Fence installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What fence installation is

Fence installation marks the property line, sets posts in concrete or compacted fill, hangs rails and panels or boards, and adds gates, with the materials chosen to suit privacy, pets, pools or the look of the house. A fence is only as good as its posts and its line, so the work starts with knowing exactly where the boundary sits.

Signs you need it

  • A fence is needed to keep children or pets in the yard, and the current boundary has gaps or no fence at all
  • The property line is unclear, and a fence has to be placed with the boundary confirmed
  • A privacy screen is needed from a street, a neighbor or a commercial area, and the yard must feel enclosed
  • An old fence has leaned, rotted at the posts or come down in sections after a storm
  • A pool, garden or animal area needs a barrier that meets the local rules and keeps the animals inside
  • A yard backs onto a street, an open lot or a shared path, and needs a clear edge for privacy and to keep people and animals from wandering through

What the pro does

  • Confirm the property line with the owner's survey or the stakes from the surveyor, and mark the fence line and the gate locations
  • Check for buried utilities, sprinkler lines and septic or drain lines along the fence line before any digging
  • Dig the post holes to the depth the fence height needs, and set the posts plumb in concrete or compacted fill
  • Attach the rails to the posts with the hardware suited to the fence type, and check that the line is straight
  • Hang the panels, boards or mesh on the rails, spacing them as the design calls for and keeping the bottom clear of the ground
  • Install the gates, add the post caps and trim, and check the gates and latches for smooth operation

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Total length of the fence and the number of corners, gates and changes in direction
  • Fence height and style, such as privacy board, picket, chain link or ornamental metal
  • Ground conditions, including rock, clay, slope or high water that make the post holes harder to set
  • Number and size of gates, including double gates or wide drive gates that need heavier hardware
  • Removal of an old fence, the disposal of the old materials and the grading of the line afterward
  • Access to the line for the post digger, and whether the work must go through a side yard or a narrow gate

What a written quote should spell out

  • Fence length, height, style and material, with the post spacing named
  • Post size, depth and the setting method, whether concrete or compacted fill
  • Rail count, panel or board type and the hardware used
  • Gate sizes, hardware, latch type and the number of gates included
  • Who confirms the property line and who marks the utility lines before digging
  • Removal of the old fence and the cleanup, and the warranty on materials and workmanship

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How will you confirm the property line before setting any posts?
  • How deep are the posts, and are they set in concrete or in compacted fill?
  • What is the wood or material spec for the posts, rails and boards?
  • Will you check for sprinkler lines, drains and utilities before digging?
  • What height and style do the local rules allow for this fence?
  • How will the gates be hung so they swing freely and latch securely?

Red flags

  • Sets posts without checking the property line or the survey pins
  • Sets posts only a short way into the ground, which will lean or heave within a few seasons
  • Skips the utility marking and digs through sprinkler lines or drains
  • Uses undersized posts or short rails for a tall or heavy fence
  • Says the gate will swing fine without checking the posts and the hardware

What you can do yourself

A homeowner can install a short, low, simple fence on a level, well-marked line if they confirm the boundary first and call for the utility locate. Call a pro for tall fences, fences on slopes, fences with long runs, gates on wide openings and any fence that encloses a pool or a dog run. Post hole diggers, augers and concrete mix are heavy and can pinch or strain, so wear gloves, boots and eye protection and use a helper for lifting.

Licenses and permits

Whether fence work needs a contractor license varies by place and by job size, and tall fences, pool barriers and fences near a public way often need a permit in many areas. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department before work starts, and confirm the property line rules that apply to your lot.

Fence installation questions

Who is responsible for placing the fence on the line?

The fence should be placed on the owner's side of the property line, and the owner should confirm that line before installation. Ask the pro to use a survey or stakes from a surveyor, and check with your local building department if the line is in doubt.

How deep should the fence posts be?

Post depth depends on the fence height, the wind exposure and the soil, and it must go below the frost line where your area freezes. Ask the pro how they size the posts and how they set them.

Why does my fence lean after a few seasons?

Leaning usually comes from posts that were set too shallow, were not braced or were set in soil that did not drain. A pro can reset the posts with proper depth and bracing.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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