We have one of those craftsman house plans, so we knew before we even broke ground on building our new house that we wanted a simple styled fence that will look like it’s meant for the Craftsman architecture of our home. And, when choosing our siding and trim colors with our builder, we definitely wanted to choose bright white trim that will coordinate nicely with a new white fence. Many homes in the area have ivory trim, which looks attractive, but not with a bright white fence! Mixing the two will make your house trim appear dirty or yellowed.
Before we could even get the fence installed, we had to have the fence company we chose submit a drawing of the fence and where it would be placed on our lot to the architectural committee for our neighborhood. These committees ultimately want to give you approval before you add a fence to your yard. As a new homeowner, you want to feel in control of your new lot and what you want to do with it, but practically every neighborhood has a committee like this that takes charge. All I could hope is that they like what they see, and we stay within the guidelines they’ve already imposed for the neighborhood. And, if possible I recommend requesting a copy of the neighborhood bylaws from your builder before you even sign a contract to build a home there. You might want an enclosed fence around your new home, or something else for that matter and only come to find out later it isn’t allowed. Our neighborhood bylaws had many rules when it came to fence styles. The slats in the fence could only be so close (no closer than 3”), the height of the fence could only be 48” no chain link fences, and fences could only enclose the backyard and none of the side yard. So, far our fence style was within the style and size guidelines. One thing you must keep in mind is that these committees don’t necessarily approve your project very quickly. If you want to install a fence by this weekend’s barbecue at your house, that’s probably not enough time to get the approval. Our committee said it could take up to 30 days to approve and that was if the first drawing sent over met the guidelines. So, plan ahead if you want something to be completed by a certain date or by an event you’re having at your house. Luckily, our approval letter can in the mail about 3 weeks after we submitted the drawings.
I’ve never had a fenced yard, but we were getting excited about the ease it will create in our lives with our dogs. The fencing company came to install only about a week after our sod was put in. Our sloped yard was already wet from a rainy weather pattern and then of course, they drenched the sod after it was put in with even more water, so I recommend letting your sod be in at least a month before you have people trampling all over it to install anything in your yard. Our concrete patio was installed prior to our sod being added, so we didn’t have any issues there, but all of those fence materials and men working on installing the fence really took a toll on our new sod. It didn’t destroy our sod, but definitely stressed it out a bit and it didn’t “take” quite as well in certain areas as we’d hoped. All in all, our fence style really added to our home and enhanced the overall look, all while offering ease with pets and extra security.
Have you tried adding a fence to your yard and were you denied by your neighborhood? What kind was it? Did you put it in anyway?
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My wife and I are wanting to put up a fence around our property. There are so many things that go into this process that we didn’t realize though and we are trying to get an idea of what to do. This helped a though and I hope that we can get one put up here really soon.
Your bright white fence looks great! A perfect addition to your home!
Great read for future fence buyers. It’s often a pain, but you have to make sure you know and follow your neighborhood’s rules and regulations, otherwise you’ll be taking that fence down quicker than you put it up. Also good comment on the sod, be patient and wait a few weeks longer to get the finished product you really want!
Thanks for good article. Do you try to negotiate with neighbours something? That will be a sweetspot betwwen your fence and what they want?
Well, before someone going to install a fence, first he should ask himself that what is the main reason behind the installation. If it is completely utilitarian keeping the dog in the yard- one can probably prefer a chain link fence. If the purpose of fence is for blocking noise and adding privacy then there will be the requirement of something tall and solid. That means according to the purpose, a fence can function in many ways. I genuinely found your blog is very useful. Because after going though your blog I got some basic knowledge about fence installation which was really helpful for me. So, honestly I would like to say thank you for sharing such an important and useful information.
One of the trickiest installations is when you have a change in elevation. If you have to step the fence, set one section at one height and keep moving up as you go along. If you’re going uphill or downhill, you’ll need to account for this and do it in full increments or half-feet.
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Thank you so much for talking about the importance of getting a copy of the laws in your area concerning fences to make sure your investment is not in vain. It makes sense that knowing what types of fences you are allowed to install can help you avoid spending money on something you would have to take apart soon after. Personally, I would want to make sure I find a contractor that can help me find these rules and who can advise me on the material I need for my fence in order to protect my properly.
It really helps when you talked about how it is important to know when you need to present your fence plans to your neighborhood committees to avoid any extra fees. I can see that knowing what your HOA has to say about fences can help you find the best one for your needs. Personally, I would want to make sure I take the time to consult with a fence contractor and see if they can help me with this process so I can install the type of protection I need for my family.
Great article! Along with taking proper care while installing the fence, regular maintenance, cleaning, and staining is equally important to make sure that the fence is able to withstand time, weather, and other elements without the need to perform unnecessary and expensive repairs. Here are some tips to make your wood fence last: http://bit.ly/2CjyPJg
Honestly, at the first time I heard about vinyl fencing I thought that it’s too hard to do specially on beginners but when i read your article, I change my mind. You made me realize that it can be done as easy as you did. Your ideas are very good. Thanks a lot!
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You make some good points on how to find a fence service. I agree that you want to check their qualifications first. My husband and I need a fence, so we’ll have to check their qualifications first.
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My husband and I are moving into Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania nearby Camp Hill and our new home does not have a fence in its backyard. We have 4 dogs who love to run and we want to put up a fence in order to make them safe. Your tip about planning ahead if something needs to be done by a certain time because committees could take up to 30 days to approve is very helpful. This article made us realize that if we want the best quality and efficiency we will have to hire a professional.
I appreciated that you said that the company needs to submit a drawing of the fence. I have been thinking about getting more pets. I will need to add a fence to my home for this.
These are great tips for fence installation! Thanks for putting together such a great article!
I agree that you want to check their qualifications before hiring a fence contractor. One of my cousins needs to install some temporary fence panels because he is renovating his house. I will help him narrow down his options to ensure he hires a reputable and certified contractor.
I appreciate your tip to ask for a copy of the neighborhood bylaws so you can know what kind of fencing is allowed near your house. My wife wants to buy some puppies, so we’ll need a fence to keep them contained. I’ll be sure to figure out what the laws are surrounding fences before finding a fencing contractor.
Great looking fence line guys! Did you opt for wood or vinyl? Here in Australia fencing can be a bit of an issue between neighbours as you are required to pay half if your neighbour proposes to build a fence line, so it really helps to stay on good terms and try to come to a reasonable conclusion for all parties. It looks like you had a good outcome though!
Last night, my husband brought home a little lab puppy for us. In order to keep her safe, we want to install a fence so that she doesn’t run into the road. When we do, we’ll have to follow your advice and check our neighborhood bylaws to see how high it can be.
I love that you suggested getting a copy of the neighborhood bylaws to give to our fencing contractor before we would have them work, so they could do so correctly. My wife and I have been talking about finding a contractor to install a fence in our yard, and it will be important for us to be confident in who we would choose to hire. To help us get the best results, I will give a copy of the bylaws to contractor.
Tough install but beautifully done. Be sure to check with your laws on who (between you and the neighbour) the fence belongs to. Thanks for sharing!
I want to get a new fence this July. It is good to know that I would want to consider if I want to consider the guidelines for my area. It does seem like I would want to double-check if I need to get a permit. Then I would want to get a contractor who can help me with those permits.