Is the old metal fence out of date and you need to remove it? Dismantling the "metal net" is the simple part of the job, but getting rid of the poles requires more effort and sometimes even the use of a truck or special equipment. If the fence is in good condition, you can also place an ad to give it away to anyone who takes the burden of taking it apart.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Area
Step 1. Consider exchanging material with dismantling
If the fence is in good condition, someone may be willing to take on the job in exchange for the fence itself. You can find some interested people on second-hand classifieds sites or by word of mouth, so you can save yourself a lot of effort.
Even if you will eventually have to remove it yourself, giving away the material is a perfect way to get rid of it, without having to rent a van or pay garbage disposal fees
Step 2. Make room on one side of the fence
The purpose is to have a flat space on the ground, preferably on the opposite side with respect to the upper horizontal pole, to be able to place the wire mesh and roll it up. The surface should be at least 60 cm wider than the height of the net; if you don't have all this space available, you will need to work in smaller sections and roll up the net while it is still partially attached to the posts. Either way, make sure you have 60-90cm of wiggle room near the fence.
If possible, make an obstacle-free path for the van or at least the handcart to reach the fence
Step 3. Protect the plants in the neighboring garden
Tie and cut bushes and trees you want to keep or cover smaller plants with an upside-down bucket.
If the tree you want to keep has grown through the fence, there is no need to remove it, you can cut the wire mesh on both sides of the plant
Step 4. Put on protective clothing and goggles
Wire can scratch the skin and metal splinters can fly into the surrounding space during cutting operations. Use thick gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants.
Part 2 of 3: Remove the Wire Mesh
Step 1. Start at one end or corner post
The one in this position is usually wider than the others and the mesh is connected to it by a thin piece of metal, called a tension bar. The bar is threaded through the meshes of the net and fixed to the pole by means of clamps.
Step 2. Disassemble the clamps that secure the net to the post
They are usually connected by a nut and a bolt; loosen the nut with a wrench and take out the bolt. Detach the clamps from the post, the net should become loose but not fall off.
Step 3. Pull out the tension bar
Remove it from the meshes of the net and store it together with the rest of the small parts in a safe place, keeping the surrounding space tidy.
Step 4. Measure the section to remove
If you don't have a tape measure, you can make an assessment by eye, as the posts are usually about 3m apart. The important thing is to choose a section that can be handled and rolled up in the space you have available. Use the guidelines described below to decide the length of the network segment to be disassembled; then, mark the end of the first section using duct tape or colored string.
- If you are working in an open space, on level ground, there is a person to help you and you are used to manual work, you can disassemble the net in sections of 15 meters.
- If you are alone, unable to lift large loads or there are several obstacles in the work area, remove the net in pieces no longer than 6 meters.
- If you are in a confined space with no free space on the ground, you need to roll the net vertically and cut it often, so that it does not become too bulky to handle.
Step 5. Remove a few tie rods at a time from the section you defined
The cables are nothing more than pieces of iron wire that block the net to the support poles and to the horizontal one. You can purchase special pliers for this purpose, but most cables can be bent with regular sturdy or parrot pliers. Read the next step before disconnecting more than a few cables.
- Store the cables in a container as you unhook them, so they do not pose a danger to people and the mower.
- Alternatively, you can cut them with a wire cutter, but doing so creates sharp pieces of wire, so it is not the ideal method.
Step 6. Lay the net on the ground or roll it up as you remove it
As you unhook the fixing cables, spread the net on the ground without rolling it up. If you don't have room to do this, you have to use a more tedious method:
- Disconnect a few cables at a time.
- Roll up the loose fence and secure it to the top horizontal bar with a bungee cord or piece of wire, so it stays vertical.
- Repeat this process until the entire section has been wrapped around the perimeter of the fence.
Step 7. Break the wire mesh when you get to the end of the section you defined
Stop detaching the fixing cables when you get to the end of the net that you need to remove and follow the instructions described below to remove it from the rest of the fence:
- Locate a wire that forms part of the mesh at the top of the fence, just before the support post, and open the hook it forms with the wire nearby using a pair of pliers. Straighten the hook.
- Follow this piece of wire towards the base of the fence and open it so that it is no longer hooked to the adjacent wire.
- Starting at the top, grab the straightened wire with your hand (protected by gloves) and twist it to free it from the rest of the fence. The iron wire should move upward by twisting like a spiral until the two sections of wire mesh are separated.
Step 8. Roll up and tie the section you took apart
Wrap the part of the fence that you placed on the ground and secure it with wire or a rope, so that the cylinder does not open, move the roll so that it is not in the way.
Step 9. Repeat the procedure until you have unmounted the entire network
Continue to locate one section at a time and remove it as described above. Once all the wire mesh has been detached, you can move on to the difficult part of the job: dismantling the posts and the metal frame.
Part 3 of 3: Remove the Posts and Top Beam
Step 1. Disassemble the top beam
Once all the net is removed, take care of the horizontal metal post that is along the top edge of the fence. This element is fixed in several ways, but here's how to disassemble it:
- If the beam is attached to a "plug" on the corner or end post, loosen the nut and remove the bolt holding them together.
- The upper beam typically consists of several hollow poles, each 3m long. Once one end is free, rotate the various segments to detach them from the fixing points and separate them from each other.
- If the top bar has been welded, put on a face mask and cut it into easily manageable pieces with the help of a jigsaw. Use a metal blade with 18 teeth in 25mm.
Step 2. Remove the post caps
Remove any remaining on the other support posts and keep them among the hardware.
Step 3. Dig the soil to expose the concrete foundation
Fence posts are almost always blocked to the ground with concrete; their removal is therefore the most complex part of the job. If the base is buried, use a shovel to dig until you reach the concrete.
Start with the central poles; the corner and terminal ones are generally more difficult to remove, because they have larger concrete foundations
Step 4. Wet the soil around the post
Soften the earth and concrete by pouring water at the base of the support.
Step 5. Try to remove the post along with the concrete base without breaking it
Dig a hole adjacent to the foundation of each post and push the post back and forth until the base falls into the hole. This is the "cleanest" method of removing posts, but is not always possible with large concrete bases, when the fence is mounted on asphalt or other hard surfaces.
Step 6. Pull out the poles with heavy machinery
The larger ones cannot be "uprooted" by hand; use one of these methods to apply greater force:
- Hire a hydraulic pile puller from a construction machinery company; attach it to the pole with the chain and push the lever down to raise the pole vertically.
- Use a chain to attach the support to a tractor or van. Slide the chain over a stable object near the pole so that the pole is pulled up instead of sideways. Have people move away from the area, as the pole could come off violently and be thrown into the air.
- You could also use an agricultural jack for this purpose. Wrap a piece of chain around the pole, securing the other end to the jack lifter. Then operate the jack to pull the pole out of the ground.
Step 7. Try to loosen the pole
If the methods described above have not led to satisfactory results, try to remove the rod from the concrete base. Ask a strong person to push and pull the support repeatedly or hit it at the base with a sledgehammer. Twisting is often more effective than direct thrust, so try grabbing the pole with a large parrot pliers or pipe wrench and spinning it around. When the rod moves or turns, try to push and pull it as described above to detach it from the base; afterwards, dig to extract the concrete base or leave it buried where it is.
Step 8. Cut the poles as a last resort
This is not the best solution due to the sharp, jagged and potentially dangerous remnants that remain on the base. If there is nothing you can do to get the poles out of the ground, this may be the last option available to you without having to call a specialist company. Use an angle grinder or jigsaw with a metal blade.
- Always wear eye protection when you need to cut metal.
- Once the pole is cut, secure the area by folding the metal edges inward or by covering them with a flowerpot or other large object.
- Smooth out the sharp broths with a Mazzotta.
- If possible, remove some of the soil covering the post and cut the post at the point below the surface level. Once you have cut the post and blunt the cutting edges, cover the remaining part with earth.
Step 9. Break the concrete with the pneumatic hammer (optional)
Once the post is removed, get rid of the concrete base before discarding the metal. Rent a small jackhammer from a construction machinery company and break the outer edges of the concrete base carefully. When you've managed to create a crack, use the hammer and chisel to remove the concrete around the post.
Wear eye protection, ear protection, thick gloves, and safety shoes
Advice
- This project requires several days of work, depending on the number of people involved and the length of the fence; plan to invest a lot of time.
- To remove bolts and other hardware from the rusty fence, loosen them with spray lubricant or cut them with a hacksaw.
- It is often possible to resell fences or small parts, try posting an ad on sites like Subito.it.
- In an emergency, firefighters can open the fence vertically using a circular saw or by cutting the wire mesh in several places with a bolt cutter.
Warnings
- Wear a face mask when cutting poles or other metal items.
- Check the floor plan of your property and verify that the fence is inside it before removing it; if it is located along the border line, talk to the neighbors before proceeding with the work.
- Consider wearing a back brace when lifting heavy rolls of wire mesh or tugging on posts. Take a break whenever you feel tired.
