If you’ve decided to save yourself some money and install a fence with your own two hands, you’ve made a great decision. Before you get down to business, however, you’ll need to plan ahead if you want to avoid some of the most common mistakes DIY fencers encounter during installation. Here are some tips for avoiding fence installation problems:
Locate and Mark Underground Utilities
The last thing you want when installing a fence is to end up with a natural gas leak, water leak, or power disruption. That’s why it’s absolutely imperative that you contact your local utility companies and find out where your underground utility lines are before driving in your posts.
Know Your Property Lines
If you accidentally erect your fence even a foot outside of your property line, you may be forced to remove entire sections of your new fence, which can be expensive and time consuming. Even if you feel pretty confident about the location of your property lines, it’s never a bad idea to contact a surveyor and double check.
Make Sure You Have the Right Ground Clearance
A fence with a ground clearance that’s too high provides an opportunity for pets and small children to crawl underneath it. On the other hand, a fence that’s too low won’t allow for small changes in the landscape and makes it more difficult to mow grass and weed along the edges of your fence. Be sure to know how much ground clearance you need before you begin installation.
Look Up Any Local Ordinances Pertaining to Your Fence
Depending on where you live, there may be certain zoning requirements that you have to follow regarding the height and style of your fence. Be sure to research and follow any ordinances for your area to avoid problems with your fence after construction is complete.
Here’s the last tip: don’t forget the lumber! Many wood types, including cedar, work great as fencing material. Find all of the lumber you need, including cedar split rails and lodgepoles, at J & W Lumber. We even have composite and vinyl fencing materials. Give us a call at (760) 741-8776 for more information about fence building.