Before You Buy
“The fence is beautiful. I love it. Also thank you for the good service in getting the job done promptly so I could work on my garden for the Garden Tour.” - N.R., Provo
Planning Considerations – Before You Buy Your Fence
Topics Covered:
The Purpose of your Fence
The Right Contractor
City or HOA
Type of Materials
Budget/Cost
Fence Location
Timing
Gate Size and Placement
The Purpose of your Fence
When choosing a style of fence which best suits your purpose it is important to consider the reasons for installing a fence. Carefully evaluating the location, type/style, and function of your fence will ensure you are satisfied with the final results for years to come. Whatever the purpose, CFC can help. Whether you’re looking to establish a boundary, protect your children or pets, or create an elegant back drop for your private sanctuary, we have a fence that will meet your needs. For example: · If containment or exclusion is an issue, height and possibly style will dictate the most practical fence to install. The location of the fence (property line, natural barriers, usable areas, etc.) also will inform your decision-making. · If privacy is an issue or if you are trying to hide an unsightly view, a solid site-obscuring fence would be appropriate. · If safety or security is a priority (such as surrounding a pool), height may need to be considered. · If you are sharing fence costs with a neighbor, you may want to consider neighbor-friendly designs that will ensure both of you are receiving equal value.
Almost weekly one will hear about buyers that have been taken advantage of by an unscrupulous contractor or business. When choosing a contractor it is important to do all that you can to ensure that the contractor is an upstanding member of the community and has a proven track record. Verify the following:
· Licensed & insured
o CFC maintains a current contractor’s license and insurance which protects you from unnecessary liability. Our license number is 376020-5501 and can be verified at the Utah Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing.
· Satisfied customers
o CFC has built over 1,000 fences in the last 20 years. Our #1 source of new business comes from referrals – surpassing even the advertising we do in phone books. Throughout our website, we’ve posted quotes from customers that expressed their satisfaction with our products and services.
· Years in business
o CFC has been in business since 1989. Our commitment to our core competencies gives you the assurance that our company will continue to be around in the future when you need additional work or repairs.
· Office/Physical Location
o Our property at 543 E 600 S in Provo includes a retail counter, showroom, displays, and a full service lumber yard. We aren’t a seasonal company operating out of a home or a fly-by-night location. From our offices, we primarily serve Salt Lake, Utah, Wasatch, and Summit counties for installation services, and the entire country for materials and specialized products.
· Member of Professional Trade Associations
o Every industry has professional associations that allow companies to learn and share best practices and provide oversight including professional certification. That is true for fencing. We are certified members of the national American Fence Association, and actively participate in the local chapter and national convention.
· Financial Stability
o Credit worthiness is a cornerstone practice of our company. We pay all of our bills on time. By avoiding late charges and interest to suppliers, we can keep our prices lower to you. You are welcome to check our credit worthiness with Dun and Bradstreet.
o Liens are a possibility if your contractor does not pay for materials or labor until after a project is complete. CFC is its own supplier – we buy all our materials directly from the mills and manufacturers. When materials arrive in our yard, they are paid for. With CFC, you will never have an unpaid supplier place a lien on your property.
Download a copy of the Contractor Scorecard to help you compare CFC with other contractors.
City or HOA
Each city has its own regulations and code requirements when it comes to such issues as sidewalk or curb offsets, visibility around street corners, height restrictions, etc. In addition to city requirements, if you live in an area that has a home owners association (HOA) you may have additional restrictions on fencing as well. To view the requirements in your area, see HOA Regulations & City Ordinances. Additionally, call the planning and zoning offices for your jurisdiction if more detail is needed.
Type of Materials
It is important to choose a fencing product that will not only serve the function for which the fence is intended but also hold up to normal use. Trex, wood, and iron are all very durable products. However, if the function of the fence is for privacy, iron will not meet your needs. Additional considerations for choosing a fencing product are maintenance and warranty. While Trex, iron, and wood fences are all beautiful fences, wood fences do not come with a manufacturer warranty and will require occasional maintenance. Visit the Trex, Wood, or Iron section of our website for details to help you compare the various styles of fences.
Budget/Cost
Are you considering installation or building it yourself?
If cost is an issue and you feel like you have the time and ability to build the fence yourself this may be a way to save money or upgrade to a more expensive product. Carefully think through the building process before beginning to make sure you are prepared to commit the time and learning curve for a self-installation. A professional installation may be worth the additional expense. See Trex, Wood, or Iron for basic pricing information.
What are your financing options?
Besides accepting cash, checks and all major credit cards, we also have numerous financing options including a 90 days same-as-cash. Home equity loans are also a practical and inexpensive way to finance your project.
Fence Location
Are there existing property pins?
In order to install your fence in the correct location it is essential that all property pins are in place. A typical property pin is a piece of rebar with a yellow or orange cap on it, or the property corner may also be marked by a wood stake or green t-post. It may be necessary to dig around in this location to find the official pin. To aid in the locating of these pins use measurements from your plot plan and measure off of existing pins to locate others (County Assessor's resources to help you locate your plot plan). At the other end of your property, an etching or a metal pin embedded in the curb or sidewalk may denote those corners. Note: when measuring off of a sidewalk or curb it is important to know what the setback may be for the beginning of your property line. This may be determined by comparing neighbors' measurements and setbacks of or talking to your city.
Are there obstacles in the fence line such as vegetation or sprinklers?
If you are unable to pull a string line straight between property pins, this may be your first hint that obstacles such as trees, plants, or other items are in the way. If this is the case these obstacles will need to be moved or the fence line will need to move. It is also important to note the location of neighbors’ lines as well. By contracting for an installation or by self-installing, a buyer will be liable for damage incurred to lines that have been placed too close to the property line.
Bearing in mind that a fence post typically will go 30+ inches into the ground with a 12” diameter of concrete, other unseen obstacles may be buried below the surface such as shallow utilities or sprinkler pipes that will impede installation. Again, if this is the case the fence line or the other obstructions will need to be moved. Typically, sprinkler heads (if on a flexible pipe) can be moved relatively easy. If by moving these heads you discover that the main sprinkler line (the non-flexible line) is within a foot of the property line, the lines or the fence would have to move.
Are your neighbors aware of your plans and the placement of the fence?
It is important to notify neighbors who may be affected by the installation of a fence. Neighbors may be willing to participate in the cost of the fence. Additionally, the existing fence that you may be replacing could belong to them and you will need to get their permission before removing it. They may also need to contain pets during the construction project. Obstacles such as sprinkler lines that need to be moved may also belong to them. It is also better to resolve possible property disputes or problems before fence installation. Our installers due not wear bullet-proof vests!
Timing
If you have plans that entail more than one project, coordination with other contractors is important. It is best that rough grading or clearing of the yard is completed before installation of fence posts. This means that grade should be within a couple of inches of final grade. Any dips or humps should be removed. Posts set before sprinklers are installed will eliminate the chance of sprinkler lines being placed in the wrong location or too near the fence line where they could be broken. After fence installation, sprinkler heads can now be placed correctly without the chance of being damaged or unnecessarily spraying the fence.
Setting the posts before top soil or ground cover is in place will eliminate rocks from the excavated holes being mixed with this material. If concrete pads are being poured where posts will be located it is important to set posts first so that additional cost is not incurred for cutting holes in the concrete for posts. Final grade is best done after the fence is completed so that the grade follows the straight line of the fence. This will eliminate gaps under the fence that would be impossible to detect before the fence is installed.
Gate Size and Placement
What kind of access do you need?
When considering gates and their placement it is important to evaluate not only where you would like to have access into your yard but also what you will be bringing into it. Also, keep in mind the more gates you have the more difficult it is to manage the security of your yard.
What size of gate is needed?
While it is important to have a gate that is large enough to allow access for the things that you need, it is also important to note that the smaller the gate the lighter it will be as well. The lighter the gate the easier it is to handle and the longer it will hold up. If you are looking at getting something into your yard that is quite large only once in a great while it may be wiser and more economical to remove a panel of fence and put it back into place when finished rather than adding a large gate.
Do you want a gate that blends into your fence line or stands out as an aesthetic compliment?
If you are looking for a gate that is not easily noticed and blends into the rest of the fence, it can be built to look essentially like the fence. However, if you would like your gate to be a focal point of your yard and stand out, we do offer several styles of custom gates and arbors.