Finding the Perfect Layout for Your Fence Installation
Installing a fence on your property comes with a range of advantages, from enhanced security to boosted curb appeal. If you’ve decided to install one around your Georgia property, the first step will be deciding on its layout.
Consider these key tips to help you find the ideal layout for your fence installation.
Measure the Area
The first thing to consider is how much of your property to encompass with your new fence. If you have a smaller lot size, you can simply design the fence layout to follow your lot’s boundary lines. For properties in urban areas, you may not have to worry about customizing your layout. In either case, getting accurate measurements is key.
If you own real estate in the suburbs or in a rural area, your layout may not follow your property’s boundary lines. For example, someone who owns five acres may not want to fence in the entire lot. In that scenario, you might design a layout that surrounds your home, garage, and a smaller part of the lot around your home. Rural property owners might leave most of the acreage open for farming or wildlife preservation.
Review Laws and HOA Restrictions
HOA rules typically follow property laws in Georgia, but check your community’s rules to ensure there aren’t additional requirements. In Georgia, you can have a 6-foot high fence lining your back and side yards. You’re limited to a 4-foot fence in your front yard. An exception to this law allows for a 3-foot retaining wall with a 4-foot fence installed on top of the wall.
Some HOA communities stipulate how close you can install a fence to the property line. Generally, you must leave a 6- to 8-inch gap between the boundary line and the fence. Even when there isn’t a rule governing the placement of the fence, this is still a good rule to follow. The gap leaves room for maintenance and repairs.
Choose Gate Locations
While designing the layout for your fence installation, make sure to include access points. You’ll want small gates where people can enter and exit your property. You’ll also want a larger gate for vehicles.
This vehicle gate will lead to your garage or driveway. If you have a bigger rural lot, you might need gate access in the back for utility or septic trucks to enter and exit.
Most property owners install pedestrian gates at the sides of their homes. This is a good place for gates since this is where the fence height will transition from four feet to six feet. You might also want to add a narrow gate next to a garage or shed for convenience.
Consider Your Utility Service Needs
You might adapt the layout of your fence to suit your yard’s shape. Irregular lot shapes with several sides require more complex fence designs to cover every side of the lot. Keep any trees or boulders that sit in the way of your property lines in mind. You can remove these obstacles or change the fence layout to go around them.
Another factor to consider is access to your electrical, plumbing, and HVAC equipment. You may need to schedule meter readings or utility services when no one is available to let personnel onto the property.
To avoid service interruption, it can help to design a fence layout that excludes your meters, HVAC compressor, and other outdoor equipment. This will save you from having to leave a gate unlocked while your home is vacant.
Ask Your Neighbors
Take a look at the lots that surround your property. Seeing how those property owners use fences can help you create a layout that will save money on installation costs. For example, match a vinyl privacy fence that lines a neighboring property. This can prevent you from having to add fencing on that side of your property.
Alternatively, talk to neighbors who don’t have fences lining their properties. They may have plans to install their own fences. In that case, you might be able to split the fence installation and maintenance costs with those neighbors. This also means agreeing on the type and dimensions of the fencing, so make sure to have these discussions in advance.
Trusted Fence Installation in Georgia
East Georgia Fence has a long history of installing high-quality fences on a variety of property types. Our years of experience have earned us a reputation for addressing the toughest fence installation problems. To get started, contact us today!
