November 21, 2007 Phase One is complete and the new fencing looks great! While the project was even more complex than anticipated and took significantly longer than we liked, we are very pleased with the end results. The cost ended up at $11 per foot with association paying for half of the total. The fence committee will meet sometime in the beginning of the year to evaluate the first phase and discuss the second phase. Thank you to the fence committee for their work on this very large capital improvement project, especially Val Tidwell, for donated her entire summer. If you see Val, tell her thank you. She deserves it!
As many of you are aware, the first phase of the fence refurbishing project is taking significantly longer than originally projected. While we are hopeful that phase one will be completed soon, the process has been extremely time consuming for the volunteers overseeing the project and for your Board of Directors. Literally 100s of volunteer hours have been donated to this complex project. Most of the delays have come from or are related to the striping of the original paint from the old fence. Because of the multiple layers of epoxy paint, the process to remove the old paint is taking up 15 hours of labor for each 10 foot section of fence. In an effort to cut the time in half, our contractor brought a second company into the process for striping and powder coating. Unfortunately, the quality of work from the second company was not acceptable and we demanded the fence be redone. Thank you to everyone for their patience during this very large and complex capital improvement project.
A few months ago the Homeowners Association Board solicited homeowners to participate on a
committee to consider the maintenance of the wrought iron fences that adjoin the neighborhood
common areas. Six of your neighbors serve on this committee and have put great thought and
consideration into this issue including reaching out to others in the neighborhood for ideas and
opinions. While fence maintenance may seem fairly straightforward, it quickly became more
complex than originally thought.
There are nearly 8000 linear feet of iron fencing of varying condition bordering common areas. After looking at all the iron fencing it’s clear that the oldest section is in ill repair and in immediate need of attention, with other sections approaching the same condition. Multiple companies provided bids for the fence refurbishment and a company was identified as having the
most competitive prices for the most durable paint and reputable repair services. Our bid price is
coming in between $8-$11 a foot.
Further in the assessment it was discovered that these iron fences are on the homeowners’ private
property and not on the neighborhood’s common property. While the CC&Rs disclose rules for
maintaining consistency with these fences for the benefit of our neighborhood’s aesthetics and
ultimately our property values, they are the individual homeowners’ private property.
The goal of the committee was to maintain the beauty of the neighborhood by addressing the
condition of these iron fences. The fence committee proposed, and the Homeowners Association
Board has approved, a multi-year approach to repairing and refurbishing the iron fences in a
good neighbor fashion of sharing the cost 50/50 between the Association and the homeowners
who have these fences on their property. A number of factors led to this decision: ensures
consistency with the handling of previous fence repairs, utilizes existing and planned
neighborhood improvement funds, and acknowledges the association’s interest in maintaining
the neighborhood’s aesthetics while balancing the fact that the fences are on personal property.
The following illustrates the investment for both the Association and affected homeowners. One
hundred feet of iron fencing repaired and powder coated at an estimated cost of $11/foot results
in a total price of $1100 or $550 each for the Association and the homeowner. Iron fencing
between homeowners’ properties, continue to be under the purview of our CC&Rs, though are
not covered by the Association’s improvement funds. While this additional work is the sole
responsibility of each homeowner, our contractor has agreed to offer the same discounted pricing
as the Association and will bill the homeowner directly should they wish to take advantage of
this opportunity.
The attached questions may be one’s you have regarding this topic. If you have further questions
send your inquiry to our property management representative at AMI, Denny Moeller, dmoller@amihome.net or 385-9650. For your continued reference, as additional questions
surface, the responses will be available via our website.
Further communication will be sent to homeowners directly impacted in 2007. That communication will include more details such as a timeline, estimates, payment method, and
logistics for fence refurbishing.
We appreciate your support for this approach to making The Legends the best it can be. The
earliest development in our neighborhood began over 10 years ago and we have successfully
maintained an environment we can all be proud of. This allows us to continue that trend,
maintaining the desirability of our neighborhood and the value of everyone’s property.
Sincerely,
The Legends HOA
Board of Directors Iron Fence Project - Map Timeline Click here to download a map of the proposal timeline for fence refirbishment.
Questions & Answers On Iron Fence Project
What will I be expected to pay if I have an iron fence adjoining a common area?
The average cost is estimated to be $8.00 to $11.00 a linear foot, with the
Homeowner and the Association each paying half of the cost.
How do you know the iron fences are on private property?
The Developer installed all iron fences on the Homeowners private property as
indicated by the property markers throughout the subdivision.
If you wish to confirm this, you may hire a surveyor at your cost.
How much would it cost to do the entire fence project at once?
The total estimated iron fence area is approximately 8,000 linear feet. This number
includes the few 15 feet setbacks that border the common areas or face side streets.
The total estimated cost to complete the project will be between $64,000 and
$88,000.
How will I as a Homeowner with iron fencing adjoining the common area be impacted?
The current fence will be removed, repaired and powder coated at an offsite
location before it is reinstalled. The estimated time to complete each homeowner’s
fence is expected to be 10 to 14 days. A temporary fence will be available upon
request.
When and how do I pay my share?
Upon completion of your fence, your half will be due within 10 days. All checks
should be made payable to AMI and returned in the envelope provided.
If I have additional iron fencing that needs repaired or powder coated, what is the
process?
Through our negotiations, the contractor has agreed to offer all home owners the
same discounted pricing as the association. If you would like to take advantage of
this pricing, please let them know when you are contacted. Additional work will be
billed separately and will be the sole responsibility of the home owner.
What is involved in the refurbishing process?
The fence will be removed at ground level, taken to an off-site location, sandblasted,
repaired/reinforced and then powder coated. The newly cured fence will then be
reinstalled.
What is powder coating?
Powder Coating is a type of dry coating, which is applied as a free-flowing, dry
powder. The main difference between a conventional liquid or epoxy paint and a
powder coating is that, the powder coating does not require a solvent to keep the
binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form. The coating is typically applied
and then cured under heat to allow it to flow and form a "skin." It is usually used
to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint.
Can I change the color or style of my iron fence?
No, the appearance of the fence, including size, materials and design are subject to
the Architectural Control Committee. The uniformity of the common fence is
necessary to maintain the aesthetics of our neighborhood and contributes to
everyone’s property value.
When will the project start and how long will it take?
The project has been broken down into 6 phases with the first phase estimated to start June 2007. Each
phase is expected to take 5 to 6 months to complete. We have budgeted one phase
per calendar year and estimate the entire projects completion in 6 years.
Will our Association dues increase due to this project?
The Fence Committee and Board hope that by scheduling the project in phases over
a multi-year timetable, an increase in annual dues will not be necessary to complete
the project.
Why are Homeowners responsible for any common area fencing?
Iron fencing adjoining the common area is located on private property and all
maintenance and upkeep are the Homeowners responsibility. The fence committee
and the board believe that because everyone benefits from the common areas, that
the association should share in the burden of maintaining the fence.
Is my participation mandatory?
No, it is not mandatory; however, should you choose not to participate during your
scheduled time, you will be responsible for 100% of the cost to refurbish the fence.
Can I paint the fence myself?
Because the appearance of the fence, including size, materials and design are subject
to the Architectural Control Committee, and given the complexity of powder
coating, it would more expensive to individually hire a contractor to refurbish your
fence. If you choose to independently hire a contractor, you will be responsible for
100% of the cost.
Why a 50/50 split?
The aesthetics of our neighborhood rely heavily on the look of our common areas.
The Fence Committee and Board hope that by sharing this cost we can keep a
uniform and aesthetically pleasing neighborhood that will continue to enhance
individual property values.
My fence is not in the 1st phase. Can I have it done early?
Based on budget forecasts we may be able to take additional homes prior to their
scheduled time. However, to maintain uniformity, we would encourage everyone to
participate during their scheduled phase.
Will the new fence look exactly like the old fence?
The powder coated color will be virtually the same as the original epoxy paint. The
new powder coated process will likely appear darker than the older faded epoxy
paint.
How long will the new fence be expected to last?
The powder coating option allows the fence to last 15 to 20 years, which is roughly
twice as long as the old style epoxy paint.
My fence doesn’t look like it needs to be repainted now. Why do I have to have this
process done?
The life expectancy of the existing epoxy paint is roughly 7 to 10 years. Each phase
has been mapped out to refurbish the oldest sections of the iron fencing first.
Because the epoxy paint deteriorates rapidly at the end of its life cycle, delaying the
refurbishing process may drastically increase the projects cost.
