Thinking of taking on a fence building project? Before beginning the construction of a new fence, there are some important things that need to be considered. Here is a checklist of key items to determine in advance of undertaking any fence building work:
- Determine property lines: Before you start construction, it’s essential to identify the property lines to avoid encroaching on your neighbor’s property or violating any local building codes.
- Obtain necessary permits: Depending on your location, you may need to obtain permits or permissions from your local government or homeowners association before building a fence.
- Determine your local fence building by-laws: While permits are generally not required for most residential fence projects, there are still by-laws that need to be followed when building a fence and these can vary from one municipality to the next. If you disregard them and your fence violates a by-law, you could receive a warning, a fine or even be required to remove the fence or do additional work and incur additional expense to bring it into compliance.
- Obtain a dig clearance: Here in Ontario, you are required to request a dig clearance before you begin any type of digging or excavation. This is to ensure that you do not disturb or damage any utilities while digging. In addition to telecom, this also includes water, gas and power, the latter two which could cause serious injury or even death if damaged.
- Choose the fence type and style: There are various types and styles of fences available, including wood, vinyl, chain link, and iron. Select the type and style that suits your needs and meets your local regulations.
- Measure the area: Measure the length and height of the fence line to determine the amount of materials needed.
- Create a buy list: Once you’ve decided on the type of fence, make a list of all the materials in advance so everything you need is on-hand once you begin building. For a typical wood fence, this will fence posts, cement, fence boards (pickets) or panels, gate hardware and screws.
By following this checklist, you can ensure that once you begin building your new fence, you can proceed both safely and efficiently.