Like many other home improvement projects, substantial consideration contributes to the success and longevity of residential fencing. When you are thinking about how to put up a fence, one of the first steps may be determining if this work is a DIY endeavor you can and want to undertake or if you’d rather enlist the skills and expertise of a professional fencing installation company. To help you with this decision and others related to your upcoming fence work, this guide provides an overview of how to build a fence, more specifically ten things you need to think about in order to do so.
How to Put Up a Fence
Realistically, there are probably hundreds of details and decisions that will arise during a fencing project, regardless of whether or not how to build that fence is directed by you or by an expert fencing collaborator. However, reflecting on the following key factors can help clarify if a professional company is needed to build the fence you desire.
1. Purpose: How to build a fence is influenced by the intended purpose of that structure. For example, the construction of a decorative fence may vary from that of a privacy fence or pool fence.
2. Maintenance: The maintenance needs of fences may differ according to material selection and environmental considerations. Consequently, your investment in performing the fence maintenance needed to ensure its stability, functionality and longevity or desire to pay for repair and replacement services may impact how you choose to build a fence.
3. Material: When thinking about how to put up a fence, you’ll explore available fence materials and select the one that best fits your needs and preferences. From living privacy fences to other types of fencing like wood and vinyl, the material used in fence construction influences the cost of installation, along with maintenance needs.
4. Design: As with the purpose of a fence, the design of that installation also impacts the degree of difficulty associated with how to build that particular fence. Decisions need to be made regarding height as well as style, such as picket or post and rail, and additional decorative features.
5. Property and utility lines: Ensuring an accurate understanding of your property and utility lines helps avoid complications with neighbors as well as service disruptions. Additionally, building or digging without this information may lead to otherwise avoidable costs for removal and damage, not to mention delays to the project itself.
6. Measurements: Much of the difficulty in how to put up a fence relates to measuring. If the meticulous nature of measurement or a willingness to execute these calculations more than once is unappealing, figuring out how to build your own fence may not be the activity for you. From slope evaluation and picket size to post depth and spacing, measuring work is a significant part of the fence construction process.
7. Post depth and spacing: In addition to the potential challenges associated with measurements, the equipment required to achieve the necessary post depth may not be readily available in most homeowners’ garages. While post holes can be done with a shovel, this approach may impede post stability and durability. Post-spacing accuracy similarly contributes to the solid and enduring construction of a fence.
8. Local regulations: Much like property boundaries and utility line location, understanding local regulations ensures that how you plan to put up a fence aligns with existing legal expectations. For example, there may be height restrictions or permits to acquire, which need to be accounted for prior to building in order to avoid lost time, resources or even fines.
9. Soil and terrain: The type of soil and the terrain on your property impact how to build a fence. Post depth may need to be greater in sandy soils, for example. Additionally, variation in slope or ground evenness may increase the challenge of constructing a level fence or otherwise achieving your intended look.
10. Gates and fasteners: Are you thinking about including a gate in your fence design? This kind of feature needs to be accounted for early in the process to make sure that the fence can support it and that the gate itself is placed appropriately for its operation.
Need Help? Orange Fence Can Help Build Your Fence
Looking to see exactly what’s ahead of you in terms of how to build a fence? View our tutorials including these ActiveYards DIY gate and fence installation videos. If building a fence isn’t a DIY project, then don’t worry because Orange Fence can help.
With over 90 years of experience in the fencing industry, Orange Fence is a family-owned company that is dedicated to providing residential and commercial property owners with the perfect fence for their home or business. As an award-winning fencing company, we offer comprehensive fencing and gate installation services throughout Connecticut and free estimates.
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