Three Pieces Of Advice You Should Follow When Installing A Fence
A fence provides numerous benefits, including protecting your property and pets from wild animals and preventing people from intruding on your privacy. Before you have the fencing company install the decorative barrier, however, here are three things you should do first to ensure you get exactly what you need and minimize future problems.
Have the Property Surveyed
Possibly the most important thing you can do when getting a fence is to have your property surveyed beforehand if the fence will be sitting on the border between your home and your neighbor's. Failure to do so can result in loss of your land or years of legal problems, depending on how the fence is placed.
For example, if you put the fence too far onto your neighbor's property, the person can sue you to have the fence moved to the correct place at your expense. On the other hand, if you place the fence too far onto your property, your neighbor could take your land using adverse possession laws, which will reduce the market value of your home.
Getting a land survey helps you and the fencing contractors place the fence in the precise spot to avoid these and other ownership issues that can arise in these situations.
Choose the Right Material
When purchasing a fence, it's important to choose the right material for your needs. Fences are constructed from a number of different materials, including wood, metal, and vinyl, and some will work better than others depending on what you are erecting the fence for as well as the location of your home.
You may want to avoid erecting a metal fence if you live near salt water, for instance, since salt is highly corrosive to aluminum, steel, and other similar materials. Salt from sea water enters the environment via evaporation and settles on everything nearby, including your metal fence. The chemical reaction between the salt and metal will cause your fence to deteriorate faster and require replacement sooner than you expected.
In addition to considering the reason for the fence and the environment, you need to consider your lifestyle. Some fences require more maintenance than others. If you're not willing or able to commit to the upkeep, be sure to choose a low-maintenance material instead. For example, wood fences are beautiful and sturdy. However, they must be painted regularly to keep them looking great. If you don't want to be bothered with that, then a vinyl fence may be a better option.
Communicate Special Needs
Lastly, be sure to communicate any special needs you have with the fencing contractor, so he or she can make the best suggestions for addressing them. If you have a dog that likes to dig and you're concerned it will dig under the fence, the contractor may suggest using taller slats so you can bury the base of the fence deeper into the ground to prevent your dog from escaping the yard this way.
Other issues you should discuss with the contractor include placing the fence around trees (their roots can damage the fence), whether you're trying to keep out neighborhood kids (you'll want to avoid getting a fence design that's easy to climb), and the type of animals you that may be on your property (horses will chew on wood fences). This give the contractor an opportunity to make material and design suggestions that will combat the problems you're likely to encounter.
Taking a moment to plan and account for all your needs ensures you get a fence that works with your life. For more information about the fencing options available or to get an estimate, contact a local contractor. You can also visit websites like https://carter-fence.com/.