Gave my neighbor the "good side" of my fence...

[Diznygrl]

It's always been my impression that the point of a "good neighbor" fence (like the one tvguy posted) is not really for aesthetics, but for equality when it comes to repairs. If a board needs to be replaced on the "smooth" side and it's on your side of the property, then it is your responsibility to fix it, and vice versa.

We just built a new fence a couple years ago, and all along the back part of the yard was on our own dime. The smooth side faces us the whole length, simply because if a board comes loose or gets broken, easier for us to repair it ourselves without having to go over to the neighbors (whom we'd prefer not to deal with) to nail the board up.

On the other side, the neighbors paid for half so it is a good neighbor fence.

 

[mom2rtk]

It's always been my impression that the point of a "good neighbor" fence (like the one tvguy posted) is not really for aesthetics, but for equality when it comes to repairs. If a board needs to be replaced on the "smooth" side and it's on your side of the property, then it is your responsibility to fix it, and vice versa.

We just built a new fence a couple years ago, and all along the back part of the yard was on our own dime. The smooth side faces us the whole length, simply because if a board comes loose or gets broken, easier for us to repair it ourselves without having to go over to the neighbors (whom we'd prefer not to deal with) to nail the board up.

On the other side, the neighbors paid for half so it is a good neighbor fence.

Wait, what? I've never had a neighbor fix a board, even with the smooth side facing them. It's my fence. I'm not sure I'd even want them messing with it.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

...both my mil and mom think we are crazy for giving my neighbor the nice side of our new fence. They say we paid for it so we should get the good side. It runs along our backyard and they are behind us.

I thought this was proper fence etiquette. His side is smooth and ours has a board running across the middle. I think both sides look good, imo, but clearly his is nicer.

What would you do? Good side to the neighbor's yard? I don't plan on taking it down, just curious.

Some jurisdictions require good neighbor fences (exposed posts and cross supports to the inside. Others dictate that good neighbor fences can be on the property line but others must be some distance from it.
It would also be very easy for someone to get into your yard with the cross supports to the outside. We did have an across the street neighbor that installed his backwards because he didn't want his dogs using the cross supports to jump it. But the association required him to nail verticals to the part facing the street (A two good sided fence)

 

[tvguy]

Wait, what? I've never had a neighbor fix a board, even with the smooth side facing them. It's my fence. I'm not sure I'd even want them messing with it.

For many of us, our fences are on the property line, installed by the contractor who built the subdivision, and the responsibility of the owners of the property on either side to pay to fix.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

This is a pictorial definition of "lose, lose".
Both sides look ridiculous. I have never seen this anywhere in all the regions I have lived. Everywhere I've been a good neighbor fence means both sides get the smooth side without any of the horizontal support beams.

If my option was this or to take all of the "bad" side, I'd pick all of the bad side just to ensure consistency. Why would anyone pick this?

The alternating good sides was common out west back in the 60s and 70s when builders were building privacy fences Anything facing the front was good side out. Anything between houses looked like that alternating pattern. Both neighbors were responsible for maintaining the fence. Each tended to replace worn boards facing him.

 

[Boardwalk Jedi]

Granted they were chain link, but we had three different fences around my yard (neighbors to left, neighbor to right, and neighbor in back). Never bothered us. We planted in front of the fences and didn't have to pay for them. Why complain?!