Fences and Gates - Pea Gravel Rots Cedar Fence?

A couple years ago we installed a pool in our yard, and surrounded it with pea gravel. My neighbor has informed me that the pea gravel that comes in contact with his cedar fence is causing it to rot. He suggests and demands that we put a liner against the fence to keep the gravel from direct contact.

I believe that the plastic liner will keep moisture trapped against the fence and that the pea gravel is allowing drainage away from the fence. He first stated that we need to put brick against the fencing. I told him that brick is the same material as the pea gravel, just crushed and formed into a brick. That is when he suggested a liner against his fence.

I believe he is just aggravated by our pool and the few little pea gravels that may seep under his fence into his yard.

However, I do want to do the right thing.

This does not make a lot of sense. I assume the neighbor is talking about the fence panels themselves, and not the posts. Previous to the pea gravel, was the lower part of the fence just exposed to air, with no material up against it? Having the gravel up against the wood would tend to retain some moisture by not allowing sunlight and breezes to dry the wood as readily, but putting a plastic liner would certainly worsen the situation. How about lowering the grade by an inch or two to allow clearance between the bottom of the fence and the pea gravel?

Yeah, either way you are retaining moisture against the fence which isn't good. I'd put in a metal edge or other type of edge below the fence and taper out the gravel away from the fence to give it a 2" clearance...

This does not make a lot of sense. I assume the neighbor is talking about the fence panels themselves, and not the posts. Previous to the pea gravel, was the lower part of the fence just exposed to air, with no material up against it? Having the gravel up against the wood would tend to retain some moisture by not allowing sunlight and breezes to dry the wood as readily, but putting a plastic liner would certainly worsen the situation. How about lowering the grade by an inch or two to allow clearance between the bottom of the fence and the pea gravel?


Then the pea gravel would move under the fencing and trickle into his yard...oh yeah...he also told me that the pea gravel would turn into dirt and disintegrate into his yard also. Hmmmm...interesting.

Thanks for your suggestion.