Building fence before the house

Wardrop · Sep 10, 2023 9:28 pm

Hi all,

I'm seriously considering building a fence around my 2000m2 property before starting construction which could be anywhere from 8 months to 20 months away. While I'll be engaging a builder to build the house, I'm choosing to do a lot of the finishing work myself, including interior floors, trim, painting, cabinetry, etc. Possibly more, possibly less. Either way, I'm going to have a lot to do in the second phase of the build, but not a lot to do between now and then or during the earlier phases of the build. It's likely there will still be heaps to do after we move in, and so would rather not have to worry about building the fence to keep the dog in at that point. I therefore figure it'd make sense to build the fence myself before construction starts.

Now, there'll be a minimum of 6 to 7 metres clearance between the house and the fence line down the sides, with plenty more clearance front and back. The right side of the property is already fenced with a garden bed as there's a neighbour on one side, but the front, left and rear are not and are surrounded by council reserve. Assuming I keep a generous passage way (i.e. gates) at the front and rear of the property, is there likely to be any issues caused by the fence during construction? Electrical, sewer and drainage will have to be run under the fence, but I don't imagine that'd be a huge problem.

Anyone got any thoughts or opinions for me? Here's a visual of the property boundaries with house position?

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Phil of Sydney · Oct 03, 2023 1:11 pm

Building a fence now will help limit people dumping rubbish and soil on your property. Many houses in suburbia on small lots have fences up before a build. I moved into a new build 12 months ago on a 731m2 lot and we were one of the last in the street to build so the fences were already up. There were no issues.

jagberg · Jul 22, 2024 9:49 pm

It will help keep your dog safe and secure, and you'll have one less major task to worry about once you're fully immersed in the interior work. Given the clearances you mentioned, ensuring you have adequate gates for access should mitigate most issues. Just coordinate with your builders to make sure the fence doesn’t interfere with running utilities like electrical, sewer, and drainage. They can work around it, especially if you plan the access points and paths strategically.

Last year, I installed iron furniture in my garden, and I've been really pleased with its durability and low maintenance. This got me thinking about how using similar materials for your fence could be beneficial. Iron fences are robust, require little upkeep, and can add a timeless aesthetic to your property. Plus, they're sturdy enough to endure the construction process without sustaining damage. If you're looking for ideas or options, you might find some useful insights and products at https://wrought-iron-furniture.com/