Easiest Fence To Install Yourself

The Easiest Fence to Install Yourself — Answers From a Professional

With D.I.Y. projects skyrocketing in popularity over the past couple of years, from channels like Five Minute Crafts to videos on Facebook and TikTok, many people want to take things into their own hands when it comes to installation projects. The world of fencing is no exception to that. Everybody has been asking what the easiest fence to install yourself is so we thought we would share the answer.

Maybe it’s just me, but have you ever looked at something like a product or service, saw the price tag, and then went, “I bet I could do that myself easily, and it’d be cheaper, too.” That’s when you fall down a rabbit hole of YouTube tutorials and Reddit threads trying to become a master overnight.

Here’s the thing, though: it’s certainly not impossible to install a fence yourself. I’ve worked in the fencing industry for over a decade, so I know my experience is higher than the average homeowner’s, but you can do it if you really want to. I’m gonna lay out your options for finding the easiest fence to install yourself so you can get a better idea of whether or not it’s a task you want to take on yourself.

Permits to Materials — The Steps You Need to Install a Fence in Minnesota

The biggest hurdle people usually encounter when it comes to trying to install a fence themselves is not realizing all of the steps it requires until it’s too late. You start getting excited about the project and think, “I just need to go buy the materials! I have Saturday off, I could tackle it all then!” As the process goes on, however, you realize that you haven’t figured out the exact amount of material you need. How tall do you want the fence to be? Do you have all of the tools? Wait, aren’t you supposed to call before you dig, too? What if you hit a power line? Does this require a permit?

Deciding to install a fence yourself shouldn’t be, and truly isn’t, a spur-of-the-moment decision. There are a lot of extra steps involved that are usually handled by the fencing company, so many homeowners with fences don’t even realize everything that goes into it.

To make it easier for you, let me give you a checklist of considerations that should be taken when you plan on installing your own fence:

• Before you even buy the materials, look into your city or county’s fencing regulations. This can impact everything from fencing height and materials to where on your property you can install a fence.
• Once you check on the permits or requirements needed, the next step is to plan out exactly where you want your new fence to be.
• Next, consider the height and material you want to use. Combining this with the plans for where to install your fence will help you determine how much material you need to go buy.
• Before you go to the store, you need to decide if you want driven fence posts or concrete-based fence posts. These both require different materials and tools and also can impact the timing of the installation process.
• Don’t forget to consider if you want any gates added and where exactly those will go in relation to any posts you need to place.
• Finally, before the installation day, call the appropriate electric and plumbing companies to make sure you’re safe to dig.

What Even Is a “No Dig” Fence?

So, maybe you’ve heard of a “no dig” fence before and are assuming that will be the easiest option for you. No digging sounds great, right? How does it work, though? Is it actually easier?

To be fair, I think the term “easy” is a bit subjective. As a professional fence installer, I personally think “no dig” fencing is easier and sturdier than the alternative, which is concrete-based fence posts. But is this option actually easier for an average homeowner?

A “no dig” fence refers to specifically the fence post-installation process. There are two primary ways a fence post can be installed. One way is by digging a hole, sticking the fence post in, and filling in a portion of the hole with concrete as a means to anchor it into the ground. This process takes more time as you have to wait for the concrete to cure properly, and then after you still have dirt to clean up.

The alternative to a concrete base is driven fence posts which don’t require any digging, hence the “no dig” nickname. A driven fence post utilizes a tool known as a fence post driver (a very clever name, I know) to force the posts deep into the ground. These fence posts are usually 50% of the height of the above-ground fence. To put that into perspective, a 4-foot tall fence would have a minimum of 2 feet of post below the ground, making for a fence post that is 6 feet long in total.

Driven fence posts not only have a cleaner installation process, but they’re less prone to upheaval. Here in Minnesota, where me and my team are based, this is especially important due to the frost line and harsh weather conditions we experience year-round. Having a sturdy fence is a big deal.

Is There a Downside to Installing a Fence Yourself?

With all of this in mind — is installing a fence by yourself actually cheaper?

Most of the time, installing a fence as an average homeowner takes a bigger portion of time investment than is usually realized at the start. There are more steps that need to be taken and most homeowners don’t have tools like a “fence post driver” lying around, either, which adds to the cost of the fencing installation.

Ultimately, it comes down to you asking yourself if you think it’s worth your time and money.

If you choose to go with a professional company, even though it can seem like it’s more expensive, there are plenty of times when it actually isn’t. A fencing company is going to get the job done faster, not miss any steps, and already have all the tools and materials needed, and if they make a mistake that shouldn’t impact your already agreed-upon price.

The same can’t be said about your own purchases. If you ruin some of your fencing, Lowes doesn’t normally let you get more for free.

One of the things I like about working at Northland Fence is we aren’t afraid to be honest. We know plenty of people who like to do things themselves, and we want to make sure you have all the options and knowledge ahead of you so you can decide if that’s what you want. If this post inspired you to install your own fence, that’s incredible! Maybe this was an eye opener and you’re deciding to look into a company near you (like Northland if you’re in Minnesota) and we’re glad to have helped with that decision too. Either way, I hope you get to have the fence of your dreams, soon.