Fences are constructed to demarcate your property. It declares, “This is mine!” It’s not meant as a brag but to ensure people know where the boundaries lie. A fence makes you feel like you own the place and provides privacy and protection for you and your loved ones.

Maybe you were initially so eager to erect the fence that you chose to complete the task yourself. Sadly, after a few years, the fence starts to lean somewhat. What could have possibly gone wrong?

Whether you do it yourself or not, any kind of construction will eventually have certain weaknesses, just like your fence. Thankfully, some harmless or careless fence-building errors only require mending or adjustment.

Common Fence Construction Errors to Avoid

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It may seem overwhelming to build a fence, especially if you want to enclose a sizable plot of land. Knowing the most typical fence-building blunders will give you an advantage that puts you significant steps ahead.

Possible Mistakes Before Building a Fence

1. Poor property surveys

Have you spoken to your neighbors about the property? Are your boundaries clear or will your neighbor to the left claim ownership of the section you plan to build your fence on?

The first order of business is verifying that you will be constructing your fence on your land. Don’t make assumptions about it because it could cause you legal issues in the future.

You also wouldn’t want to move a built fence. Save money and avoid embarrassing situations by conducting due diligence.

To create a useful fence design plan, keep in mind the following:

Do proper research: Consult with other homeowners who have “been there and done that” to learn about any neighborhood or local regulations that may apply to the construction of your fence. Even better, inquire about local fence-building laws with municipal building code officials. This will probably consist of the following:

Discuss with Your Neighbors: Speaking with your neighbors about your plans to erect a fence is an important part of fence etiquette since it lets you ensure you aren’t encroaching on their land.

Get your property surveyed: This will ensure that you are on the right side of the property for you and your neighbor. Keep the report close if you had it completed when you purchased the property. It’s not enough to rely on your neighbor’s memory.

2. Bad Planning

Consider elements like fence height, spacing, length, material (or materials if you want a mix), landscape, your property’s geography, and climate carefully to avoid a poor fence installation.

All these variables will influence your choice of the precise fence design that will work for the purpose for which your fence will be erected. Don’t forget the important elements. You wouldn’t want to tear down a fence because you were careless or made a mistake in your calculations.

Mistakes That Occur When Installing Fencing

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1. Incorrect Post Installation

Carefully follow the fence installation instructions. Ensure that the recommendations for your region and the particular fence type you buy or build are followed while installing your posts. Your fence’s overall strength and durability depend on how effectively you installed the pillars.

Tips for constructing a fence post that will last:

Depth of a fence post: Always follow the guidelines for post depth provided by the manufacturer or supplier of your fence posts. According to the standard rule of thumb, the post hole should be between one-third and one-half of the post’s actual above-ground height.

But you may still need to dig deeper, depending on the mass of your fence, the state of the soil, and the weather in your area.

Remember that depth is an important aspect of post strength. Anchor your poles properly to ensure that your fence will survive the changing weather conditions.

Diameter of a Fence Post Hole: The required post hole diameter is three times the post’s diameter.

Make proper use of quick-setting concrete: Once more, don’t hurry. Even if you’re using fast-drying concrete, it still needs about 20 minutes to an hour to harden and 4-6 hours to cure depending on the ambient temperature.

Don’t skimp on the concrete. You want your poles to have enough support. Ensure to give it time to dry as well. Don’t rush the process.

Utilize the right equipment: Use the right tools to assist you with the task to save time and effort.

When you need to dig several holes to install your fence posts, a post hole auger is a gadget you can hire that may save you a ton of time and effort required for that. Digging three feet or more into the ground is no mean feat!

Appropriate Post Spacing: The spacing between the posts would depend on the sort of fence you have. Posts should ideally be placed between 6 and 8 feet apart.

Properly seal the bottoms of the posts: Wooden posts are particularly vulnerable to contamination and decay if they are not appropriately sealed. The bottoms will begin to rot after a short while.

2. Attaching a Fence to an Old One

The new fence might get tainted if the new and old fences are made of different materials. The fences will most likely age differently, which could cost you more money in the long run in additional maintenance or replacement costs.

3. Having the fence facing the wrong direction

Some might consider this somewhat unimportant, especially if you choose to do it yourself. An experienced contractor will tell you, however, that the smooth side faces your neighbor and the rough side with exposed rails faces your property when installing your fence. That’s the conventional method, especially for a wooden fence. Think of it like being a good neighbor.

If you don’t want to look at the unpleasant side of your fence, pick a fence that looks good and blends in well with its surroundings on both sides.

Get the Best Iron Fence Services in Brooklyn, New York

You now have what you need to ensure your fence will serve your needs and how to avoid mishaps during every stage of the installation process. 
What’s left now is to contact professionals to help you build a fence. Iron Metal Craft will help you with that. Contact us today.