Building a Fence? Remember These Tips Before You Do

Installing a fence for privacy or purely aesthetic reasons improves the peaceful enjoyment of a property. Privacy-seeking property owners often erect six-foot stockade-style fences in their backyards.

The classic white picket fence positioned in front yards sets the table for perennial gardens, flowering shrubs and provides eye-catching curb appeal. However, there are a few items many homeowners accidentally overlook. These rank among the sometimes overlooked items homeowners may want to consider.

1: Does the fence design meet severe weather needs?

Consider the severe weather implications of building a standard, six-foot stockade fence in your backyard. This design generally maximizes privacy because it offers a façade that's difficult to see through. However, those wide panels also act as "sail." One of the primary reasons fences topple is due to severe weather such as tropical storm systems and high winds.

If you're concerned about high winds, try fence designs with high wind speeds in mind. These may include chain links, tall pickets with spacing or jockeyed board designs. Fences that position alternating boards on both sides allow increased airflow and reduced sail. Accounting for strong winds could save property owners from replacing a fence prematurely.

2: Do you have the bandwidth to maintain a fence?

The type of fence a property owner selects will likely determine how much time they can spend on upkeep and repair. Pressure- and chemically-treated fences can last more than a decade without homeowners lifting a finger.

The downside is that these materials tend to turn gray and appear bland over time. By contrast, products such as cedar offer improved aesthetic value but usually require weather treatments once or twice each year.

The question may not be whether someone wants a fence they find lovely. It may come down to how much time someone can invest in maintenance. Consider consulting with a construction professional about upkeep before building.

3: Does your fence meet building code rules?

It may sound almost counterintuitive, but most municipalities require property owners to put the finished side of a fence facing an abutter. Other specifications property owners sometimes forget to follow include minimum distances from boundaries and heights.

It's not uncommon for communities to only allow six-foot privacy fences in backyards. Knowing the rules regarding fences before digging posts can help avoid a building code violation or having to tear it down once you start.

Building the right fence can improve the quality of life experiences of house members who want to relax at home. But to enjoy the long-term benefits of fences, it's essential to consider these and other items before moving forward with the project.