The Official Blog of The Fence Authority

Installing a fence seems like a simple project that can save you a lot of money. If you have a relatively flat and rectangular backyard, how hard can it be?

While installing a wood fence may be simple for a backyard construction project, if you choose an aluminum fence, you may encounter more difficulty installing it yourself. People choose aluminum for many reasons: It’s durable, it allows you to see through your fence to things outside your yard ( like a nearby pond or woods), and it’s perfect for growing fence-friendly vines. It can be an unforgiving material, though. Here’s what to expect if you’re trying to install an aluminum fence.

Here are the supplies you need

In addition to the fence components, you will need a huge number of tools and supplies.
Included in this list are:

• A post-hole digger or power auger
• A concrete mixer or wheelbarrow used for this purpose
• Concrete mix
• A shovel
• A hoe (for mixing concrete)
• A long level
• Stakes
• String
• A hacksaw
• A rubber mallet
• A hammer
• A screwdriver or drill

Some of these tools can be rented from your local hardware store or big box home supply store. Others are consumable products (concrete is a one-use-only type of thing!), so you’ll need to buy those new.

At this point, you’re already investing in a lot more than just the fence itself. Installing a fence shouldn’t be something you do too often – you want your fence to last, and a well-maintained aluminum fence can survive 20 to 40 years. Expensive tools, like power augers, therefore might not be of much use in the future, producing a pretty dismal return on your investment if your goal is to save money by installing a fence yourself.

Here are the steps to installing an aluminum fence

There are seven basic steps to installing an aluminum fence, and they may be easy or difficult, depending on your yard, materials, and level of experience.

• Check your local zoning laws for any fence requirements, such as type, height, and setback. You are also legally required to call local utility companies to ask about any buried utility lines on or near your property.
• Begin to stake out your fence, using the stakes and string. The string should run along the outside of where your fence will be placed.
• Dig your post holes. This is where a power auger saves time and energy. The holes should be as deep as specified by the type and height of fence you are installing.
• Place your posts in the appropriate holes. Mix concrete and fill the holes until they are filled two to three inches from the top. Be sure to plumb and level your posts consistently as the concrete dries, and brace them if necessary.
• Insert your aluminum fence rails into the posts until they click, depending on the brand of aluminum fence you are installing.
• Attach end posts to walls if needed.
• Install your gates, latches, and other accessories, such as post caps or integrated lighting, after you have installed and leveled the rest of your fence.

Is there an easier way to install an aluminum fence?

Obviously, there are more steps involved in this process than the average person considers when thinking about DIY aluminum fence installation. You may be considering exactly how much your time is worth. How many evenings and weekends will you need to dedicate to installing an aluminum fence in your own yard? What else could you be doing with that time?

It may actually be more economically advantageous to pay for fence installation when you want an aluminum fence. Here’s what you can expect from the right fence installation company:

• Someone who will check on local ordinances, including HOA rules and laws in your town or city, as well as call about utilities on your behalf.
• Someone who already owns the proper tools and supplies, which are included in your estimate.
• Someone who can give you a hard estimated date of completion, based on experience installing many fences.
• Someone who can guarantee their work – no awkwardly leaning fence posts in sight!

In the end, having a fence installed by a professional fence installation company may actually be cheaper than or equal to the amount you spend on DIY installation. Consider your time, supplies, and tool costs, and it might be worth it to you and your family to simply have the experts do the work of aluminum fence installation.  

Interested in a company that can provide quality ActiveYards aluminum fencing AND installation with a 5 Year Workmanship Warranty? Contact us for a free quote today.