Problem with our new fence - need advice

[lecach]

We had a new fence that was installed on Sept. 30. The way our fence guy works, he orders the supplies from a wood supply place, you pay them directly, and then he puts it all together and you pay him his daily fee.

We didn't pay much attention to the wood when it was delivered. We've never dealt with anything like that before. When I got home from work and the fence guy was almost done he pointed out that the wood was two different colors but felt that it would all cure to the same color. The difference is pretty significant but seems to have lightened a bit already. DH was walking around the exterior today and noticed that at least 20 or so boards - all of them the darker wood - were bowed at the bottom. I called the fence guy and he said that he would take care of it regardless but asked me to call the wood supplier myself since I had paid them directly. Personally, I think if the wood is bowing on that many boards after 2 weeks that they should replace all the dark wood with the other color. And really, they should never have delivered two different colors. He did say that the supplier people told him that they had had some complaints about wood color. In hindsight I should have been here for the delivery and the fence installation and I could have said something then. But DH was and he just doesnt think about stuff like that.

Any advice on how to approach it? Do I start out asking for new wood? Or do I just ask for the replacement boards? Do I offered to pay anything for the replacement of all the boards?

Lets say the wood people agree to replace all the dark wood and the fence guy comes to install it. That means he has to rip of a lot of boards and reinstall a lot too. Do I pay him anything?

 

[lecach]

No advice anyone? Please help!

 

[JR6ooo4]

sounds like maybe the wood was not dried properly or long enough.

Does the direction of the bow face towards the sun? If so then that side is drying out and shrinking more than the opposite side, causing the curl.

If that is the case, then you have to find out if the wood was sold as dried/seasoned and then you would have the right to ask for a replacement.

Mikeeee

 

[lecach]

It IS bowing towards the sun. The back yard gets direct afternoon heat. And here in NC that's still pretty significant. It's been in the 80's all week. The invoice says that it's 2x4x8 #2 prime.

 

[BalooTheBear]

We just had a wood fence put up in August with the same #2 pine, though we didn't order directly from the supplier as you did. The fence company had all the wood delivered to the site and built it there. We also didn't have any of the darker colored pieces, but we did have bowing initially. The bowing wasn't very bad but it was noticeable. Since then the bowing has become less - we just figured the wood needed to dry and cure some. Give it a little time, you can always have the fence guy come back if you need to.

I too was concerned with the bowing, since the pieces that had bows were all in front - I thought dang why didn't they put them in the back where it doesn't show............