Preparing For Your New Fence

Your new fence can be put up in a short period of time, but will hopefully last for a number of years. To avoid problems, the following things should be done before the contractor arrives so you're sure you're prepared.

Checking Property Boundaries

In years past, the owners of both your property and any neighboring place may have had a gentleman's agreement which allowed one or the other to install a fence on land that wasn't officially theirs. Your current neighbors, like you, might be completely unaware of any such history, but erecting a brand new fence provides the perfect occasion for someone to do some research and ensure that boundaries are respected. 

The city's hall of records should be able to help you to find the land boundaries for both your property and nearby properties; you just need to find the relevant filed deeds. Deeds are considered public information and can be examined by anyone, but you might need help from a clerk to locate the most recent deeds you need. Once you do that, you'll need to examine the portion of each deed that deals with the physical description of the property. You may want to check with a land surveyor to make sure you understand the descriptions you're reading.

Choosing Suitable Material

You might have a particular style or look in your mind when you first think about your new fence, but your decision should also take into account maintenance and durability over time. Wood, for instance, is often considered early on until people realize how expensive it can be to maintain it and protect it from pets, kids, rain and other things.

A dependable material to use could be aluminum. Aluminum is oftentimes chemically treated so you don't have to beware of corrosion or rust eating away at the fence. If you or your neighbors have dogs that could urinate or scratch the fence, aluminum will help you breathe a sigh of relief; unlike wood, it will not be splintered or damaged even after vigorous scratching sessions or animal spraying. Aluminum is also unlikely to rot after prolonged exposure to snow and rain, which means more money in your pocket since you won't have replace individual panels or planks.

With these considerations, decisions about a new fence can be made in a clear-headed way. A fencing contractor, like one from Mills Fence, can talk more with you about any additional information.