How to Plan Your Fence Project

A fence project goes smoothly when the planning is done before the crew shows up. None of it is hard. It is a handful of decisions made in a good order. Here is the checklist we would follow if it were our yard.

Decide what the fence is for

Privacy, safety for kids or pets, a pool, a boundary, curb appeal or vehicle access. Most fences do two or three of these. Pick the main one, because it drives the style, the height and where the fence goes. Settling it early saves changes later.

Set a realistic budget

What a fence takes depends on the length, the material, the height, the number of gates, the ground and the permit situation. Rather than guess, get a proposal early. It gives you a real number to work with, and you can adjust the plan from there. If the first number is more than you hoped, there are usually ways to adjust the scope, such as fencing only the sides that matter most.

Measure the yard

A fence is built by the foot, so the length of the run matters. Walk the route and add it up, and note where gates go and what is in the way. Confirm where your property line sits before you commit. Our post on how much fence you need walks through it step by step.

Check the rules

Height and placement rules can differ by town, county and neighborhood. Ask your local office what applies to your address, and read your HOA rules if you have an HOA. The homeowner pulls any permit the town requires, and we plan the schedule around it. Before the crew digs, utilities get marked through 811, and the layout is built around the marks.

Choose the material

Each material does a different job.

Wood is the classic privacy fence and the most flexible in style. It asks for regular upkeep. See our wood fences.

Vinyl keeps its finish with very little care, and it suits a clean privacy look. See vinyl fences.

Aluminum is open and does not rust. It suits front yards, pools and anywhere you want to keep a view. See aluminum fences.

Chain link is the practical pick for big yards and pet areas. See chain link fences.

Farm fencing suits acreage and livestock. See farm fences.

If two materials look right, ask us which holds up better for your yard. We would rather talk it through than guess from a photo.

Plan the gates and the extras

Gates are where a fence gets used every day, so give them thought. Decide how many, how wide and where. Then think about the extras that make a fence feel finished: post caps, a different top style, stronger posts or hardware for a heavy gate. Some of these are small touches and some change how the fence performs. Ask what each one does.

Think about timing

Spring and summer are when most people call. If you can plan ahead, you get more room to choose a date. Our posts on planning your fence before spring and on why winter is a smart time to schedule cover that in more detail.

Get the yard ready

Clear the fence line of debris and brush. Move furniture, planters and toys back from where the crew will work. Plan for pets on installation days. If an old fence is coming out, we can talk about whether we remove it. Our post on how to prepare for a new fence installation has the full list.

Put it together

With the purpose, the line, the rough footage, the rules and the material in hand, you are ready for a walk with a crew. Send us the form or call or text 803-609-9760. We will answer every question and plan it with you.