Introduction

Building fences isn’t easy. You need to source materials, take accurate measurements, dig up the ground and do a lot of things. That’s why most people prefer to search for a “fencing company near me” and hire pros to build a fence for you. If you don’t belong to that camp, you need to avoid a few common mistakes that most DIY fence builders make. Let’s check them out.

The Details

1. No plans – Most homeowners who are trying to save money by building their own fence think that it’s all about buying a few wooden boards and placing them in the ground. They don’t have a plan and that’s why their fence-building project is usually a downward slope. Before you start destroying your landscape with a shovel and buy more materials and hardware than you need, do a lot of research and plan out the project carefully. That way the entire process remains efficient, cost-effective, and has fewer mistakes and bad decisions.

2. Not knowing your own property – The greatest mistake you may make as a homeowner while installing a new fence is not knowing the extent and boundaries of your property. Make sure you have blueprints or a plan that clearly points out your land area and where your property ends. That way, you can avoid putting up a fence on public property or in your neighbor’s yard.

If you commit the mistake of putting up a fence on land that’s not yours, it’s going to be a costly one. You’ll pay legal fees and fines and if your neighbor is grumpy enough, you’ll have a lawsuit on your hand. Even if you don’t incur those charges, you’ll have to shell out money on moving the fence back to your property and restoring the land it was on to the previous condition. If you’re not certain about your property boundaries, get your property surveyed to figure out exactly where the boundary lines are.

Measure twice since you can never be too careful. Even if you don’t want to build a fence right on the property line, highly accurate measurements are necessary to keep you within the perimeter. Accurate measurements also help you calculate the number of materials you’ll need for your fence. While you don’t want to blow your budget on excess unnecessary materials, you don’t want to end up with fewer materials while you’re in the middle of the build. 

3. Not reading up on regulations – Fences come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. You can’t just build any kind of fence you wish on your property. You need to check with local zoning laws and make sure that your fence meets the boundary requirements and height limitations. There are other technicalities you need to be aware of. For instance, some locations allow you to build right at the edge of your property or on the fence line while others require an offset of a few feet. 

Apart from local zoning laws, you’ll also need to check with the local Homeowner’s Association(HOA). HOAs like to enforce strict guidelines on the types of fences that can be built on your property. Some restrict you from choosing certain materials while others impose limitations on styles or colors. While their requirements may be annoying at times, you have to adhere to them if you don’t want to get fined. Pool fences come with their own set of local and state safety codes. Make sure to build to code.

4. Not calling 811 before you dig – Always make sure to call 811 before you start digging your landscape. Skipping this step would put you in a very bad legal and financial position. Most fence posts need to be at least one-third of their length into the ground for stability. Fence gate foundations need to be even deeper. You don’t want to hit any cables, pipes, or other critical infrastructure laid by utility companies. That’s where 811 comes in. Dial those three digits to make sure you’re not digging in the wrong areas.

5. Not accounting for postholes and not measuring sections – Before installing your fence, knowing the sizes of the sections is important to account for inconsistencies. For instance, if you’re installing a paddock fence, it usually comes in 8-foot sections. If your property line requires you to install a 3-foot section in one area, you’ll need to modify the section before installing it.

Similarly, you’ll need to know where to dig holes for fence posts. Measuring your fence line and working the sections and post holes on a piece of paper helps to avoid such mistakes. It will save you a lot of time and prevent you from wasting materials and spending more money buying them.    

6. Wrong post setting techniques – Fence posts play a vital role in creating safe and secure fences. Your posts need to endure the onslaught of wind, rain, frost, and other elements of nature while keeping the fence rails or panels connected. If the posts aren’t deep enough in the ground or lack proper anchoring materials, they may collapse and bring down major sections of the fence. Posts need to be at least 2 to 3 feet underground and anchored by a concrete and gravel layer that’s flush to the ground.

7. Not accounting for the slope – Apart from those living in the flat Midwest, most homeowners would have some sort of slope in their yard. Sometimes, the slope is barely visible while other times, it’s very apparent. Make sure to adjust the fence panels to account for the slope. This keeps the fence looking nice against the ground and keeps it stable. However, this requires advanced carpentry skills and advanced surveying tools. You may need to get the help of a professional for this one. 

Conclusion

Building your own fence can save you a lot of money and give you a sense of fulfillment. However, it’s a challenging task that requires extra care, attention, and expertise. If you feel overwhelmed, you can always search for a “fencing company near me” and hire pros to build a fence for you.