Pros and Cons of Building a Fence Yourself
April 2, 2018
Thinking about installing a fence, but not sure whether you should have it professionally installed or start a DIY project?
Here are a few things to keep in mind when making your decision.
DIY Fence Installation
Pros
One of the benefits of installing a fence by yourself is that you don’t have to pay a company for the labor costs. This typically ends up being cheaper in the end, and one of the major reasons most people consider a DIY in the first place.
By installing a fence on your own, you also get to choose exactly what you want in terms of materials, styles, etc., only being limited by your own abilities and local regulations. Some companies can be limited in their options, so this can be important to those that have a very specific idea of what they want. Not to mention the pride you’ll feel after installing a fence and being able to look at it each day knowing that you were the one who built it.
Cons
Installing a fence by yourself doesn’t come without problems. While you might save on the monetary labor costs that would go to a company, you’ll be spending your own time to install the fence. Bear in mind that most fence installers have teams of multiple people which helps make the process go faster. If it’s just you and a friend or two, you could be looking at some serious hours of hard work.
If you’re completely new to DIY fence building, you’ll be doing a considerable amount of research beforehand. You’ll need to make sure you’re using the right materials, have all the right tools, look into your local regulations, and double check your property lines.
There’s also the chance that something could go wrong down the line if your installation isn’t perfect. The cost of having a professional repair or even replace your fence would make the final cost higher than if you had just hired them in the first place.
DIY fence kits can certainly help make the job easier, but in the end nothing can really compare to years of experience.
Hiring a team to install your fence
Pros
While the money you spend on a team to install your fence may be more than doing it yourself, keep in mind that you’re also paying for their expertise. If a contractor has been working on installing fences for a few years, they will most likely have installed dozens of fences. Not many homeowners can say they’ve done the same.
There’s also the amount of time that you’ll save by hiring a team. Typically, a fence can be installed in one to three days by professionals.
So rather than spending time on research, preparation, and hours of hard labor on installing a fence yourself, you can relax and let experienced professionals take care of it for you instead.
Cons
Affordability can certainly be an issue when hiring a team to install a fence for you. Take into account that you’re not just paying for the materials, but the labor as well. If you’re on a tight budget, this might not be the choice for you. However, it’s not necessary to let the cost deter you. Some companies may let you pay in installments or even have financing plans.
Overall, if you’re someone who has some extra time on their hands, have experience with woodworking or construction, and have a few friends who can help out, you’d be a good candidate for installing a fence on your own.
If you’re inexperienced with such things, short on time, and want to have a fence installed quickly by a team of professionals, consider hiring someone to do it for you.
We hope this helps you decide how you’d like to have your fence installed.
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