By David Wilfong
A good fence is a prized commodity on a home’s property. First and foremost it offers a degree of privacy and security. It keeps in pets and keeps out predators. And when installed correctly, it just plain looks good.
But it is surprising how often a fence itself is not well thought out in advance.
“When planning your outdoor living space it is easy to be caught up in all of the amenities that you have planned for your landscape design,” says CFC Fences and Decks in its online blog. “Where is the playhouse going to be located? What about the trampoline, jungle gym on the bark bed, or the sports court? Where is your fire pit and entertainment space going to be located?
“Trees, shrubs and flower beds are carefully planned for their location and the shade or color they will provide. Oftentimes, however, the consideration for the fence is either assumed or simply forgotten until as a last resort it must be installed with urgency and not coordinated properly with other landscaping features.”
The fence itself will be a major aesthetic element of the property when it is installed. There are a multitude of fencing materials available on the market. When looking at wood, there are several varieties, each with their advantages and pitfalls. A sturdy material that can be well cared for in the years to come is ideal.
Attention should be paid to the design of the fence, and how well it matches in with the architecture of the home. While there is nothing wrong with a plain wooden fence, going the extra mile with an eye-catching design can go a long way in making the property more attractive altogether. This can also assist in boosting interest when it comes time to sell the home in the future.
But before getting to the design and even materials the fence will be built with, there are some basic requirements to take note of before the materials even show up to the property.
“It is important to consider where all buried utility lines are located to service your home and personal utility lines that will service outdoor living spaces, as well,” the blog continues. “Make sure that those lines do not conflict with the location of your fence, pergola or deck structures. It is a simple matter of physics that two entities of mass cannot occupy the same space.
“When the fence is installed, it is not uncommon for sprinkler lines that are too close to the property line, or gas lines from the house to service outdoor fire pits to both be struck and broken by digging to set fence posts. This can be avoided by simply planning out buried lines of any kind to not conflict with structures, like fences or pergolas that will be installed at a later time. Avoiding these conflicts will save you time and money by simply planning appropriately.”
Keeping these items in mind can help to avoid some costly headaches when it comes time to get construction underway.