Sun-Sentinal article for re-building or repairing property fencing.
here's the link to the Sun-Sentinal article
By Diane C. Lade
Staff writer
Posted January 29 2006
| If you're under the impression that your home's fence is hurricane proof, Rebecca Caldwell urges you to think again.
"The only thing that holds a fence upright is the pressure of the post against the soil," said Caldwell, a building official for Palm Beach County. Chain-link fences usually fare better than wooden ones, as the wind passes through them, but Caldwell has seen all types fail. How homeowners can go about repairing or replacing them depends on where their home is and how much of the fence was damaged. There are more fence guidelines for Miami-Dade and Broward County residents, as they are in a "high-velocity hurricane zone" under the 2001 Florida Building Code, than for those in Palm Beach County. Those replacing an entire fence, or 75 percent or more of the structure, must rebuild it to meet the 2001 code, said Bill Dumbaugh, Broward's chief structural code-compliance officer. Spot repairs on 25 percent or less of a fence's total length do not have to follow 2001 standards.
The 2001 code for the hurricane zone requires a 4-by-4-foot post every four feet for a 6-foot-high wooden fence; a post every five feet for a 5-foot-high wooden fence; and a post every six feet for a 4-foot-high wooden fence. Chain-link fences require a post every 10 feet, with the size and weight of the post increasing for higher fences.
All three counties have additional fencing requirements for swimming pools. Homeowners with pools should check with their municipalities or go to the code Web site at: www2.iccsafe.org/states/ 2004_ florida_codes/.
Palm Beach County, which is not in the hurricane zone, has few code requirements for residential fencing outside of pool barriers, Caldwell said.
Fencing jobs do not require a permit in Palm Beach County if the cost is under $1,000. In Broward County, no permit is needed if the job is under $1,500.
Homeowners are allowed to acquire permits for fence work they are doing themselves, although the process will vary from city to city.
Homeowners wanting to hire a fencing company can find certified contractors by ZIP code through the American Fence Association, an industry group. Go to: www.americanfenceassociation.com or call 800-822-4342.
But be prepared for delays, said Hip Cruz, who manages Broward County's contractor licensing. Wilma hit almost three months ago, and there still is a three to four week wait for fence repair, Cruz said. |
prefer to rent?: selected lease properties
sample our portfolio: properties for purchase
condominium happenings: local condo scene
south florida communities: lifestyles
our daily updates: waterfrontlife blog page
contact information: waterfront life representative
South Florida Lifestyle Representatives:
Rory Vanucchi 754.246.7758
Jean Whitson 954.494.4636
Suzanne Wright 954.328.0594
Carole Riser 954.695.3416
Posts
