When comparing Louisville fence options it’s important to know what steps to take. First, preparing for a fence installation around your Louisville home is a lot like any other home improvement project, the more time you invest in the planning phase the happier you will be with the finished project. Let’s jump in!
Professionally installed fences are built to last and will provide many years of service when installed properly. Unlike other smaller home improvement projects, it’s not easy to change design options once the posts are in the ground.
Change designs as many times as needed in the planning stage. This way the finished product meets and/or surpasses your expectations. The following article will guide you in planning your fence project whether it’s your first or one of many.
Locate Property Boundaries
One of the first items you should look into while planning for your fence installation is knowing where your property boundaries are located. If your fortunate enough to know where the property pins are that mark the corners of your lot you may be in luck and able to save the expense of having a survey done.
However, if the pins can’t be located then having a survey done is highly recommended. This will ensure that you are installing the fence on your property and not your neighbors.
Identifying property boundaries will also help determine the owner of an old fence. I’ve had customers who recently purchased a home and wanted to remove the old fence that was falling down and replace it with a new one. Once the survey was completed it was found that the old fence actually belonged to the neighbor behind them.
In many cases, the owner of an existing fence may be known. But when one or more neighbors have moved it may no longer be common knowledge of who installed the fence and having a survey completed settles any disagreements.
Understand Homeowner Association (HOA) Guidelines
This is an often overlooked aspect of installing a fence, but one that needs to be looked into to avoid receiving letters informing of a violation of guidelines or worse being fined for non-compliance.
When considering different Louisville fence options, discussing your plans with your HOA should be high on your to-do list. Meeting with your HOA representative will allow you to understand what style of fencing is permitted in your area and any other guidelines that may exist. Plan to do this early as it may take a few weeks to get final approval for your fence.
You may also use an HOA election inspector like Pro Ei to verify compliance. Checking with HOA guidelines should be done at the same time or just after your survey is completed. This is a high priority. Almost nothing can dampen your enthusiasm quicker than having your heart set on a particular style of fence only to find out it doesn’t meet the specifications set forth by the HOA. Take the time to learn the specifics of your HOA early on so you don’t run into any problems later.
Looking at Different Louisville Fence Options
Now that we are done with the not-so-fun aspects of planning a fence installation we’re ready to move onto the fun stuff. Let’s compare your Louisville fence options and choose the style you want!
Most fences have both form and function aspects. Perhaps you are wanting to increase the privacy or security of an outdoor living space. Maybe you are wanting to keep young children or pets safe in an outdoor area. These are functional requirements your fence needs to meet.
The form is what the fence looks like while it performs its functional duties. Today’s homeowner has several options when it comes to choosing the style and material for their fence installation.
Louisville fences can be constructed from the following:
- aluminum
- wrought iron
- wood
- vinyl
- composite materials
Customization of these materials allows the homeowner to design a fence that compliments the overall theme of the outdoor living space. Do some research on the style of fence you feel best suits your needs. Try a Google search. Walk around your neighborhood. Talk to family and friends to gain inspiration for the style of fence you like.
You may have an exact idea of what you’re wanting or you may want to talk to a professional fence installer to help refine your ideas into a workable plan, but what matters at this point is you have talked to other decision-makers in your household and everyone has come to an agreement on what is desired. You’re now ready for the final step.
Talk To a Professional Fence Installer
If you have covered the above steps you are now ready to discuss your fence needs with a contractor. Obviously, you can contact an installer at any point you need to clarify any questions you may have. Doing a little homework first will make your time with the installer much more valuable.
It’s not necessary to know the exact details of what you are wanting at this time. You may have questions concerning differences in materials or customization features that are possible. These are questions that can be answered by your installer.
A site visit is usually necessary to measure the footage of your lot so that an estimate can be given. Find an installer that you like and you will have found an advisor that will be happy to walk you through the steps necessary for a successful fence installation around your Louisville home.
Conclusion
Hopefully, these suggestions leave you feeling a little more prepared while you are planning for your fence installation. As with any other home improvement project, educating yourself in the process makes you a better consumer, and fencing is no different. If you’re looking for a great company, call The Fence Guy of Louisville. They specialize in installation, repair, and restoration services for a variety of fencing styles.
