I accidentally ruined my neighbour's fence after I painted mine – but it's not the mess that's annoyed people the most
A DIY enthusiast has revealed that after giving his fence a lick of fresh paint, he soon realised he had accidentally ruined his neighbour's fence in the process.
Unsure of what to do, the homeowner took to social media to show off the 'nightmare' and ask for people's advice on how to remove the stains.
2
2
But while many were stunned by the mess, this wasn't what annoyed people the most.
In fact, users were more bothered by the colour he had chosen to paint his fence - yes, you heard that correctly.
Posting on Reddit, on the r/DIYUK thread, the anonymous man shared his post under the username @nokpaan and wrote: 'HELP!!! Made a mess of [my] neighbou r's fence.'
Alongside pictures of his neighbour's side of the fence, he then confessed: 'I recently painted/stained my fence with the paint dripping over to my neighbours side of the fence.
'Has anyone come across this nightmare or has any idea on how to remove this stain?'
In an attempt to clean up his error, he shared: 'I've tried using a sander and paint stripper was of little help.'
Desperate to fix the issue, he begged: 'Any product or idea will be highly welcomed and appreciated.'
Reddit advice.
One person said: 'Offer to paint their side the same colour.'
Another added: 'Oops. That won't be coming out any time soon! I'm sorry but you must surely have noticed what was happening whilst you were undertaking this work?
DIY Privacy Fences: Affordable Garden Solutions
'There's literally nothing that will get that out, so it's either stain their side too, cover it somehow, or replace the fence.'
Whilst a third commented: 'Only option is to bite the bullet and paint their fence as well.'
The Top Five Reasons Neighbours Squabble
One study by Compare the Market revealed the top reason British neighbour's argue
Broken fences - top of the board was broken fences and whose responsibility it was to fix it
Parking: one of the leading drivers of neighbour disputes, with 54.1 per cent of people having issues with people parking in front of their house, parking bay or driveway
Trees - complaints about a neighbour's tree cracking your garden path was also common with nearly half of participants finding it frustrating
Bin wars - outdoor bin etiquette continues to ignite the most furious debates between neighbours
Nosy Neighbours - some people have their eyes and ears at the ready to have a peek causing problems for others
But it turns out it wasn't the mess that frustrated people the most - in fact, many were more offended that the man had chosen to paint his fence grey.
Not only did someone describe it as a 'hellish grey fence', but alongside a puking emoji, one user sighed: 'And of all the colours...grey.'
A second questioned: 'Did you think you'd somehow be able to only paint one side without it bleeding through to the other side. Grey? Really? On a garden fence?'
At the same time, another wondered: 'When will this terrible fashion for grey wood die out? My neighbour did the same.'
Meanwhile, one person confessed: 'If this was my fence I would have you replace it. I would not want a grey fence that needs maintenance every two/three years.'
Rules on fences and trees
Fences:
Height Restrictions: In most areas, fences in front gardens should not exceed one metre in height without planning permission. For rear gardens, the limit is generally two metres.
Shared Fences: If a fence is shared with a neighbour, both parties are typically responsible for its maintenance and any costs associated with repairs or replacement.
Building Regulations: Ensure that any new fence complies with local building regulations and does not obstruct visibility for drivers or pedestrians.
Trees:
Ownership: Trees located on your property are your responsibility, including any damage they may cause. Conversely, trees on a neighbour's property are their responsibility.
Overhanging Branches: You are entitled to trim branches that overhang into your property, but only up to the boundary line. The cut branches should be offered back to the tree owner.
Protected Trees: Some trees are protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). Check with your local council before undertaking any work on a tree, as unauthorised work can result in fines.
Roots: If tree roots from a neighbour's tree cause damage to your property, you have the right to remove the roots. However, it is advisable to discuss this with your neighbour first to avoid disputes.
Always consult your local council or a legal adviser for specific regulations and advice.
In response to the comments, the Reddit author later wrote: 'I made a mistake hence I wanna fix it to have a good relationship with my neighbour.
'[The] neighbour doesn't want to paint his fence so I might have to cover the mess.
'Thanks for the help and I don't think I'm touching a brush anytime soon.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
How to survive a nuclear explosion: Expert reveals the safest things to do if they see a detonation
An influencer specialising in financial and trading advice took a break from his usual content to educate his followers on how to best survive a nuclear detonation. Michael Taylor claimed that in our lifetimes we are likely to witness a nuclear explosion due to an increased potential of an accidental detonation. In the comment section, the trader explained that he made the video after seeing that 'an ex-General warned that the UK should prepare itself for missile strikes.' Despite being shaken by the warning, the influencer admitted that he thinks 'this is highly unlikely and accidental detonation somewhere [else] in the world is more likely.' Michael begun his video by claiming: 'You'll probably see a nuclear bomb explosion before you die because accidental detonation is far more likely than nuclear war.' He went on to explain in detail how best to respond in this situation in order to increase the chances of survival. The trader said: 'Most of the damage comes from the shockwave so if you do see a bright flash you've got eight to ten seconds to lie on the ground and close your eyes. 'Keep your mouth open and breathe through your teeth because closing it can burst your lungs, rupture your ear drums and cause other organs to explode.' Michael then moved on to the next phase of survival; getting underground. He said: 'Once the shockwave has passed you've got around ten minutes before the fallout starts to settle. 'You need to get underground here and put as much concrete and steel between you and the surface as possible.' And if this already didn't seem complicated enough Michael warned that those wanting to survive will need to remain underground for at least 48 hours. He said: 'You now need to stay here for 48 hours because if you go outside for 20 minutes you'll probably die of radiation poisoning. 'Once this has passed you need to get as far away from the blast zone as you can taking off any outer clothing as well to remove some of the radiation.' However, Michael's tips did not only include what to do immediately after a nuclear blast but also included details on how to pack a 'nuclear backpack.' The influencer said: 'The best way to prepare for this is to create a nuclear backpack with some water, packaged food, a hand crank radio, raincoats, and rubber gloves and a map.' Realising for a moment how ridiculous his clip sounded, Michael added: 'Yes, whilst some people might call you crazy when you're in the shelter and they don't have any water you'll have the last laugh.' Several viewers in the comments wondered why anyone would want to survive a nuclear blast. One person wrote: 'Why would you really want to survive a nuclear detonation?' Another said: ' I appreciate how he prefaces with 'If you want to survive…' Thanks! I'm good. But thanks for the tip and I'll make sure to close my mouth. Best of luck to the rest of you.' Others were surprised at Michael's dramatic shift away from his usual videos. One viewer said: 'We interrupt this *not financial advice* with an important public safety information reel. Nice.' A second added: 'Not the content I was expecting today!' A third hilariously wrote: 'Any stock that'll do well in this situation?'
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Major cargo ship fire at Hull Albert Dock extinguished
A major fire on board a cargo ship at a Hull dock has been extinguished, the fire service has Fire and Rescue crews were called to Albert Dock at about 10:20 BST on Friday after the blaze started in a cargo hold containing 3,500 tonnes of scrap metal, causing a plume of smoke to spread across the city fire was brought under control by about 05:00 BST on Saturday and crews remained at the scene to ensure there was no risk of reignition, a fire service spokesperson said. All those on board had been accounted for it had earlier been will still be able to see and smell smoke in the area, the service said. The spokesperson added: "Well done to our firefighters who worked through the night, continuously dampening down the cargo hold to bring the fire under control. "Thank you also to our Control Room staff who took the initial 999 calls, coordinated communications with partner agencies and managed the logistics of relief crews throughout the incident."We'd also like to thank the port authorities and our emergency service partners for their ongoing support."The fire service spokesperson warned people living and working nearby: "You may still see wisps of steam from the dock as part of the cooling process."Please do not be alarmed. There is also a strong smell of smoke in the area."At its height, five fire engines, an aerial platform and fire crews trained in marine response were involved in the operation. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
People in West Yorkshire set to mark Armed Forces Day 2025
Veterans and family members of those who have served in the military say it's "important to celebrate" those who have given their service. Armed Forces Day is held on the last Saturday of June as a "chance to say thank you to the brave men and women who have pledged to defend our nation," SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, gathered at the Veterans' Café event at Ghyll Royd Care Home, Guiseley, on Wednesday to chat over cake and tea and mark Armed Forces Week. Mark Sugrue, from Ilkley, who attended the event, said it was an opportunity to share his experiences of serving with the Royal Air Force Police. More than 180 events are taking place across the UK this year, according to the Ministry of Defence. Mr Sugrue said: "I've been sent out to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq, Rio De Janeiro, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore, so it was a good time."Thinking back, certainly there were high points and quite a few low points, but they are outweighed by the high points and camaraderie."He added: "We always say, it is not where you are, but who you are with that matters."Colour Sgt Rosie Clarke, from the Keighley Royal Marine cadets, said she enjoyed chatting to "a lovely bunch of ladies" who spoke about their experiences of taking in evacuees during World War Two."We went down memory lane of how my grandad, who served in North Africa and Burma, never collected his war medals," she said."I started the cadets when I was 12 and on my first Remembrance Day my grandma had his medals delivered as a present for me."She continued: "I had the privilege of wearing his medals on my first Remembrance Day." "I think it's important we celebrate Armed Forces Day as it commemorates all of those who are old and young who have served over the years," she Young, operations manager for Spellman Care, who are hosting Veterans' Café events around West Yorkshire, said the event was a "great opportunity to bring everybody together". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
