You can put up a vinyl fence yourself to keep your dog safe and secure. your dog safe. It will add value to the aesthetic appeal of your home for many years. You could even save dollars in the process. But only if you follow correct installation guidelines.

While not everyone likes the thought of spending a whole weekend mixing concrete and drilling many holes, many are able to install vinyl fencing. According to HomeAdvisor's data homeowners who have the skills in installing vinyl fences may save up to 1/3 off the cost of replacing professional labor with their own efforts.

Be aware of the most common errors before you begin any project. Insufficient preparation, poor construction regulations, and improperly placed posts can all lead to problems that reduce the fence's lifespan and cost savings. You want your vinyl fence to be a lasting testament to your DIY skills. These are of the most important rules and guidelines.

Do not forget to get the yard ready
Call 811 or go online to call811.com to set up dates for your utilities. The majority of them will bury lines around your home, so you'll need representatives from each to determine the exact whereabouts of these lines. The process takes about one week, but do not skipping it. Digging without knowing the depth is dangerous. The impact of a utility line the shovel can cause serious injury or even death.

If you plan to erect the fence along the edge of your property, confirm the boundary of your property by checking your deed or by visiting the local assessor's office. While this step may seem uncomfortable, it's a lot better to removing an unintentionally constructed fence on the property of your neighbor!

Once you've located the utility lines and marked your property line, mark the boundary of your fence with an attractive can of spray paint. Then, clean up any plants, rocks, or any other debris blocking your path.

DON'T install posts too close together
Vinyl fencing will bend without breaking, which allows it to withstand the force of high winds and minor hits. A proper installation of the vinyl fence is essential for this flexibility. Install the posts too close together and the fence panels will be positioned so tightly that they become rigid. The vinyl is unable to bend, which increases the possibility that high winds or an object that is errant can cause damage to the fence. It is possible to avoid this problem by spacing the posts at least a full width apart. This will avoid having to cut a panel in a smaller dimension whenever it is possible.

Vinyl fencing can also expand and expand, just like wood. Vinyl expands in hot weather as wood expands when it is exposed to humidity. You should not fit fence panels too close to posts. This will result in expansion, which could lead to buckles and warping. Each panel must allow a few millimeters more wiggle space after installation to avoid this.

Don't dig holes that are shallow
Your fence is only as strong as the posts holding it up. So, make sure you ensure that each post is securely placed in the ground--especially when you live in an area with strong winds or soil that is soft. Posts with holes that are shallow are more likely to lean against the weight of the fence or even blow over altogether in extreme conditions.

How deep do fence posts need to be? While the weather and soil conditions may affect the depth requirements The general guideline is to allow for 1/3 of the length of the fence post to be in the soil. askingasking2expert is also necessary to take into account an additional 6 inches of gravel which provides a base which will allow water to drain off the post. In order to accommodate the gravel layer, a 3 foot 6 inch hole will be necessary if you are planning to build a 3 foot deep post.

DO FIRST, install corners and ends posts
Aligning the posts correctly is essential to ensure the success of a vinyl fence installation. It can be challenging to install posts properly. You don't want the burden of having to take away posts and put them back in just because it wasn't aligned correctly with the other posts. Get rid of the confusion by installing the end posts and corner posts first. After the posts are installed and in place, draw a line between them, and make sure it is taut. Then, you can make use of the string line to guide you around the posts.

DON'T forget a level
You might think that you can save time by estimating whether your posts are even. This isn't an effective strategy. The only way to determine if each post is level in the ground, and also in height with other posts is to use a quality level.

Before the concrete is set, put an incline on the two sides that are adjacent to the posts. You can also use an post-level to ensure the level. To ensure that the posts are equal in height, run a tight string line between the corner posts and the ends posts. Use a string line level or bench level to ensure that the line is level. and then verify that each post in between coincides with the string line adjusting the post heights where required.