5 Things to Know Before You Build Your Fence

Adding a fence is a no-brainer for most properties; after all, they boost curb appeal, increase privacy and security, and define your property lines. However, there is no one-size-fits-all fencing solution for every property, so before you build your fence, take some time to research your choices and consider the following points before you make your fencing selections.

1. Check Your Regulations

For most homeowners, your fencing choice isn’t solely your own. You may need to reference city regulations and the guidelines from your Home Owner’s Association before selecting the style, height, and materials for your fence. You will also want to double-check that you don’t need a permit before building your fence. Taking a little extra time at the beginning of your fence build to nail down these housekeeping items will ensure you don’t hit any snags down the line.

2. Consider Functionality

While most fences share a lot of basic functionalities, there are specifics to each fence style. For example, if you’re concerned about small pets being secure in your yard, you probably don’t want to choose an ornamental iron fence because of the gaps between the rails. Or, if you’re located on a busy street, you may want to select a wood privacy fence for its noise-buffering qualities. Once you’ve finalized the features your fence will need to fit your lifestyle, you can move onto the design.

3. Find Inspiration

At this point, you probably have a rough idea of the fence style you want to go with. However, there are almost always further design customizations you can make to create a fence that’s unique to your home. Here are some additional design considerations to make for popular fencing styles.

• Wood Fences: Determine if you want your wood planks to be placed in the traditional, vertical placement, or go for a more modern look with horizontal planks. You’ll also need to decide what fence stain to go with to complete the look.
• Iron and Aluminum Fences: For iron and aluminum fences, your biggest design decision will be what sort of top you want your fence to have. Common variations include picket top fences, rail top fences, double rail fences, and arched fences.
• Vinyl Fences: Similar to rod iron or aluminum fences, with vinyl fences you will need to determine what sort of top you want. Choose from latticed or flat tops among a variety of other styles. You will also want to finalize your fencing color since vinyl fences are designed to not be painted.

4. Talk to Your Neighbors

Although all the work will be completed on your property, it’s always a good idea to give your next door neighbors a heads up of the work. Who knows, if it will benefit both parties, they may even want to split costs with you and extend the project to their property. Either way, you’ll be playing the part of a good neighbor anytime you give advanced notice of work on your house or your yard.

5. Research Your Installer

Not all fences are built equally, and if you want your fence to be durable and beautiful, you should do some research before selecting who will install it. Luckily, if you’re in the Austin area, you don’t have to look any further than Austex for all of your fencing needs. Give us a call today for a complimentary consultation!