3 Reasons Fence Installation Is Best Left to the Experts

Fence installation in Southern Colorado requires more skill than crafting with popsicle sticks. Find out why you should hire a professional fence cont...
Monday, 21 February 2022

Fence installation in Southern Colorado requires more skill than crafting with popsicle sticks. Find out why you should hire a professional fence contractor.

Fence installation in Colorado Springs requires more skill and expertise than is possessed by the average DIY-er. That may seem like an overstatement because DIY home improvement is more popular now than ever. With rentable equipment and instruction videos, it may seem like no home project is too big to tackle. But don’t let home improvement shows and YouTube videos deceive you. While lots of homeowners have had success in DIY projects, just as many have run into unexpected issues that left them in a bad position.

If you need a new fence, the installation is best left to the experts. Many unanticipated issues can come up along the way that you shouldn’t handle on your own. These problems could end up costing you more money to fix than hiring a respected fence company will charge to build your fence the right way. 

Here are the top three reasons you should call in a professional for fence installation.

Material Selection & Purchasing

The options for fencing material have grown exponentially over the years. From treated wood to composite to vinyl, the possibilities are endless. Each material has its distinct pros and cons, and you need a professional with knowledge to know what will work best for your situation.

When it comes to fence installation, different fencing materials require different installation techniques. Putting up a wood privacy fence requires different skills than installing a chain link fence for a dog run. And vinyl fencing is a completely different project altogether. Hiring a professional who is familiar with the materials is essential to getting the project done right, and making sure it will last for years to come.

One of the reasons that the DIY trend is so popular is the cost factor. Many homeowners are convinced that they can do the job just as efficiently as an expert for a fraction of the cost. Consider, however, that if you are not familiar with fencing materials, you could end up purchasing inferior materials and hardware that will break down prematurely. The differences between cheap material that won’t last and quality material that will last decades are not always obvious to the untrained eye.

Another complication you may have to deal with if you opt to build your fence yourself is returning materials. Determining the exact amount of fencing material you will need at the outset can be challenging to the novice DIY-er. Even professionals who have installed hundreds of fences can overestimate the number of materials needed to complete the job.

If you are doing the fence installation yourself and end up with extra material, you may have trouble returning it to the store. But, when you hire a professional, they will take away any extra, and you won’t be charged. 

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Post Hole Digging

One of the most challenging and labor-intensive parts of the fence installation process is digging the post holes. Fortunately, there is equipment that makes the job much easier than digging solely by hand. However, even if you have the right equipment (and know how to use it!), you may run into problems like tree roots or difficult soil.

By hiring a reputable local fence installer, you can be assured that the soil conditions, terrain and other considerations are taken into account during the estimating process. You will avoid surprises in cost and in delaying the completion of your fence.

The other hidden danger in digging post holes yourself is hiding below the surface, with buried water, sewer, gas and electrical lines. If you inadvertently dig into a water line, you could be left with a huge mess and upset Colorado Springs Utilities, Denver Water Authority, or Xcel Energy in the process.

Professional fence installers have seen it all and know exactly how to avoid mishaps and handle any unanticipated obstacles. If you are installing a fence yourself, you may not know how to deal with these issues. And, if the problems aren’t handled properly, it may compromise the integrity of your overall fence.

It can be difficult to know how deep to dig for post holes, even on perfectly flat land with no problems. A shallow post hole can lead to an insecure fence which is particularly vulnerable to intense weather events. While it may have saved you money in the short run, handling fence installation yourself will cost you a lot more if your fence topples over and needs to be repaired. 

Your fencing contractor knows exactly what to do and will ensure the job is done correctly. In addition, many contractors offer insurance and warranties, so if a mishap happens, you are covered.

Avoid Land Surveying Issues & Zoning Infractions

Any fencing contractor or property lawyer knows how many neighbor disputes occur over fences. The placement of a fence along your property line, ensuring that the fence is not encroaching on your neighbor’s property, is incredibly important to get right. 

If you accidentally install the fence even a couple of inches over your property line, you could be asking for big trouble with your neighbor. And legally, your neighbor has every right to demand that you remove the entire fence and reinstall it on your side of the property line. 

Read More: The Final Word on Who Owns the Fence Between You and Your Neighbor

You’d be surprised how often this happens. Even if you think you know where your property line begins and ends, a professional fence installer will recommend that you obtain a property line location survey before they start working on the fence.  This one simple step will ensure that the fence is installed where you are legally allowed to install it. Your fence installation contractor will likely have recommendations on a surveyor that have worked with before and who can give you the best price for your property line location survey. 

The cities of Colorado Springs and Denver do not offer free property line location services, but they do dictate zoning requirements on how tall your fence can be, the set-backs required from public right-of-ways, and other structural requirements. To avoid the headache of putting up a fence that the City may require you to take down immediately, hire a local fence contractor who has experience with the zoning requirements of your municipality.

Leave Fence Installation To Our Experts

There are plenty of projects that a novice or even average DIY-er can complete on their own, but fence installation is not one of them. Blick’s Fencing Company is locally owned and has been helping Southern Colorado homeowners with their fencing needs for over 30 years. What we offer you as a Colorado fencing contractor is a perfect combination of experience and expertise which equals great value for you. Everyone on our team is an expert in Colorado soils and weather and we know what effects those factors will have on your fencing projects. Give us a call today to obtain a free quote.

Recent Additions To Our Southern Colorado Fencing Blog:

Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Privacy Fencing

Pros and Cons of Vinyl Privacy Fencing

How to Choose a New Fence That is Right for Your Space