Chloe Zhang
Wrought iron fencing is a great addition to any home, but it can be a challenge to remove. The weight of each fence section requires careful handling to avoid injury. Assistance is generally needed to help remove this type of fencing. Before starting, make sure you have a helper to steady the fence as you remove it so it doesn't fall over. The first step is to locate the bolts attaching the fence section to the support post. Typically, there are two bolts at the top and two at the bottom of each side of the section. Then, use a reciprocating saw with a high-quality metal-cutting blade to remove the horizontal bars. If you don't have access to a reciprocating saw, you can use a regular hacksaw. Next, break through the topsoil and any grass or other plants that may have grown around the bottom of the fence support posts with a shovel. Finally, rock the post back and forth by pushing and pulling on it until it is loose in the ground, and pull it from the ground.
How to Unhook a Plastic Rod Iron Fence
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fence type | Plastic rod iron fence |
| Tools required | Shovel, reciprocating saw, hacksaw, work gloves, safety glasses, pinch bar, digging bar, pole jack, hammer, bricks, steel bolts, angle grinder, U-bolts, paint |
| Process | Cut horizontal bars from fence posts, pull out posts, remove bolts, use jack to support fence section, pump jack to raise pole, repeat for all posts, brace with bricks, fill holes with dirt |
| Assistance required | Yes, due to weight of fence sections |
| Safety considerations | Hearing protection, eye protection, work gloves |
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What You'll Learn
Cutting the horizontal bars
Prepare the Necessary Tools
Before you begin, ensure you have the right tools for the job. You will need a reciprocating saw or a hacksaw, specifically a high-quality metal-cutting blade. If you don't have access to these tools, you can use a regular hacksaw, which is more cost-effective. Additionally, for your safety, it is important to wear work gloves and safety glasses.
Once you have the tools ready, follow these steps:
- Cut the Horizontal Bars: Use the reciprocating saw or hacksaw to cut the horizontal bars from the posts. Make sure to cut as close to the posts as possible to avoid wasting material.
- Leverage and Removal: After cutting the horizontal bars, use the remaining posts for leverage. Rock the buried ball of concrete to loosen it up and make it easier to pull out of the ground.
- Digging and Removal: If you are unable to remove the posts with leverage, you may need to dig around them. Use a round-point shovel and a pinch bar or digging bar to dig and loosen the soil around the posts. This will help you remove the posts more effectively.
- Pulling Out the Posts: Once the posts are sufficiently loosened, pull them out of the ground. You can use your body weight by pushing down on the posts or using a see-saw-like setup to gain leverage and remove them.
- Clean Up: After removing the posts, clean up the area by filling in any holes or indentations left behind. Ensure the area is level and safe.
Additional Tips:
- If you are repairing or fixing a single wrought iron bar, you might need to cut out the damaged portion and weld a new one in its place.
- If the fence is made of aluminum, you may be able to slip a new bar into place and screw it in, avoiding the need for welding.
- Always prioritize your safety when working with tools and sharp objects. Take breaks if needed and work with a partner for added assistance and safety.
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Using a jack to lift the fence
Using a jack to lift a wrought iron fence is a common technique. However, it is important to note that wrought iron fencing is very heavy, and you can be seriously injured if it falls on top of you. Therefore, it is recommended to have a helper to steady the fence as you remove it.
To use a jack to lift a fence, you will need to follow these steps:
- Prepare the area around the fence post by breaking through the topsoil and any grass or other plantings that may have grown around the bottom of the fence support post with a shovel. Dig around the post, ensuring there is no soil surrounding the post.
- Place the jack securely in position. You can use a two-by-four to brace it, but some prefer to let the jack rest up against the post that is being removed. Ensure the jack is stable and will not slip.
- Engage the jack arm just a little bit so that it's snug.
- Slowly start cranking the jack to lift the fence post. If using a pole jack, pump the jack to raise the lifting plate so that it pushes against the welded bolt bracket.
- Continue cranking the jack until the fence post is raised from the hole. You may need to keep adding more wood or other blocks as you lift to gain more height.
- Repeat the process for each fence post.
It is important to note that you should stop and adjust the jack's position if it starts leaning to one side. Ensure the weight is evenly distributed to prevent the jack from slipping. Additionally, consider using a chain or strap to secure the fence post to the jack, which can help improve stability and prevent slipping.
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Locating and removing bolts
Locating the bolts is the first step in removing them. Typically, there are two bolts at the top and two at the bottom of each side of the wrought iron fence section. However, fences with short sections or heights may only have one bolt at the top and bottom on each end.
Once located, the bolts need to be removed. If the fence is welded to the posts, a reciprocating saw with a high-quality metal-cutting blade can be used to cut the horizontal bars from the posts. A regular hacksaw can also be used if a reciprocating saw is not available. After cutting, the posts can be pulled out of the ground. If the posts are too heavy to pull out manually, a pole jack can be used to lift them out.
If the posts are not welded to the fence, the bolts can be removed without cutting any iron. First, break through the topsoil and any grass or other plantings around the bottom of the fence support posts with a shovel. Dig around the post, ensuring there is no soil surrounding it, and then rock the post back and forth until it is loose in the ground. Pull the post from the ground. If the post is too heavy to pull out by hand, use a pole jack to lift it out of the hole.
It is important to have a helper when removing the fence to steady it and prevent it from falling over.
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Digging around the post
First, break through the topsoil and any grass or other plants that may have grown around the bottom of the fence support post with a shovel. Dig around the post by about four inches and dig down at least 12 inches so that there is no soil surrounding the post.
If the post is stuck in the ground, you can try to loosen the soil by irrigating the ground at the base of the post with a garden hose. If you don't have access to water, you can skip this step and move straight to using a pole jack to lift the post out of the ground.
To use a pole jack, lay some boards on the ground near the welded bolt bracket that the fence section was attached to and place the jack on top of the boards. Pump the jack up so that the lifting plate pushes against the bracket. Keep pumping until the post is loose, then pull the post out of the ground.
If you don't have a pole jack, you can try to rock the post back and forth by pushing and pulling on it until it is loose in the ground. If the post is too heavy to manually pull out, you may need to use a jack. Alternatively, you can use your body weight by placing a cinder block or stack of wood about a foot away from the post and pulling down on it to pop the post out.
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Rocking the post to loosen it
Rocking the post back and forth is a technique that can be used to loosen it and remove a wrought iron fence without cutting the posts. This method can be done without the use of any tools, but it is important to note that assistance is generally needed to remove wrought iron fencing as it can be heavy and difficult to manage on your own.
To start, break through any topsoil, grass, or other plantings that may have grown around the bottom of the fence support post with a shovel. Dig around the post, ensuring there is no soil surrounding it. This can be done by digging at least 4 inches around the post and at least 12 inches down.
Once the post is clear of any surrounding soil, it is time to begin rocking the post. This is done by pushing and pulling on the post with your body weight, using a see-saw type of motion. You can start with a cinder block or stack of wood placed a foot or two away from the post, which is about the same height as the horizontal bar. Pull down and push down on the stack to create a fulcrum, increasing your leverage and helping to loosen the post.
As you work, you may need to adjust the height of your fulcrum to maintain optimal leverage as the post begins to loosen and come out of the ground. Continue rocking the post back and forth until it is loose enough to pull out of the ground.
If the post is too heavy to manually pull out, you can use a pole jack to assist in lifting it out of the hole. Place some boards on the ground near the welded bolt bracket and position the pole jack on top of the boards. Pump the jack up so that the lifting plate pushes against the bracket, and continue pumping until the pole is raised.
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