I had most of my side fence go down in a storm last summer, and finally had it replaced in December. The work was done by a local company that has an excellent reputation and I am very pleased with the new fence. The fence was not inexpensive, but it is stronger and better built I think, than the old one, so it should hold up for many many years. I will be replacing other old fencing in my yard, in the coming year or so, and was considering using this same person. But one thing this guy does, insists on, is to NOT pull up the old post concrete. He says that to do so leaves the ground unstable for the new post. :confused: But plenty of other people do this, don't they?? I mean, you just pour new concrete in the same hole. That is what I and the BF did when replacing posts last year. This guy cuts the post off level, and places the new post next to it. This was fine on the section that he replaced, but one of the sections I want to redo next year has the existing gate post right next to my side garage door. And that is where I want it. He is saying that he would have to put the new post behind the old one since he does not pull up the old concrete. Is there any logic in this or is this just a guy that doesn't like the extra work involved?

At my last house, I neglected the iron fence. With my new home, I'm seriously considering painting the new fence with an additional protective coat soon after move-in. Hopefully someone experienced can chime in here. Does a new fence require a prime coat? Isn't it already primed? Thanks and cheers!