4 Things You Should Know About Fence Installation
If you’re a homeowner, then you’re likely familiar with the fact that there’s always a project to be done. After all, as smart as it is to invest in homeownership, doing so means endless upkeep, tasks, and improvements – but perhaps one of the easiest of these projects is installing a fence, right?
Certainly, if you’re a home improvement novice, putting up a fence will at least appear a lot easier than building a deck or working on your plumbing. Still, there’s a lot of expertise that goes into this process and a number of things you should know before you consider doing it yourself.
There Are A Lot Of Kinds Of Fences
If you’re thinking about installing your own fence, you’re probably thinking about some version of some kind of picket fence, but those are one of the less common types of fences in use today. That’s because they’re not particularly sturdy and can be hard to maintain, though you can certainly accomplish a similar aesthetic outcome with a stronger material.
Rather than wood, today, you’re more likely to see fences made from metal, vinyl, or even glass, depending on the setting. Vinyl is popular for high privacy fencing, while glass fences offer safety and durability along with a great deal of elegance – but you’ll need a certain degree of expertise to install either.
Stability Is Key
A fence that falls down at the slightest breeze is hardly worth the name, but this is a common problem with self-installed fences. That’s because, unlike professionals who have access to the right tools and have the necessary knowledge to properly install a vinyl fence and know that it shouldn’t need much maintenance, DIYers are more likely to end up with a fence that isn’t anchored deeply enough, run into problems with roots and rocks below ground level, or just use the wrong materials, leading to a shoddy fence.
Proper Permits Matter
While installing a fence is a relatively minor project compared to some home improvement tasks, it can require some very specific permits and permissions depending on local building codes or whether you have an HOA.
Additionally, when installing a fence, you may need to contact various local utilities to make sure you aren’t driving any of the supports into areas that will interfere with underground power lines or pipes.
Fences Are An Investment
Installing a fence is, overall, an affordable improvement, but the cost will still vary depending on the type of fence, the company you work with, and a number of other factors. For example, vinyl fence installation costs about $35 a foot, but the fence will last you anywhere from 20-25 years, on average with minimal upkeep, while a chain-link fence is cheaper but less attractive, and a decorative metal fence is more expensive and harder to care for.
With so many material choices, variable permitting requirements, and other matters at play when installing a fence, putting up this seemingly simple structure shouldn’t be taken lightly. Though you might be able to do it yourself, in most cases, it’s better to pay the professionals to ensure that your fence is properly installed and you can just enjoy the end result for years to come.
