When a brand-new privacy fence starts leaning or rattling after just one heavy seasonal windstorm off the Flatirons, property owners notice right away. Boulder Fencing Solutions gets called out to fix rookie installation mistakes all the time. Building a solid fence in our local foothills environment takes more than just digging a few holes and putting up pickets. When planning a new layout for your yard, watch out for these frequent slip-ups before you hire a contractor.
Skipping the Proper Property Line Check
Assuming where your property ends based on an old shrub line or an existing broken-down fence is a recipe for disaster. Boulder Fencing Solutions has seen homeowners forced to tear down a freshly built fence because it encroached three feet onto a neighbor's land or violated city setbacks. Property owners should always pull their plat map or get a proper survey done. Dealing with an angry neighbor or a municipal code violation is not how anyone wants to spend their weekends.
Underestimating Boulder Wind and Soil Conditions
Our heavy clay soils combined with ferocious downslope windstorms mean your fence posts take a very heavy beating. A massive mistake we see is setting posts too shallow or skipping concrete footings altogether. If a contractor tries to cut corners by digging holes only eighteen inches deep instead of hitting that frost line depth, heavy privacy panels will catch the wind like a sail and pull right out of the ground.
Ignoring Local Zoning Rules and HOA Guidelines
Owning the property does not mean you can throw up a towering eight-foot fortress of any material you want. The City of Boulder has strict height restrictions, especially for front and corner yards, and historic districts carry even heavier regulations. Before buying materials, check your neighborhood covenants and municipal codes. Getting hit with a stop-work order or a hefty fine is an expensive headache you can easily avoid with a little upfront research.
Choosing Cheap Materials to Save a Buck
Trying to save a few dollars by buying low-grade lumber or thin-walled hardware store brackets will cost you double in a couple of years. Between intense UV exposure at our high altitude and freezing winter temperatures, cheap wood warps, splits, and rots much faster than quality cedar or properly treated posts. Spend a little more on structural integrity now, and your Fence Construction will actually stand the test of time in Boulder, CO.