Question

Does anyone have a fenced in yard with utility boxes? Did you put anything over them? They are on the corner of our property lines and I wanted to box them out on the outside of the fence but fence company says it will be even more expensive ‍♀️. Just wondering if you covered them? Or what you did to make them not such an eyesore

Answer 1

I see these on my walk lol but would not recommend it, just thought it was funny.  

Comments

@ideogram5 what is that?  

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@limon they are electrical boxes covered with wreath

Answer 2

I would pay extra to box them out. Because when it needs to be serviced or something they won't have to come in your yarf

Comments

@recess according to fence company it would be 8 feet on each side we would lose. Which is pretty significant since we have a small yard.  

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@recess yep  

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They did say we could cover them as long as it lifts off.  

Answer 3

Growing up we had these in our backyard. My parents planted large lilies and added those stacking yard bricks in front almost like a planter box to help hide them. We always used that corner as a hiding spot during hide and seek.  

Answer 4

I planted some beautiful ornamental grasses around them.  

Comments

@progesterone same here made a big mulch bed around them and filled it w grasses

Answer 5

Mine are boxed out and we didn’t pay more?  

Comments

@wacke looks like OP’s are further in on her property, therefore needing more fence, therefore costing more. Yours didn’t need any extra fencing

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@wacke I agree same here. Ours are boxed out as there is a field behind us and we didn’t have to pay extra either.  

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They said we would need extra posts which would cost more and specially cut boards for the smaller section IDK ‍♀️

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@marja the nice things when the fence is boxed out is we can keep our gates locked even if they have to service them !  

Answer 6

My shed is back by mine

Answer 7

I put a tree in front of them. An evergreen. You can even see them.  

Answer 8

That’s BS should not cost more at all!  

Answer 9

We have them but didn't do anything to box them out. The kids leave them alone and the dog occasionally pees on them  

Answer 10

Ours are just in the corner inside the fence line and the previous owner planted tall bushes in front of them in a mulch bed so I didn’t even know they were there until recently when we were trimming the bushes.  

Answer 11

They will need to add posts and additional special sized fence to go around. Makes sense it costs more

Comments

@hesitation3383 yeah that’s what they said.  

Answer 12

From my husband who has worked with two major utility companies- They cannot cover them and if they fence it off where we don’t have access we can take a part of the fence down to get access. Those are in public easement and not on customer property. also if they take down the fence to gain access it ends up being your responsibility to fix since you’re the one who limited access to the boxes in the first place.  

Comments

@idou49 the fence guy said they make like fake rocks and special planter boxes you can place over it. He said it’s allowed as long as it can be picked up and it’s not a permanent thing. ‍♀️. I’d prefer for them to be on the outside of the fence. But in the 13 years we’ve been here I’ve only seen people by it twice and both times was when I changed cable companies.  

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@marja oh absolutely. They can definitely remove things like that. It’s just hard when people put bushes around them or other plants bc of the box needs to be accessed they usually get ruined and people get angry. It’s understandable but the boxes are technically easement. People would call and get so angry. There isn’t much the company can do. ‍♀️

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@idou49 my fear is Nicholas using them to try to escape the yard so I want to either make the less noticeable or put something moveable on top. Plus they are just ugly  

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@marja yeah I could definitely see that as a mega concern. Maybe just see if they can find a cheaper way to box them out. I’m sorry it’s such a struggle. That sucks.  

Answer 13

I planted shrubs around it. But again the guys can hack away at it to gain proper space along with access to do their job.  

Answer 14

We did this around ours. The fencing is pretty inexpensive. We got it at Menards. I wanted to keep the dogs away from it. They replaced the box last year and didn't have any concerns about the extra fencing since it is easily removable.  

Answer 15

We have the fence around some and then the other one we kept inside our yard. Not sure why you would lose so much space, unless there is an easement associated with it. That may be the issue.  

Answer 16

We boxed ours out. They are in the corner so it didn’t cost anymore or use anymore post. Just kind of inverted the corner. I’m glad we did though

Comments

We did this too. We are on a court, so have a double yard in the back. We had them on both sides and were the first ones to put up a fence so we boxed them out.  

Answer 17

We boxed ours out and added a lift off panel to ensure there is never a reason to “accidentally” damage our fence for access. I know the additional cost is annoying but it requires additional materials and labor so it makes sense it does. ‍♀️ our neighbors get to enjoy the view of them now!  

Answer 18

We have them on our property in the corner and we actually put the fence diagonal so we didn’t have them in our yard and the workers could get to it freely

Answer 19

You can plant some decorative grass around it.  

Answer 20

I planted sedum and tall grass around them. you can’t see them once everything grows

Answer 21

Mine are boxed out as well

Answer 22

Ours is on the outside of our fence. We didn't discuss additional cost bc they replaced an existing fence that was boxed out already.  

Answer 23

We fenced around them

Answer 24

We have bushes blocking them, ours are in the back corner of the yard.