Part I - Receiving the product. Pictures and narrative of how the fence is packaged and shipped
Erik,
Picture of how the fence is packaged for shipping.Good news. My fence order was delivered today. I did like your instructions said and checked all of the boxes and material while it was still on the truck. I even had my digital camera ready to take pictures if something looked damage. Everything looked fine so me and my wife unloaded it with the drivers help (I told him he didn't have to help but he said only "union" drivers are that way and he helped us anyway). It took less than 10 minutes to unload it by hand. Lots of peices were shrink wrapper together and light enough for one person to carry so it was actually very easy. I was expecting it to be much harder and take longer.
After unloading and the driver had left I inventoried the material against the packing list. Everything on the packing list was accounted for and I ended up with 4 extra pair of rebar retaining clips because the gate hardware includes the clips for the gate post and I had also ordered them separately.
I will try to take some digital pictures when I build the fence and send some to you later. It looks like I won't be able to start the fence for at least a couple of more weeks because the pool deck probably won't be done until then and I don't want to take the chance of the fence being damaged while they are still building the pool and deck.
Thanks for the excellent service and tell Frank his drawing program is a great Internet tool and he deserves a big head for it.
Mike Brenner
Part II - Staking the fence line and digging the first holes
Hi Frank!
Remember me? I bet you thought I forgot about you. Well, they finally got the pool to a point where I could start putting up the fence this week. It seems like it has been forever since I ordered and received the fence material from you. Anyway, here's what's happened this week and some pictures.
I started staking out the fence line and marking the post locations last Sunday. I dug my first line post hole without any problem. It went really quick and got me all excited. The post hole digger is real small (one person) and goes all the way into the ground to get the 30 inches depth. The second hole made it about 18 inches and hit the top of an abandoned septic tank. My excitement somewhat lessened at this point. Well, I decided I would cut that post short, make the hole wider, and run two 12 inch pieces of rebar vertically through the bottom of the post (like a cross: +) to give it extra support. It's a line post so I think this should be okay. The third hole made it about 12 inches and hit the top of a tree trunk from a tree we had taken out to make room for the pool. I lost all of my excitement at this point. I had several choice words that I used and then decided to stop digging any more post holes until I got through the stump. With the help of a neighbor and my wife, a double bladed axe, a drill with an 18" wood auger, and two electric chain saws, I was able to make a "square hole" through the stump large enough to get the post hole digger in and dug down the required 30 inches. I started smiling again. My dad came over and with his and my wife's help we have dug the remaining post holes in two days with just a few problems. We hit cliche rock along the driveway a couple of times and tree roots several times around the back of the pool where we had a bunch of trees taken out. I still have one hole on the back side with a root in the way that I want to get passed because it is a gate post and I want to be sure it has a strong base. You say on your Web site: "The hardest part to install vinyl fences is digging in mother earth and mixing the concrete". Well, I have thoroughly experienced the first part of this statement and am excitedly awaiting the second part. He, he!
We got rain this afternoon and I had to quit putting up the fence so I wrote you this note instead. Hopefully I can continue tomorrow. I'll take more pictures and send them to you as time allows.
Keep smiling, I am!
Mikey
Part III - Installing the sections, leveling
Hi Frank (and the rest of the Hoover fence gang),
The fence is still progressing. Looks like it will be a three section job right now. We installed the first section over the weekend. We spent a lot of time learning how to level each section before we put down the concrete. It's a three way level (height, angle orientation (N,E,S,W), and vertical orientation (bubble center on two axis) so each post takes some time. We first leveled the height of all posts in the section by placing blocks and shims under the bottom rail with a string line across the top rail (each end/gate post was leveled in advance). Next, we leveled each post orientation with a string line stretched from outside corner to outside corner. For the vertical alignment we used a standard post hole double level as we concreted each post. We took extra time but the result is absolutely fantastic, straight and gently sloping with the land. The gate and end post were routed to compensate for the angle of the fence. We made a simple jig to maintaiin equal distance from each side as we routed the post. We forgot to route the top hole of one of the gate posts and had to "field" route it. The jig was very helpful here.
We start on section 2 tomorrow if it doesn't rain tonight. So far it looks good but anything can change over night, as you already well know.
Wish us luck,
Mikey
Part IV - Installing gates
Hi Frank (and the rest of the Hoover fence gang),
Well, it's almost done. All that's left is to fill the gate posts and end posts with concrete. We finished section 2 on Wednesday and section 3 yesterday. We custom built the gate closest to the house. It is almost 70 inches across. It rained again here today so I will have to wait until tomorrow to fill the posts with concrete. I will send you a couple of more pictures later next week after I install the "ball" post caps.
Keep smiling, I am!
Mikey
Part V - All done!
It's done! And it's beautiful! I get more comments about the fence than I do the pool. I guess I should have just put up the fence without the pool. I could have saved a lot of money. Also, I got your check for the pictures. That was not necessary but I appreciate the kind gesture anyway. I am including the final pictures of the fence and pool. You are welcome to use these or any of the prior pictures I have sent you anyway you like. I can also provide you with higher resolutions of any of these pictures that you want but they will be much larger files, at least twice as big or more. You are welcome to use me as a reference whenever you like.
Thanks for a good product and great service!
Mike Brenner (AKA: Mikey)
Finished Product:
Hi Folks, I am very near completion of my fence project and realized I am one post cap shy...I was wondering if you are still offering the $20 for photos of projects? I did notice that you posted the early stages of my project on the website, but the photos really don't do the product or the project justice. I have installed all 55 posts, with just a double gate install remaining (2 singles, one double already completed). If you are still offering the $20, rather than the $20, here is my proposition...I will send you photos of the project, much better than my originals, in exchange for one New England 5x5 cap..interested? Either way, I will send you the photos...I am thrilled with the product, your ongoing service and support (we had quite a few email discussions during the project) and the website helped me immensely. I am raking approximately 40-50 degrees in the last section which has required me to route ALL holes, both post and top/bottom rails, my Rotozip has proved invaluable during this phase. Also, without the Nu Boston Digger, this project would have taken much longer... Again, thank you for great products, great service and great pricing too!!
Thanx,
CWL
Hoover Fence Co. Reply:
Curt, Who do I look like? Don Pardo of "Let's Make A Deal"? Seriously, I think we can do that. Send us some pictures, either the hard copies or digital versions, and we'll get a 5"x 5" New England Cap, white, sent out. We're specifically interested in pictures of the gates, both the single and double. It sounds like it was a big project. If your finished pictures are as well done as the few you sent previously, I think we'll both be proud to show them off!
Thanks,
Erik Hoover
Vice President
More Customer's Comments:
Greetings Mr. Pardo...I mean Mr. Hoover, As promised here are a few (quite a few) shots of the completed project...I had to wait for the three weeks of rain to subside. If there are angles, views, etc. that you want, let me know. With a digital camera, this is fairly effortless... FYI: the enclosure off of the porch is designed as the "doggie business" area...works great. Thanx again for accepting my offer and you are correct, I am "mighty proud" of my weekend warrior effort and would be very pleased to have photos posted!
Curt L.
North Attleboro, MA.
Editor's Comments:
Wow, I'm impressed. Quite a lot of work but obviously nothing you couldn't handle. Thanks again for all the great photos, you'll be seeing a check in the mail. Hoover Fence Co.