Working close to boundary - Other peoples fences

[Ouch]

As part of my garden 'plan' will involve a full width patio, I'm going to be working close to three boundaries: the two adjoining properties (actually there's 3 but that's not relevant here) and the rear which is onto unregistered council wasteland (that's another story).

I'm laying flags with a 100x200 block edging course, so there'll be concrete & haunches to think about.

What's the 'done thing' when laying close to a boundary, particularly one which has an existing fence? Do I excavate up to the fence and lay my base layer to the line? Do I stop short by an amount and finish with gravel or something less intrusive?

The boundary on one side is a very wonky fence which is owned by next door (which is housing association, so not prone to swift action on issues like this). The other side is my fence, currently open to the elements thanks to the weather, which will be newly installed feather-edge, so I guess I could take the concrete bed for the edge course right up to the gravel boards of the fence, yes?

I'm worried that if I excavate too close to next doors fence and disturb the footings for the posts I'll then have to replace or repair the damn thing, which wouldn't be an issue if it weren't for the time and the money involved - and sods law suggests that the bit I damage will be the straight bit, not the massive wonk half way up..

[lutonlagerlout]

we are doing a drive on a job with similar issues
next doors fence has around an 80mm dogleg in it over 18m

i spoke to the client and showed him the issue
we agreed to keep our edgings as parallel and straight as possible
once haunched the strip can be covered with gravel
LLL

[michaelthegardener]

id leave 300mm either side myself and fill it with gravel that way if you ever have to work on the fence either side you don't have to disturb the patio :p

[Dave_L]

Yes, as above, leave a 200-300mm 'service strip' between your paving and the fence, then if the fence ever needs attention in the future, your works will be unaffected. As MTG says above, infill it with decorative chipping of some description and you're away! This is what we do as a rule, anyway.

[Ouch]

That sounds like good advice - how is weed control dealt with? Left to my own devices, I'd probably take to hosing the area with round-up or similar, however something that doesn't involve periodic saturation with chemicals would be preferable.

[Dave_L]

I'd put some black plastic membrane (not geotextile) down along said strip and cover with a layer of chipping- making weed control easy

[Ouch]

I'd put some black plastic membrane (not geotextile) down along said strip and cover with a layer of chipping- making weed control easy

something like this: weed control fabric from screwfix - or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

[lutonlagerlout]

dave surely plastic would stop the water getting through?
geotextile is designed for this application
or am I thinking it wrong?
LLL

[Dave_L]

I'd just punch a few holes down through it to allow drainage; I wouldn't go to the expense of specialist fabrics.