Laying an underground dog fence is relatively easy when you are putting the wire in dirt, but what about when you get to the driveway area? Most people don’t want the wire to be exposed, just laying over the driveway. It is going to take a few tools and some effort to get the wire underneath the driveway. Let’s take a look at a few different ways this can be done.
- Begin by taking a look at your driveway to see if it has an expansion joint. This is a crevice that already exists in the driveway. If you have this, laying the wire is going to be relatively easy. Begin by cleaning out the crevice with a screwdriver. Finish the cleaning process by sweeping it out with a broom or pressure washer if you have one. Next, lay the wire inside of the crack, poking it down to the bottom of the crack with a screwdriver. Lastly, you need to apply a waterproof caulk over the top of the wire.
- If you don’t already have a crevice there, you will need to create one. Begin this project by drawing a chalk line across the driveway where you want the wire to be. If your driveway is gravel, move the gravel out of the way first with a shovel before drawing your line. This line will help you to cut neatly across the driveway. You will need an asphalt-cutting saw with a 14-inch masonry blade, which you can find in a tool rental shop. A tougher job may require a diamond tipped masonry blade. You may also decide to rent a concrete cutter, which will do the job nicely.
- After putting on safety glasses, make a cut across the line in the blacktop or asphalt driveway. The cut should be about ½ inch to 3 inches deep, matching the depth of the wire that was laid in the ground next to the driveway. If your driveway is dirt or gravel, you can score a groove with the tip of a shovel. When you are cutting, go slowly. Be sure to take a break every minute or so to make sure your saw will not overheat.
- Go ahead and sweep out the cut you have just made across your driveway. Next, lay the wire inside of the groove you have created. Use an object (not a sharp one) to poke the wire into the bottom of the crack.
- Using a concrete sealant, caulk over the top of the dog wire. Two good brands are Liquid Nails Concrete Repair and DAP brand Concrete Sealer. When you are caulking, be sure to take your time. This is because the caulk will be able to be seen on your driveway.
- You need to take special care to protect the area where the wire comes out of the driveway and goes into the ground. This is an area where the wire commonly gets broken. This is because an edger or a weed wacker is often used by homeowners. To prevent future problems, you need to make a very deep cut at the end of each edge of the driveway, where the wire meets the lawn. You can do this by setting your circular saw to full depth. Doing this will let you bury the wire deeper in the ground in that area.
You also may decide to slip the end of the wire into a small piece of PVC pipe. This will stop an edger from slicing the wire open. You may also decide to simply place a rock over the top of the wire to discourage it from being disturbed. And there you have it!