Looking for fences in Kitchener or the surrounding areas? Choosing to install a new fence can be a big decision. When reading online or talking to neighbours, you may hear about many fencing and fencing service blunders! How do you avoid these potential problems? This article outlines the possible problems you might run into and shows how you can have great fencing street smarts! Looking for more information about installing a new fence the right way? Contact the experts at Jay Fencing today!

Fences Kitchener – Big Project Blunders

Unfortunately, fencing blunders can happen anywhere, including in Kitchener! In October 2016, Catherine Thompson of TheRecord.com reported that a ten-foot cinder block fence installed between two houses caused major problems between two neighbours in Kitchener. The unhappy neighbour has been trying for over two years to get the city involved with this problem, as she feels her neighbour’s cinder block fence, which looks more like a large wall, is not residential in any way.

However, the cinder block fence owner did not break any bylaws regarding fence material – the bylaw does not regulate what fences can be made out of. Overall, this situation appeared to be a messy one and caused a rift between two neighbours that may take a while to solve.

Even if your new fence is within the city’s bylaw regulations, you may want to ensure it will not be offensive to your neighbours, as that can cause more problems down the road! When it comes to fencing, a lot can go wrong if you do not work with experienced installers or know how to follow bylaws. Unhappy neighbours are not the only potential fencing blunder you may run into!

Fence safety is another issue that has some people worried. In September 2016, Catherine Thompson of TheRecord.com reported that many Kitchener residents were worried not about a residential fence, but about a scrap yard fence!

Thompson reported that residents worried about a scrap metal dealer trying to purchase more land. They argued that the scrap yard was already unsafe and that its fence was dangerous, rusty, unstable and was not sturdy enough to keep curious children out.

Ensuring that your fencing, whether commercial or residential, is clean, safe, and up to your city’s bylaw standards is important for both you and your community. Ensure that you regularly inspect your fence for serious damage or dangerous pieces, especially with commercial or metal fences.

Popular Fence Types in Kitchener

Before you know how to avoid particular blunders, it’s important to decide on what fencing material you want to use! With each fencing material comes unique potential problems. For example, you may not have to worry about fence height with a traditional chain link fence, but you will have to keep that part of the fencing bylaw in mind with a wood or vinyl fence. You won’t have to worry about rust with a wood fence, but you should keep an eye out for rusting on a chain link or other metal fence. Here are the top most common fence types that will surround most residential or commercial properties:

• Wood – Wood fences can be built from many different types of materials. Wood fences can range in height and style, and are one of the common types of fences for backyards. Wood fences require maintenance, but depending on the specific type of wood, they may require more or less (for example, some woods are naturally insect repellent, while others will need to be treated).
• Chain Link – Chain link is a cost effective and economical fencing solution. It is a great way to protect your property and keep kids and pets safe while on a budget. Chain link is also frequently seen around commercial properties or surrounding parks and walkways in subdivisions and neighbourhoods.
• Vinyl – Vinyl is not as common as chain link or wood fences but it is becoming an increasingly popular choice! Vinyl requires very little maintenance and often has the look of wood. It is sturdy and when installed correctly, can last for quite some time.

Fences Kitchener – Customer Challenges

No matter what type of fence you choose to go with, there are many issues and challenges homeowners face throughout the entire fence purchasing and installation process. Here are some challenges customers have faced with fence installers in the Kitchener area.

#1 Poor Customer Service – Customer service can make all the difference. Unfortunately, many customers have found other fencing companies to have poor customer service, especially if the company does not have enough staff on hand to deal with many customer requests and needs.

How Jay Fencing Does It Differently: “My gates were installed yesterday. Thank you everything looks great. I wanted to let you know that this was a very professional experience by your team. Our family felt comfortable and at ease from start to finish.” – Mike W

#2 Incorrect Installation – One of the biggest problems that customers face when working with fence installation companies is incorrect or improper installation of fence posts, boards, or gates. Fence post installation can be a tiresome and tricky process, but is extremely important that your installation company has the know-how! If not, you may find yourself paying more to fix your fence or find it just isn’t as safe or sturdy as it should be.

How Jay Fencing Does It Differently: “We had Jay Fencing install an ornamental steel fence on the street sides of our corner lot in Harriston. The people in the office had the local bylaws in hand, and we planned the fence with their help. The crew showed up on time with everything they needed (we’re 45 minutes from the shop) greeted us and got to work.” – Jean and Dirk

#3 Unprofessional – Another frustrating problem customers often experience when working with installation companies is an unprofessional atmosphere. This may look like unprofessional language or behaviour, frequently arriving late or during off-hours to work on the fence, or providing confusing or incomplete paperwork.

How Jay Fencing Does It Differently: “The fence looks great and we have had so many good comments about it from the neighbors.  I want to also let you know that all of your guys that were on site were professional and the work they did was top notch.” – Paul

#4 Inexperienced Installers – Some customers have found themselves in a tricky situation: they love the business owner, but they have had a terrible experience with the installers! Working with professional management and installers are equally important when getting the job done. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.

How Jay Fencing Does It Differently: “The installers were just amazing and went out of their way to make us happy and the final price was no higher at all than what we were quoted. We would use Jay Fencing again in a heartbeat and would highly recommend them.” – Tracy Talor

#5 Poor Clean-Up – Many customers have noticed that, although the fence installation process went well, the aftermath left them feeling uncared for and frustrated. Nails left all over the yard, hidden in the grass where children or pets could get at them, or dirt piles and garbage were left behind. All this can turn an otherwise great experience into a frustrating one.

How Jay Fencing Does It Differently: “Just a note to let you know that the fence looks great. Your crews were very professional and left everything clean and tidy. Thanks again for getting the fence completed on the weekend it is very much appreciated.” – Phil 

#6 Lacks The Know-How – Some customers have found that fencing companies only know how to work with standard properties. One customer complained that the fencing company they worked with was unable to properly install the fence around their uneven backyard. This can cause major frustration, especially if the fence is installed anyway – and customers find out later that it was incorrectly installed!

How Jay Fencing Does It Differently: “They did a great job, it is a bit of an irregular property but it is better than we expected.  They were also very courteous and helpful. They asked for our input before continuing with some of the installation.  They cleaned up the property before leaving, looked like they were never there.” – Geri

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Fence Installation – Do It Yourself?

Fence installation can be tricky to do yourself. It requires precision, know-how, and a good understanding of tools, machinery, soil, and weather conditions. Post hole digging is the most strenuous part of fence installation. Some choose to dig with a post hole digger. Others choose to dig by hand. Both can be dangerous and strenuous. Digging without the use of heavy machinery can still lead to injury. When improper techniques are used, potential injuries include muscle strain or soreness, overexertion or fatigue, and even twisting your back or leg.

Watch the video below to see what post hole digging with the use of a digger looks like.

Post hole digging also requires lots of time. This is not a one day job! Time can widely vary and depends on the size of the property, soil type, experience, and tools. Even a quick job can take countless hours and many days, leading to repetitive muscle straining and exhaustion. The inexperienced installer may accidentally dig a hole in the wrong spot – this means you’ll have to completely start over and fill in the hole, which may lead to lasting damage on your lawn!

It is also important to know your city or town’s bylaws regarding fencing. In Kitchener, there are bylaws that regulate where on the property a fence is allowed (within specific property lines) and how tall your fence can be, among other stipulations. It is important to be aware of these bylaws before digging post holes, as you may accidentally dig them outside your property line and end up with a hefty fine – or possibly find yourself in a dispute with your neighbours.

Avoid Pitfalls With Jay Fencing

One of the best ways to avoid common customer challenges and DIY pitfalls is by choosing a reputable installation company. An experienced installer will help you know what’s best for you and your property, will know and understand fair pricing, and will only do the highest quality work. Avoid pitfalls and skip right to your beautifully installed fence of your dreams with Jay Fencing! 

At Jay Fencing Ltd, you can feel confident that we will only recommend products or services that are best for you and your needs. This means you won’t be buying any unnecessary products or services that will make the price go up.

We offer free onsite consultations for all the jobs we quote on!