5 Fencing Mistakes to Avoid

If you’re considering installing a fence, it’s important to consider your aesthetic preferences, budget and practical needs, as well as considering what mistakes you need to avoid.

The general concept of fences is that once they’re around your property, they’re there for a while. Most people don’t feel the need to update their fences every couple of years in the same way they do for tech gadgets or pillowcases. Therefore, you need to make sure your fence is perfect for you before it gets installed. Especially if your fence has a larger significance than being a simple barrier marking – e.g. you need it to pen in animals, to keep younger children from accessing the road, or for vital privacy concerns – you really don’t want to have issues with the state of your fence down the line.

After you decide to get a fence installed, you might think that it’s a pretty straightforward process. It’s just planting a wall up, right? In some ways, you’re correct. If you have professionals, such as the Jim’s Fencing team, who can give you advice and recommendations, this can be a very smooth and easy process for you. Keep in mind, if you’re deciding on your own, minor details you haven’t previously considered may pop up and cause major dramas in your fence installation process. These are five fencing mistakes you should be aware of, so you can avoid making them.

#1 DIY-ing your installation

Are you planning on installing your fence yourself? That might not be the best idea! This is slightly dependent on your style of fence and where you are installing it to know how realistic or unrealistic it is for you to DIY your installation. For a very simple wooden fence on a completely flat surface, and you’re a skilled individual with knowledge of handiwork, you’ll probably be able to get away with doing it yourself. Anything on curved or uneven ground instantly becomes a lot harder to create a level fence. Any complex fence design requiring in-ground posts or spigots escalates this installation to a more complex issue. The last thing you want is a shoddily installed fence that sways or falls over in the wind. If in doubt, engage a professional company, like Jim’s Fencing.

#2 Improperly placing your fence

Your fence is frequently used to mark your properties boundary line against your neighbours and the streets. Sometimes next-door neighbours can share a common wall. Other times they have their own separate walls. When creating a boundary wall, you need to be extremely accurate in lining it up with where your property ends. Building your fence so that it overlaps or is on your neighbours’ lot may cause nasty disputes, even to the point of council or legal ramifications. You may end up having to tear the entire wall down and rebuild! As well as making sure your placement is accurate, when building a new fence, it’s common courtesy to let your neighbour know what’s going on – it will save any potential dramas occurring later.

#3 Choosing the wrong material

Your fence material is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. There are many things to consider when selecting your fence material: your climate, your tolerance for maintaining it, the type of land it’s being built on, the purpose this fence is being used for. For example, if you want a fence for extreme security measures, steel or aluminium would be excellent choices as they’re solid and hardy. On the other hand, a wire fence can be cut through and, therefore, would not be a good choice. Another example: if you are building the fence on very moist, swampy ground, a wooden fence is probably not the best option for you. Even if you get incredibly high-quality treated wood, it’s likely won’t last as long as PVC or aluminium alternative would. Consider your surroundings and your household, and chat to a professional for their expert advice when making this decision.

#4 Sticking to the regulations

Make sure your fence abides by your state or council’s laws! Fencing regulations vary by your area but can restrict characteristics of your fence, such as the height, how close it can be to the curb, how close it can be to a neighbour, and more. Certain types of fencing, such as pool fencing, has further strict requirements that must be met to be lawful. There are also Australian standards that are required to be fulfilled based on the materials used, such as zinc coatings or steel panels. Make sure you research your chosen fence and measurements to ensure they abide by the law.

#5 Improper gate placement

Not all fences will have gates, but if you’re planning to install one, you’ll need to consider your gate placement carefully. Your gate is the opening between your property and the outside world, so consider that when choosing the positioning. Typically, it may be a straight shoot down from the front door, but this may need adjusting due to the landscaping in your front yard. Consider also which way your gate opens, in or out, and which makes the most sense for the position and traffic flow. Another thing to consider for your gate placement is if it offers good drainage. If the soil doesn’t naturally drain away from where your gate is, you may end up stepping in muddy puddles every time you leave your house!

For more information about Fencing, Pool Fencing Installation, colorbond fencing Melbourne contact our friendly staff for the assistance.