7 COMMON MISTAKES OF INSTALLING ALUMINUM FENCE

1. Don't Dig Post Holes Without Calling 811 

Before digging holes, ensure that you don't inadvertently damage gas, cable, or phone lines. In Miami, you can contact Sunshine 811 by dialing 811 on your phone. They'll tell you precisely where you shouldn't dig.

Set up a time for them to come out and mark the ground where those cables are hidden a week before the aluminum fence installation.

2. Don't Forget to Determine the Amount of Panels Needed.

When deciding how to put aluminum fence posts, try to figure out the number of sections in each straight run of fence. To make a perfect fit, you may need to cut one or two panels with welding techniques. Doing this before digging will save you any headache in the middle of the project.

3. Don't Need To Dig With a Shovel

You can dig your post holes with a regular shovel to save some money on extra equipment. If you want to be more exact in your hole measurements, you can rent or purchase an auger tool. This tool will save you potential physical pain and exhaustion, and time. After all, depending on your fence size, you may have hundreds of holes to dig.

The dirt's texture is also important. If the ground is firm, an auger would be well worth it. Expect to do a lot of manual labor, whether it's full of stones and roots.

4. Don't Forget To Measure Hole Locations

There are two issues with how to install aluminum fence posts. The first is where the posts should be placed next to the home. These are sometimes known as end posts, owing to their position next to the house. You want them as near as possible to the house without coming into contact with it.

The issue is that the house's foundation footer might get in the way. If this is the case, you don't want to dig there and damage the foundation. Instead, after striking the foundation, try digging a hole a few inches deeper away to see if you're still hitting it.

If the final post is more than a few feet from your house, you'll probably need to install it directly on the house using wall mounts rather than laying it in a shallow hole next to the home. After a short while, it would inevitably fall over.

Be sure to leave enough space between the gate hinge and latch when putting up your posts. You will also want to ensure that there is enough space to attach your posts correctly.

5. Don't Forget to Use Specific Concrete For Post Holes.

Is it best to damp-set or dry-set the aluminum fence posts? It's a crucial question when it comes to installing aluminum fence posts. Before mixing the concrete and pouring it into the hole, a wet set is ideal since it can dry all at once, resulting in a more solid anchor system for each post.

A dry set, after the post is installed and then water is sprinkled on top of it to get it, mixing it in, makes installation a little simpler, but it's not as solid a connection because it dries unevenly.

It might be easier to mix the concrete if you have the holes dug and then have three or four fence sections set up with their posts on the ground. Then, all at once, stand them upright and arrange them in the pre-dug holes. You may prepackage two to three bags simultaneously rather than one bag for each post.

Finally, have the screw heads pointing towards your home. It creates a neighbor-friendly barrier, and you won't even notice it's there. Before planning your aluminum fence installation, think about these factors.

6. Don't Install it Without Help

Aluminum fence installation is meant to be as painless and straightforward as possible, but it won't come without a cost. And when you're trying to make sure something is level and straight, or when you're attempting to lift a panel into position, there's always the option of adding a set of hands.

It will be much simpler to install an aluminum fence if you get help. Remember that more hands on-deck make less work for each person.

7. Don't Forget to Level Your Fence

When installing your aluminum fence, having someone else around can be excellent. Setting an aluminum fence in concrete is critical, but if you do it incorrectly and the post isn't perfectly vertical, you're in trouble. You must double-check every post and panel to ensure that your aluminum fence installation is level.