Installing a fence is one of the best ways to secure your property. Besides enhancing the overall safety level by limiting access to people and animals, fence installations create a better-looking property. How well you choose a fencing company will determine your project’s cost and the durability of your fence.
However, poorly constructed fence installations will greatly reduce the functionality, durability, and lifespan. Failure to set the fence post holes deep enough and can lead to premature fence damage. Following are some of the frequently asked questions about fence construction:
1. Do I Need a Fence?
Installing a fence around your property provides protection and privacy from passersby and neighbors. When properly built, fence installations have aesthetic appeal as they can help to train climbing plants that decorate your home. Consider installing a fence for the following reasons:
It’s a great deterrent for intruders, trespassers, and wild animals
It protects your children from the busy roads
It can improve your home’s value
It becomes easy to install electrical fencing
It clearly defines your property’s boundaries
Once you secure your property with fence installations, you can convert your home to a peaceful haven that provides a safe play environment for your kids. Such containment is critical since you can keep an eye on them while preventing entry from strangers.
2. How Much Will Fencing Cost?
The type and design of your fence installations will have a significant impact on the overall cost. A split rail wood fence is relatively easy and cheap to construct. You can even save more money if you choose two rails instead of three.
The cost of your fence will depend on:
The overall length and height, as the pricing is done per linear foot
The type of fencing material
The slope (steep properties require grading)
The style and design (simple fences are cheaper to install)
The distance between the posts will also have an impact. Most posts are 8 to 12 feet apart although you can increase the spacing to 15 feet to reduce the cost.
3. Which Is the Cheapest Fencing Material?
Chain link fencing is significantly cheaper than other fencing options that provide the same benefits in terms of visibility and strength. The precast concrete poles that support the chain link fencing are maintenance-free, sturdy, and aesthetically pleasing. Whatever the height, these weather-resistant poles are available in various options to suit your specifications.
If you are using timber poles, you need to invest in the right anti-termite treatment solution. Soak the posts in a copper naphthenate solution to prevent termites and apply engine oil to avoid dampness.
The ideal way to improve the longevity of your fence installations is to fix the posts at the proper depth. A typical 200mm-wide post needs to sit in a 600mm deep hole if you are building a 2000mm high fence. Most homeowners prefer chain link fencing for the following reasons:
Cost-effectiveness
Quick installation
Durability
Ease of repair and maintenance
You need to install tension wire to reinforce the bottom of your fence line. The tension wire significantly improves durability by preventing the fence installations from sagging or loosening over time. If you plan to install an electric fence, you need a ground wire to protect the occupants from electrical shocks.
4. Which Is the Most Durable Fencing Material?
Masonry wall fencing can last over 100 years without any structural issues. Whether you use stone, brick, or stucco, you’ll only need a simple facelift to restore its original appeal. For the best outcomes, you must fortify your masonry wall with columns.
If you are building in an earthquake-prone region, you need a structural engineer to provide the necessary seismic resistance as per the codes. If you are not planning to paint your wall, ensure that your chosen materials are aesthetically pleasing.
Take the following steps when constructing a stone fence:
Set the course of the wall and dig a 6″ deep trench
Fill it 4″ of gravel and tamp it down to 2″
Construct footings and columns
Install stones and backfill as you go
Masonry stone walls pose some challenges that include cracking or displacement of the over-stressed units. Installing expansion joints is the ideal way to prevent this problem.
These joints separate the fence installations into segments and prevent cracks that result from moisture expansion, temperature change, settlement, or elastic deformation. Space your expansion joints approximately 10 ft. from each other. Alternatively, install the joints at the center point between two posts.
5. How Long Will the Project Take?
The time required to complete your fencing project depends on the materials, fence design, and the underlying site conditions. If you encounter stones while digging the trenches, you will spend more time and money. But if you are looking for stability and longevity, you cannot afford to skimp on the excavation process.
You need to secure the posts into the ground for maximum stability. You’d rather take more time than end up with a poorly reinforced fence. However, if time is the issue, you can fast track the fencing process by:
Installing precast concrete blocks
Mechanizing the grading process
Choosing a vinyl fence that takes three days or so
Using an auger to dig the posts
Precast concrete blocks guarantee a quick way of installing a boundary wall. You can use them to significantly fast-track the building process. By molding and curing the blocks in a controlled environment, it’s possible to ensure rapid construction on site since they’re non-load bearing.
The fencing company will use bolted connections to join several blocks per the drawings. Welded connections are equally effective in providing the structural stability that you require.
After digging the trench, you need to incorporate the steel bolts in your poured concrete foundation. Allow your poured concrete to cure for at least 22 days, and install the concrete blocks to the dowels that protrude from the foundation.
6. Do You Provide a Written Contract?
A written contract creates a working relationship that protects both you and the fencing company. While you add the cost of labor and the standard charges that might be necessary to undertake the job, it’s easy to develop a cost estimate. The fencing company should offer an estimate that outlines the number of materials used and their respective costs.
Also, you’ll need a program of work that outlines how long every activity will take. The program is essential because:
It helps to estimate the duration of your project
It helps you to avail the necessary materials beforehand
A professional fencing company will complete the project as per the schedule unless unavoidable delays occur. Avoid digging the holes during the rainy season as you’ll struggle to secure the poles firmly on the ground.
7. What Permits Do I Need for This Project?
Since the 1.8m-high fences are regarded as minor building works, they might not require architectural plans. However, you might need some permits before installing the fence.
If your fence is offensive or illegal, your neighbor has the right to complain. The best way to avoid such complaints is to ensure that you build in your property. Even if you have clear property boundaries, the footings and columns could be wider than the wall.
So, insist on a 200mm setback to avoid boundary disputes down the road. Before you excavate your property, check whether your neighbor has any buildings close to the boundary. The law protects such buildings from structural damage, so find out whether you need to construct a retaining wall.
The permits you might need include:
Road reserves
Riparian reserves
Copy of deed plan
Consent from neighbors (give one month’s notice)
Ask the council about setbacks to the boundary line
Contact the utility companies
It’s vital for the utility companies to mark the buried utility lines before you can start digging the posts. You might also need some permits before you install the electric fencing above the wall. Some features pose health risks to your neighbors, and it’s vital to identify the devices that your local council recommends.
8. Will You Contact the Utility Companies?
A stitch in time saves nine as more than 55 fatalities occur every year in the United States due to hitting the underground power cables during excavations. A reputable fencing company should always communicate with the local utility companies to safeguard underground utilities such as gas, water, telecommunications, cable television, Internet, and power lines.
The fencing company will then request a copy of your title deed or survey records to confirm exactly where your boundary lines are. If you don’t have these documents, the fencing company should obtain them from the local titling office. Besides avoiding problems with the municipality, getting such information will prevent you from encroaching into your neighbor’s property.
Identifying the position of the buried utilities is critical before you commence the excavations. Find out whether these utilities are encased in concrete to avoid accidents. If the information is unavailable, your fencing company should use a cable detector to locate the utilities.
However, sometimes you’ll encounter underground water pipes that can quickly get damaged. Steering clear of the utilities is the best way to stay safe. Look out for utility hole covers, changes in the hardscape, water taps, fire hydrants, and street lights.
Use chalk to mark the ground and ask the utility company to provide specific details in terms of depth and width of these services. Use that information to excavate small trial pits at least 1000mm away from the utilities and apply for a permit to dig.
9. Which Warranties Do You Provide?
Building stone walls as per the codes is vital as an average of seven people die every day due to the collapse of walls and buildings in the United States. Improper drainage (lack of weep holes), inadequate wall reinforcement, and foundation footing problems are the leading causes of boundary wall failure. The soil’s settlement, overloading of the wall, and typical design or construction errors can also cause the wall to collapse.
For these reasons, the fencing company must provide a one-year warranty. After construction, a reputable St Louis fence company should provide a defect liability period to correct any flaws that might arise due to construction flaws. By withholding some payments until the end of the defect liability period, you encourage the contractor to take the necessary steps to mitigate the losses.
You don’t want to hire another fencing company to address the original contractor’s flaws. The fencing company is not liable for any imperfections that appear after the defect liability period and has no right to return to the site to fix the defects. The defects liability clause also benefits the St Louis fence company since we cannot be forced to reimburse the client for the losses.
10. Which Are the Best Finishes?
Boundary walls not only provide safety and security, but they also add visual aesthetics and style to your property. Instead of using basic concrete, you ought to be creative with the materials and wall design. Regardless of the material used in the structural frame, you can clad your wall with thin stone slabs or tiles.
Stones also come in endless rustic and tactile options that can give a bland wall a facelift.
Be sure to experiment with geometrical shapes or mosaic patterns that complement your home design. If the cost of stone is beyond your budget, you can opt for the hard-wearing faux tiles whose texture resembles the real stone. A good St Louis fence company should provide an elevation drawing that shows the design, textures, and colors for approval.
Climbing plants such as Ficus Pumila can add a new dimension to your fence. These climbers protect the stone from rain and wind. You can also use plants to mask an ugly wall. While most ivy varieties will naturally cling to your wall, you might need to provide the necessary support. Space the horizontal and vertical wires (40-50 cm) along the wall and fix them firmly with fasteners.
Why You Need a Properly-Built Fence
Besides separating two parcels of land, the fence installations guarantee privacy and security to your property. When constructed properly, it provides the opportunity to install electrical fencing or train climbing plants for aesthetics. However, your fencing company needs to reinforce it properly as it can crumble like a house of cards if you err during the design and construction processes.
As a leading St Louis fence company, we have the expertise and equipment you need to build a boundary wall that will last for decades. Whatever your budget or favorite construction material, we guarantee the highest standards of safety, stability, longevity, and aesthetic appeal.
When it comes to building a fence I would recommend calling in a professional. If you do decide to DIY (do it yourself) or have fence repairs to tackle, make sure you do your homework and ask questions before you start any project. Whether you do it yourself or hire a pro here are some important tips that will help your fence stand the test of time.
Will you need a permit to build a fence? Probably not, but it’s a good rule of thumb to always check with your local municipality for up to date building codes. Also, check your survey and make sure there are no issues or easements with your fence. I once heard about a homeowner that was ready to sell their home only find out that their fence was encroaching on the neighbours property. It should have been highlighted when the property was originally bought but it was never disclosed. The neighbours wouldn’t settle and the homeowner had to remove part of the fence and mark out the property line with paving stones.
Make sure you know where your property lines are before you a start fence installation or repair. There also might be bylaws on the fence height and appearance.
I’m sure you’ve seen fences that are back to back. This probably means that at some point the two neighbours weren’t willing to be very neighbourly and built two fence walls back to back, each on their own property. Hopefully, with your new fence, you can share the one fence line and the costs. If you do, it might also be a good idea to have some sort of written agreement in place before any construction starts.
Remember to call before you dig so all your underground utility lines are clearly marked. Do your homework.
If you are replacing an existing fence or doing major repairs, make sure it was installed in the correct spot in the first place.
When it comes to replacing fences or any existing outdoor projects, keep in mind the do’s and don’ts of before you get started on your projects.
Fixing or installing a fence post with concrete is time consuming and labor intensive. I prefer an expanding foam, which replaces two bags of concrete. It’s called Sika Post Fix — an easy-to-prepare, mix-in-the-bag and fast setting polyurethane foam.
This is a two component, mix-in-the-bag expanding foam that I’ve been using on my projects. Here is how it works:
Make sure your fence layout is clearly marked with stakes and line (and checked against a recent survey to make sure you are within your property line). It’s a good idea to mark your fence approximately 6” from within your property line to accommodate the post and fence structure, less space is required if you are doing a chain link or metal fence.
Remember to address any slopes or elevated ground that may affect your fence layout and installation. For minor sloping, you can use a racked fence, which means the rail (the horizontal bar between fence posts) remains parallel to the ground in all panels. For steeper slopes use a stepped fence format, which looks exactly like it sounds, your fence will look like steps. Take care when doing a stepped fence, as you will have to individually cut your panels to follow the slope.
Wood fences are the most common as they tend to be the most economical and there are several choices available from pressure treated (most cost efficient) to cedar or redwood (more costly) to name a few, but all of them require regular maintenance. Composite and vinyl fences may be more costly upfront but will require less maintenance than natural materials.
For proper and secure post-installation use 6” x 6” posts for your wooden fence, not 4” x 4” and remember to properly brace your posts while they are setting. This will ensure your fence and gate are strong.
Whether you choose to use strap hinges or butt hinges, use 3 sets of hinges instead of 2, as the additional hinge will provide more support to the gate.
Use galvanized or stainless steel screws and nails as they are resistant to rust and corrosion.
Make sure your fence posts are installed at least 36” deep into the ground, but I would highly suggest 48” deep. Again, the more secure your fence the longer it will last. As a general rule, posts should be at least 6” below the frost line.
Make sure your posts are secure and properly installed fill the holes with mixed concrete (mixed in a bucket and not mixed in the hole!) or expanding foam. Personally, I am a HUGE fan of Sika Post Fix. It will save you so much time!
To prevent water from affecting your fence posts and causing frost heave, add gravel to the bottom of your hole for extra drainage
This may seem obvious but make sure your fence posts are plum and your fence is level along the top and in a straight line!
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Wood is the most common and probably the most economical fence material, especially if you use pressure treated wood.
Composite fencing is made of recycled fibres, plastics and adhesives that can mimic natural wood. It’s available in a limited amount of colours and styles. It’s easy to maintain, as it doesn’t require staining or painting. Composite is durable, though over time may fade, scratch and stain. Composite is about twice as expensive as wood.
Like composite, vinyl is available in many colours, styles and textures, though it can still look plastic. It doesn’t need to be painted or stained and is long lasting, as it won’t warp, splinter, blister or rot.
Metal fences are coated galvanized steel or aluminum. They are easy to clean with minimal maintenance and are recyclable. If rust appears, it can be removed and treated with a rust primer and paint.
Metal fences are strong and durable and come in a variety of styles. Metal may cost more than wood but is still inexpensive.
Chain link fences are strong, durable and economical (comparable to wood) but tend to be a bit industrial looking, however, they are ideal when fencing a large wooded area.
Take advantage of the warm weather when it comes to building a fence and learn more about other summer maintenance tips that might be on your checklist.