sound to me as if it’s part of the structure of the pavement so breaking it up might cause real problems. 
    I don’t think there’s a problem with being slightly out of line with your neighbour’s fence ... if done with style a bit of individuality can be a definite bonus in
    a street  B)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd agree with Dove . It won't matter that your neighbour has a different line. I don't have to worry about that, as my house is at the end of a row. 
    I've also got a hedge planted on the inside of the fence which has now grown through it, and I keep it trimmed in line with the pavement kerb edging there, so it looks like it was meant to be like that.
    Here's a pic of how mine was placed. I  put some bark down on the outside 'ledge' after covering the grass there, until the hedge was wide enough to cover and it kept it all neat. You could do the same with gravel or whatever your preference is. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • lturner83lturner83 Posts: 3
    Oh I see, thanks for posting the photo.
    I think we’ll go with pushing it back a foot or so.
    Thanks for the ideas! 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Glad that's helped a bit. There's a way round most problems    ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    You'll probably get a much more secure and sturdy fixing by pushing it back a foot or so too :)  It'll save time and money in the long run.

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd agree Dove, and also, if the fence is going to be a fence on it's own, it's a better solution.
    I could take my fence away, as the hedge now forms the boundary.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    The back kerb edges will be bedded in concrete which is probably what you're finding. As Dove says, don't break it up or you'll weaken the kerbs. If it's not too far into your garden you can put the support posts further back and make a kind of L shape support to move the fence forward to the boundary.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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