If you don’t already have a fence around your property, it might be time to consider installing one. If you do have a fence that’s desperately in need of repair, now could be the right time to replace it. Either way, it’s very important that you don’t try to cut any important corners during the fence installation process.

As a property owner, you surely understand that cutting corners on a property improvement project almost always ends up costing more money in the long run. That’s exactly why it’s always prudent to simply do things the right way the first time.

Understandably, installing fences is not an everyday occurrence. Keeping that in mind, here are some of the things you can do to make sure you aren’t cutting the wrong corners. Remember, people who try to cut corners are usually trying to save money, something that can easily backfire.

Don’t Avoid Getting the Proper Permits

If this is your first fence installation project, there is a good chance you don’t know whether or not permits are needed. In a lot of cases, they are probably not going to be required. However, there are risks associated with installing a fence without the proper “permission” from the city, county, or H.O.A. The risks include the possibility of a fine or an order to take the fence down. Do your due diligence.

Cutting corners by trying to avoid permit fees seldom works out well. Permits are generally inexpensive and the application process should only take a few minutes.

Locate Your Underground Utilities

To properly install a fence, you’ll likely need to dig as deep as two feet for fence posts. That’s deep enough to possibly encounter underground utilities like electrical wiring, gas lines, and or water pipes.

Before you start doing any digging, you should invest a little time and money to secure a utility schematic of your property. By doing so, you’ll be able to avoid digging in the wrong places. It’s the best way to avoid the risks associated with utility replacement costs and even injury from hitting electrical wires.

Confirm Your Property Lines

Before installing a new fence, it’s vitally important that you make sure the fence is on YOUR property. Violating a neighbor’s property line could result in neighbor problems, a lawsuit, or having to tear down the fence and start over. To avoid these kinds of issues, it’s worth the cost of hiring a city/county surveyor to confirm your property lines.

Use the Best Materials You Can Afford

Using cheap materials will result in having a cheap fence. A cheap fence most likely won’t stand the test of time, eventually requiring lots of repairs or another round of replacement costs.

Saving money on materials in the wrong corner to cut. It’s a far better idea to use strong materials to ensure your fence can stand up to weather conditions and natural aging. The best materials are iron, solid wood materials, and cement to anchor fence posts.

Install Your Posts Deep in the Ground

The top people within the fence installation community generally agree that fence posts should be set at least two feet in the ground. It’s a safe distance that helps ensure that force or weather conditions won’t compromise the strength and stability of your fence. Yes, it will take a little longer to dig a little deeper. However, the payoff is fewer alignment issues in the future.

Avoid Prefab Fences

It’s very tempting to see a prefab fence on the local hardware store’s sales floor and immediately start thinking that will “save me time.” The truth is it might save you time, but a what cost? The cost could well be a fence that looks totally mismatched with your property. That could be a problem should you decide you want to sell your property in the future.

Put Finishing on Your Wooden Fencing

After installing your fence and testing it for stability, you would likely feel all satisfied and proud. However, there is one more thing you should not avoid doing in order to save a few bucks. A “finished” fence is a fence that has been properly painted or stained to look good and match the rest of the property. Also, sealing wood fencing with a weatherproofing product would be prudent, especially if you live in a region where weather conditions can get harsh.

Hire a Professional Fence Installation Company

If you have the skill set to install your own fence, you might enjoy doing it. It would certainly save you a bit of money.

However, a major fence installation project might get complicated and costly. If you don’t have the time and experience to do it right, you need to pass the baton to a professional fence installation company. Yes, it will cost a bit more but in return, you would get ensurances that everything will get done properly, which would translate to fewer issues in the future.

If you decide to go with a professional fence installer, you need to make sure they are reputable and offer warranties on materials and their workmanship. It won’t pay to be hasty when choosing a fence installation company.

At Front Range Fence Company, we are ready to respond to your call for help through our website.