Thinking of Installing a fence at your house in the near future? Whether you hire a professional or go at it alone here some important facts you should know when in the fence installations planning phase.
People build fences for many reasons: Some want privacy, others want to keep animals in or out of their yards or gardens and many are concerned with addressing property boundaries. In the latter case, it’s important to know where those boundaries are.
Most of the time, a fence installations are a simple structure to design and build, but as with any project, you have to be ready for the unpredictable. Rocky ground, uneven terrain, hard soil or clay can turn what seemed like a simple job into a really labor intensive nightmare . If you have the basic tools and also possess basic handy skills you can overcome unforeseen obstacles, but sometimes the extra money it costs to hire a pro is worth it.
Install/ Repair Fence Using Basic Tools
What To Consider When Installing a Fence
The main thing to think about when considering a new fence is why you need it. If privacy is your main concern, you’ll be looking at a higher, more expensive structure than you need to protect your yard from animals or to set your property lines. The purpose of the fence determines the design, materials and cost. If you see a fence in your future, here are some other important considerations:
Fence Building Codes & Regulations
Fences are visible structures. Community associations such as the H.O.A have strict rules on the way your fence can be built and look. From the color of the wood all the way down to the height of the fence . You may or may not need to pull a building permit. It all depends on your location in the world as well as local and state laws
Shared Fences
Deciding to build a fence impacts the entire neighborhood, especially the houses to your left and right if you have close neighbors . You can build whatever/whenever as long as it’s entirely on your property. A fence could also benefit your neighbors though, so consider them, work with them and be a good neighbor. You could share the cost .
Cost To Install a Fence
Cost is One of the main consideration for any home renovation or project . It is affected by design, choice of materials, length /height of the fence and whether you hire out the job or tackle it yourself
Types of Fence Installations
WHAT SIZE PICKETS TO USE?
Choosing what size fence pickets to use on your privacy fence Isn't rocket science. it all falls down to personal preference. Do you prefer the thinner pickets or the larger ones? Either choice would be fine especially for a newly built wood fence. If you are making repairs its best to stick with the size and type of wood that's currently there.
DIY Vs Pro Fence Installation
There are multiple tutorials online, fence installation is are very DIYable, Just as long as you have the right tools and basic handy skills .
How Much Does It Cost To Install A Fence?
Wood & can be $25 - $50 per linear foot of fence .
Metal Fences Can be around $60-$80 per linear foot.
Composite & Chain Link Fences can be around $20-$45 per linear foot.
Benefit Of Hiring A Pro Vs DIY
The benefit of hiring a pro for your fence Installation is the Handyman or fence contractor have multiple years of experience doing this type of job. He or She have the tools necessary to complete the job. They know on a new install you may have to call the city and the utility companies out to come out and mark where underlying cable,water and electrical lines may get in the way of there digging for the posts. One wrong dig and the possibility of an even costlier repair may arise , even fatalities. A handyman can also do the job a lot faster and a fencing contractor who has a crew of employees can do it even faster than a handyman .
If you have the tools and know your way around a saw nail gun ,shovel and or drill you can get it taken care of . The only thing it boils down to is convenience. A lot of homeowners hire out tasks they are equipped to do. It all boils down to time vs money. Which one you have the most of? That also determines the DIy vs Pro fence installations debacle.