Here is a quick guide to help you choose the right size fence for your home.
Your yard’s physical features shape your fence plan more than your perimeter measurement does. What surprises many people is how much a single yard feature can shift the equation. A slope, a mature tree near the property line, or a drainage easement along the back can each affect where your fence can go, how much material you need, and what installation will realistically involve. None of these things will prevent you from installing a fence. They just mean there’s a little more planning to be done before breaking ground. Here is a quick guide to help you choose the right size fence for your home.
Consider Your Yard’s Slope
A sloped yard is one of the most common things that affects a fence estimate. A fence running up a grade follows the land’s actual slope, not the flat horizontal distance shown on the property map. That difference adds up, and the steeper the grade, the more material you need.
There are two installation approaches for sloped properties:
- Racked installation angles the rails to follow the terrain while keeping the pickets vertical. The result is a fence that flows naturally with the land and leaves no gaps at the bottom. This works well for most grades, but steeper slopes push the limits of what vinyl and aluminum can handle structurally.
- Stepped installation keeps the rails horizontal and drops the fence in sections down the hill, like stairs. This method handles any slope but creates triangular gaps between the bottom rail and the ground at each step. For homeowners with pets or young children, those gaps usually need to be addressed with kickboards or extended pickets, which adds material and cost.
Identify Trees on Property Lines
A mature tree close to your planned fence line does more than create a physical obstacle. Its root system extends below ground, and fence post holes are dug directly into the zone where most of those roots live.
The general rule is to keep post holes outside the outer edge of the branch canopy and never closer than a few feet to the trunk itself. For large established trees, that protected area can extend surprisingly far from the trunk. Digging into it risks damaging roots and affecting the tree’s long-term health.
Locate Easements and Setbacks
Easements and setback requirements can quietly shrink your fenceable area in ways that don’t show up during a casual walkthrough.
Utility easements are strips of land where a utility company retains access rights, even though the property is yours. Fencing on a utility easement is sometimes permitted, but the utility company can remove it for maintenance or repairs. If your fence crosses a utility easement, removable panels or gates in that section can help protect you.
Setback requirements vary by municipality and lot type. Checking with your local municipality before finalizing your fence layout is the simplest way to avoid surprises.
Hercules Fence of Virginia Beach Has Everything You Need!
Call Hercules Fence of Norfolk and Virginia Beach for your fencing needs. We have decades of experience in the fencing industry. We can offer you the best in ornamental steel, chain link, wooden fences, and more. Our dedicated teams of fencing professionals are highly trained, skilled, and experienced in providing quality fence installations of any type. We’ll work with you to find a fence that best suits your needs and budget.
Contact Hercules Fence of Virginia Beach at (757) 321-6700. Contact us on our website to learn more about fence construction! In addition, you can keep up to date with offers and information.
