For individuals that want a more regimented approach to their community, a house covered by a home owner’s association (HOA) offers a number of benefits. They can provide amenities, a means of controlling property values, and they may take care of chores such as mowing. An HOA also comes with a variety of rules and regulations.

HOAs are very meticulous about their guidelines and have no problem enforcing them which can result in a hefty fine. It’s critical that individuals know the rules in their community before erecting a fence or making any major changes that have the potential of running afoul of the HOA. Always obtain written HOA approval before initiating any changes.

Fencing

There will be rules governing the height of a fence, the type of materials that are acceptable for use, and even regulations as to if you can install a fence at all. You could face fines for every day that the fence violates HOA rules or you could be forced to move it, alter it, or completely take it down.

Paint

If you’re looking to add a little distinction with a colorful new door or other outwardly visible change – think again. HOAs view violations of conformity, appearance, overall style and aesthetics very seriously.

Holiday Decorations

Another common area in which HOAs regulate the environment is through holiday decorations. An HOA will have guidelines for when holiday decorations can go up, when they must be taken down, and the type of decorations that are allowable. The HOA will determine the hours during which the lights can be operated and sound levels for animated or inflatable decorations.

Pets and People

The breed, size and number of pets allowed will be strictly enforced, while some HOAs ban pets of any kind. There will also be restrictions in place as to the number of people that can occupy a home and the length of time that someone can stay for an extended visit.

Other Guidelines

HOAs typically have rules about where trash receptacles can be stored, their placement when it’s time for trash pick-up, how long they can be left in sight, and recycling. If you live in an HOA, there will be regulations about where you can park vehicles and a pass may need to be requested for visitors. Don’t forget to keep up the HOAs maintenance standards on your home and fence.

Installing a fence at your new home isn’t rude and it doesn’t mean you’re antisocial. It does give you a sense of safety and security, especially if you have children, pets, or elders living in the home. A fence is effective for preventing access to the property by unwanted people and animals.

It typically takes four months for people to feel comfortable in a new house and begin to consider it home. Part of the reason for that is unfamiliarity with the neighborhood and those living around you. It’s important that you take steps to make the inside environment as welcoming as possible with familiar belongings before taking on the task of erecting a fence.

Safety

Your home is the place where you can relax and feel safe in your environment. Fencing provides safety for children and allows them to play without worrying about them wandering into the street, onto unsafe terrain, or the yards of other people. The same is true for protecting the family dog.

Security

A fence can provide peace of mind knowing loved ones, pets and valuable possessions are protected by a barrier to entry. It’s also an important security measure if you’re a senior. The elderly are often the target of scams and break-ins, even in the quietest of communities.

Gardening Options

There are many ways to garden, from raised beds to vertical options. Fencing can provide the backdrop and support to indulge an interest in vertical growing of fruits and vegetables to flowering vines.

Protection Against the Elements

Florida lies in the path of any number of tropical storms and hurricanes each year. There are fencing materials available that are highly attractive, require almost no maintenance, and can withstand hurricane-force winds. They’re able to provide a disruption in winds that can cause property damage. Fencing materials that resist heat and are non-combustible are also available to protect your new home.

Erecting a fence on your property is more complicated than you may anticipate. There are legal regulations that must be adhered to and permits that will be required. However, the process of installing a fence all begins with knowing the exact location of your property lines.

Installing a fence without knowing where your property lines are can result in legal action by adjacent land owners. Without that knowledge, you can easily find yourself responsible for removing and relocating your freshly erected fence. It can also affect your ability to insure your home.

Check Your Deed

The deed to your property will have a legal description of your property and its boundaries. Older deeds may not include the information and will refer you to an older document. However, older documents may reference landmarks or other features that don’t exist any longer.

Plat Map

A plat map is a document that defines property lines and includes data about structures, elevations, and bodies of water. A plat map may be included as part of your deed and if not, you can view it at the city or county assessor’s office or online in some locales.

Perform a Survey

One of the easiest ways to determine exactly where your property lines are is to have a new survey performed. It’s a very precise measurement that identifies where all existing boundaries are located. The cost of a survey will vary among companies licensed to do the task.

Stakes and Markers

When a survey of your property was made, the survey company will have left a wooden stake or metal marker to mark the boundaries. If that marker is still available, you can tell where your property lines lie. The markers may be flush with the ground or sticking up several inches above the ground.

Installing a fence is more difficult than most people anticipate. Many begin a fence installation as a DIY project, only to discover that it’s turned into a multi-weekend project that feels overwhelming. The importance of hiring a fence professional can’t be overstated for speed, accuracy, and quality.

Expertise and Experience

A fencing professional will have performed numerous installations under a variety of conditions and in multiple types of landscapes. A professional will ensure that the fence is straight, level, and doesn’t encroach on the neighbor’s property line.

Tools

It requires more than a shovel or a posthole digger to erect a fence. There are specialized tools involved that a professional fence contractor uses regularly and with which they’re familiar that will ensure the job progresses faster.

Rules and Regulations

Each municipality has its own guidelines with which fences must comply and state mandates may also come into play. A fence professional will be cognizant of all the prevailing laws and will be able to obtain the obligatory permits required.

The Right Fence

A professional will be able to help clients choose the best fence for their needs. They’ll be able to introduce individuals to the different types of materials available that will achieve the intended goals and that will also provide an appealing aesthetic.

Quality

Hiring a fence professional will ensure that clients receive high-quality workmanship and quality fencing. As professionals, they’ll be licensed, certified, and if any problems arise they will make the needed changes or alterations at no additional charge.

Cost Savings

Last but not least is the savings that hiring a professional provides. They already have access to the needed tools, saving clients the cost of renting them or buying items that will only be used once. Their expertise and experience will prevent problems and costly mistakes. It also means clients will avoid the potential for expensive legal issues.

Chain link fences are a staple as a security option, but they may not fit the aesthetic of a neighborhood or the prevailing architectural style. However, there are ways to dress up a chain-link fence to make it more appealing and enhance privacy. The methods are more affordable than installing a new fence, but they’re not nearly as pretty and don’t afford the same level of privacy.

Slats

One of the easiest solutions is the installation of slats – sometimes called tube slats – specifically designed for chain link fences. They’re offered in a rainbow of colors and a couple of different styles. The slats improve privacy by about 75 percent, but don’t create a solid barrier. Small spaces between the slats will remain.

Plants

Individuals can plant vines and allow them to twine among the spaces in the fence. Flowering vines add beauty, but it will take time for the plants to accomplish their goal. Vines won’t eliminate small areas where people could peer in. The same problem exists when installing bushes and shrubs. The plantings will require time to mature, but they offer better coverage for privacy than vines.

Rolled Bamboo

Rolls of bamboo fencing/screens can be purchased and wired directly to the fence. It’s not particularly pretty, but it will elevate the level of privacy by approximately 85 percent.

Mesh Screen

These have the advantage of being wind and water permeable. They’re not necessarily the most attractive option, but privacy can be improved by 80-96 percent, depending on the density of the mesh. It’s available in different colors.

Wood Panels

There are wood panels that can be attached directly to chain link that will create a beautiful facade and provide privacy. However, permits may be required as it may be classified as an entirely new fence installation by local municipalities.

Canvas Fabric

The least aesthetically pleasing option, some individuals simply wire canvas fabric to their chain link fence. It’s available in multiple colors and will solve the problem of privacy, but it’s far from a pretty solution.

Homeowners insurance will typically cover the cost of a damaged fence, but it will depend largely on how the damage was caused. Fence damage may fall under the “other structures” coverage of the policy and may be limited to damage that occurs as a result of vandalism or storms. It’s essential that individuals understand their policies and what it covers.

There may also be monetary limits attached to the amount of coverage provided in the form of percentages. Flood damage is typically excluded from standard coverage policies. Damage resulting from earthquakes is also excluded, even though Florida is tied with North Dakota for the fewest number of earthquakes. An earthquake is Florida is rare, but they have occurred.

Sinkholes are a very real concern for Florida residents and companies are required to offer catastrophic ground cover collapse. However, the coverage is only available as an add-on to an existing policy and individuals will incur additional costs for the coverage.

Fences can be exposed to a variety of damaging conditions and situations. While many of those may inflict damage that mars the cosmetic appearance of the fence, they won’t be covered by homeowners insurance. Fences can be struck by debris from lawn mowers, children driving “ride-on” vehicles, and landscaping mishaps – those aren’t covered. Fences afflicted with mold, fungi, insects, and normal wear and tear aren’t covered, either.

While a car crashing into a fence doesn’t happen very often, if one does damage a fence the homeowner’s policy should cover it. Individuals will also have the option of filing a claim against the driver’s auto insurance, assuming that the driver has an auto owner’s policy.

Trees and limbs falling on a fence from the policy holder’s yard are covered expenses. The insurance company can choose not to cover the damage if it decides the tree or limb fell due to negligence or lack of appropriate maintenance on the part of the homeowner.

If the damage occurs due to a neighbor’s tree, the insurance company may hold the neighbor responsible for the entire cost. The company may also choose to split the cost 50-50 between the homeowner and the neighbor, with homeowners paying the deductible.

Fences can beautify properties from the outside, but you may also want something to dress up and decorate your fence from the inside. There are dozens of creative ways to spruce up a fence that are equally applicable for solid or chain link fences. They can be utilized on the interior to brighten your view or used on the exterior to bring joy to those passing by.

Unique Planters

Planters are one of the most obvious. Additional interest comes from the creativeness of the planters themselves. Consider sections of old rain gutters, “pocket planters” for herbs made of burlap, or old tires. Canning jars and fancy bottles, old boots, wooden pallets, and even PVC pipe can be recycled and fashioned into cost-effective fence planters.

Add Lights

Battery and solar powered lights are an elegant and economical solution that doesn’t require any wiring. Individual lights are an excellent way to create ambiance or a fairy-like appearance while adding an extra level of safety within the environment. If light strings are used, they can be arranged in patterns, to spell out words, or artfully draped to beautify the fence landscape.

Artistic Design

If you have artistic skills – or know someone who does – you can paint or stencil a larger than life flower garden on your fence, a full-fledged mural to please the kids, or anything else you want. One of the most appealing aspects is that a desired design can be created in full color, a single hue, or with glow-in-the-dark paint for a one-of-a-kind look.

Colorful Cups

Specifically designed for chain link fences, the colorful plastic pieces are called “put-in-cups” and insert easily into the fence spaces. They can be utilized to create designs, spell out messages for schools, churches, birthdays, or anything else the imagination can devise.

People are always looking for ways to increase the value of their home and one of the best ways to enjoy the great outdoors is by creating a unique environment in your own back yard. There are a number of ways that you can increase your home’s value in the event you decide to sell. Even if you don’t plan to sell, you can enjoy the features yourself.

Decks and Patios

Decks and patios provide you with an outdoor space for entertainment and give you approximately 9 percent ROI on your investment. Patios typically offer the same ROI and provide the same benefits.

Fencing

One of the most jealously guarded assets of any home is privacy and fencing can provide that while improving home values. Fencing also provides efficient camouflage for undesirable elements such as trash bins, utility meters, and AC units. ROI will depend on the scope of the fencing and materials.

Fire Pit

A fire pit can provide an average of 67 percent return on investment, depending on the type of fire pit that’s selected. It’s a good idea to check with the local fire department, county commission or homeowner’s association as there may be restrictions on the type that’s allowed.

Irrigation System

An irrigation system takes the work out of watering and ensures a lush and attractive lawn for curb appeal. It’s an easy solution that will give you about 86 percent ROI, while also saving water and money on your water costs.

Landscaping

Privacy is in high demand and homes that have been landscaped for privacy have the potential to recoup 100 percent of the costs during a sale. You don’t have to spend a lot to create an oasis of calm and privacy. Even a small amount of landscaping can add curb appeal and seal the deal for buyers.

Outdoor Kitchen

An outdoor kitchen can provide approximately 71 percent ROI. Meals can be cooked outside without messing up the indoor kitchen. Your outdoor kitchen can encompass everything from a wet bar and pizza oven to refrigerator and elaborate grill/burner combos.

Pool and Outdoor Shower

A pool is one of the most often added features to a home’s landscaping. An added bonus is an outdoor shower alongside the pool area. The shower can increase home values by up to 7 percent.

Sound System

A sound system is always a bonus and can provide the soundtrack for a patio or pool party to the feel of a tropical island. With modern technology, there’s no need to install an expensive wired system.

Yard wars can occur over a great variety of things, from the installation of a fence, pool or irrigation system to renovating a room. However, what a homeowner may see as an exciting addition that will provide fun, privacy, security, safety, and value to their home may be viewed negatively by neighbors. It can result in expensive and tedious legal action, bad feelings that last for years, or even a desire to move.

Fences cause more disputes between neighbors than any other issue. The saying “Good fences make good neighbors” from the Robert Frost poem “Mending Fences” doesn’t have the same meaning today as it did when the nation was a predominantly agrarian culture. Fencing disputes are legendary and are even the subject of the play “The Great Divide.”

Communication is a key component. It’s always a good idea to talk with your neighbors before beginning any construction project. It will give them a chance to voice any objections. What may seem like a groundless complaint to the homeowner may present a valid consideration for the neighbors. The following are just some of the common issues that can initiate a yard war when erecting a fence.

• Maintenance and upkeep
• Property lines
• Fence height
• Type of fence – chain link, stockade, etc.
• It interferes with visibility
• It’s ugly or ruins the aesthetics of the neighborhood
• An existing fence doesn’t need to be replaced, just repaired
• Disagreement over cost if sharing the expense

The list of potential problems that individuals may encounter from neighbors can seem endless. It’s important that homeowners understand their rights under the law before they hire a fencing company. Almost any locale has specific rules governing fences in relation to their height and materials used, and there may also be what’s known as a set-back – the distance from the property line where the fence can be erected.

One of the most common reasons for erecting a fence is to provide a greater sense of privacy and individuals have a wealth of options from which to choose. Fencing provides an immediate barrier to prying eyes.

Fences for privacy are available in multiple materials that include wood, aluminum, PVC, and SimTek®. There’s a fencing solution to accommodate multiple requirements. The fencing options available today provide exceptional durability and require little maintenance. Some fencing materials can even withstand hurricane-force winds, an important consideration in Florida.

Aluminum

The metal is strong, durable, and can be fashioned into any shape or style desired. It’s available in multiple colors and finishes to complement any landscape or environment.

PVC

The fencing is offered in a myriad of styles and colors. Built with a concern for the environment, it’s unaffected by weather or UV rays, and available in multiple heights. It can be erected in solid panels and can withstand most severe winds without damage.

SimTek®

Durability and style are the benchmarks of SimTek® fencing. It successfully emulates the appearance of wood and stone, while providing a low maintenance privacy barrier. It’s impact-resistant and offered in a wide variety of colors, styles and textures.

Wood

Individuals have dozens of choices for their wood fencing ranging from pine to cedar. The most common type of wood fencing for privacy is the stockade fence. Each panel fits tightly against the next for a solid barrier. Offset fencing is another style, also known as shadow box fencing, created by alternating boards. It can only be seen through if someone is looking at a certain angle.

Ask the Professionals

It’s best to consult with a fencing professional first. He/she will be knowledgeable about any rules or regulations governing fencing and will be able to obtain the needed permits. A professional will be able to assist with choosing the type of fencing that best fits the needs and budget of the individual.