A fence is something no home should be without, especially if you have a pool. In fact, many insurance companies require homes with pools to have a fence surrounding it, typically for safety reasons. Moreover, if there are children who live in a home with a pool, having a fence around it is an absolute must-have.
What You Will Need to Build a Fence
What fence supplies you will need will be determined by what kind of fence you are looking to build. However, the following are just some basic materials and supplies that may be used when building a fence:
- Hammer
- Screwdriver
- Sledgehammer
- Safety glasses
- Work gloves
- Level
- Drill
- Mason’s line
- Plumb bob
- Tape measure
- Chalk
- Measuring wheel
- Post hole digger
- Pencil
There are many factors and options to consider when building a fence, such as:
Where You Will Put It
You must decide whether you want to put your fence around the backyard, the front yard, or both.
Size and Materials
Fences can be made of many different materials, including wood, vinyl, chain-link, metal, and more. Another option to consider is size. Some fences can be short and thin where others may be big and wide. There may be some limitations on exactly what kind of fence you can build in the area you live in. Therefore, you should always check for codes, rules, and regulations first, before building.
A Price That Fits Your Budget
Fences can be fairly easy and cheap to put up or quite costly, depending on many factors, like the material it’s being made of, the size, whether you will do it yourself or have someone else build it for you, supplies you will need, and more.
Ground Level and Condition
The ground condition and levels play a big part in building a fence since they can vary from one part to another, such as where one part of the ground that you want to build on may be rocky or clay another may be wet and sandy. It also matters whether the ground is level or not, as an unleveled ground requires more work that can increase your spending.
Permits
Check the city codes and regulations to find out if you will need a permit before you start building your fence.
Why You Should Add a Fence to Your Home
There are many good reasons why your home should be fully equipped with a fence surrounding the premises and very few reasons not to have one. We are going to focus on the good reasons since they outweigh the bad by far.
Security
Having a fence surround your house provides you with security, especially if it’s built so that you can’t see what’s on the other side. If a burglar doesn’t know what’s waiting for him on the other side, he will think twice before entering your premises. Also, stray animals can’t get through the gate.
Privacy
When you have a fenced-in yard that no one can see through, it provides you with privacy so you never have to worry about who may be watching.
Sets Boundaries of Your Property
A fence borders your property, separating your space from your surrounding neighbors. If anyone enters through the gate of your fence, they would be considered trespassers when uninvited.
Makes a House Feel More Like A Home
A house without a fence is like a person without clothes; it appears naked like something is missing. When you put up a barrier around your house, such as a fence, it completes your home.
Pets and Children
Both pets and children will be safe when putting up a fence since they won’t be able to get out of the gate and predators won’t come in.
The Home Owners Association (HOA)
If you live where there is an HOA, the HOA may have specific criteria for fences to match with the others in the area. Therefore, you must check their policies first before starting your fence project.
Maintaining/Upkeeping Your Completed Fence
After you have completed building your fence, you will still have to maintain it continuously to keep it safe from weather damage, pests, and more. The best way to keep wooden fences healthy is to apply wood stain or paint to them regularly. An alternative to painting your fence is to clean it with wood cleaner every so often. Metal, vinyl, and chain link fences can be wiped down and rinsed off.
