Building a fence takes more consideration than simply sticking some posts in the ground and calling it a day. Most fences require professional companies to come out and survey the area, work up an estimate and make any recommendations for good installation, like grading or earth moving.

Part of your responsibility as a property owner is to mark your private utility lines in Carlsbad, NM. Here’s what that means, how to do it and what you can expect from your fence installation process.

Private vs. public utilities

You’re probably familiar with public utilities, which include water, sewer and gas lines. Knowing where these lines are located and how deep they are installed is important when you’re undertaking any sort of construction project—if your contractor hits them, the results can be catastrophic. Your public utility lines can be found either by using preexisting markings or having your utility company come and locate them on your property for you.

Private utilities are ones that you, the property owner, have installed yourself. These could be private electrical lines to garages, outbuildings, exterior lights and other structures, invisible fences, sprinkler system lines, drain tiles and more. While it might not be as damaging to hit these kinds of lines, it can still be plenty dangerous for the contractor. What’s more, hitting these lines will almost certainly damage them, and your fencing contractor will not be liable for repairs unless they were clearly marked ahead of time.

How to locate your private utilities

Now that you know why you need to mark your private utilities in Carlsbad, NM, how do you do it? Short of digging up your whole property to find the electrical lines you ran out to the shed a decade ago, this can be a challenge for most property owners. (Unless, of course, you were smart and marked their location down when you installed them.)

If you want to be absolutely sure of your utility locations without going through the hassle of digging up your yard, the best solution is to call a private utility locator. They’ll be able to find and mark your utility lines so that your fence can be installed without risk of injury.

The fence installation process

Once you have your utility lines squared away, the fence installation can begin. The process of getting a new fence is usually divided into two parts: the estimate and the installation. First, a contractor will come out to survey your property and give you an estimate for the cost. After you sign off on what you want, you’ll wait until the contractor has an open slot for installation. Then the posts are dug and installed; later (sometimes weeks apart, depending on demand), the horizontal stringers are installed, and your fence is done.

While marking your private utilities in Carlsbad, NM might seem like an extra hassle, it’s an important safety consideration.

To get quality fencing installed on your property, get in touch with the team at Guadalupe Mountain Fencing LLC today.