You’ve chosen the design, signed the contract, and are waiting for the crew. It seems like your job is done—but it’s not. For the installation to proceed quickly and efficiently, the plot needs to be prepared.

Often, clients assume the installers will handle everything themselves: cutting obstructing trees, dismantling the old canopy, and leveling hills. This is a mistake—installation crews are highly skilled specialists in metal and concrete, not general laborers or gardeners.

If the crew arrives at an unprepared site, work can stop, and you’ll pay for downtime. Here’s a checklist of six steps you should complete before installation begins.

Clearing the perimeter: the one-meter rule

Installers need space. They will dig holes, carry long sections, and tighten bolts with power tools. Provide a clear strip of at least 1 meter on both sides of the future fence.

• Vegetation – mow tall grass, trim branches of trees and bushes that obstruct the area.

• Debris – remove stones, old boards, and construction waste.

• Obstacles – if wood piles or a doghouse are near the fence, move them beforehand.

Dismantling old structures

If there’s already a fence on the plot, it must be removed. Dismantling an old fence is heavy work. You can do it yourself or hire the contractor—discuss this in advance. If the crew arrives and there’s an old mesh fence on concrete posts, they may not have the jackhammers and angle grinders needed to demolish it.

Important! The hardest part is the underground section—removing old concrete blocks by hand is almost impossible. Sometimes an excavator is needed.

Earthworks: leveling

Remember: a fence does not level the plot—it follows the terrain. If there are holes, mounds, or abrupt height differences along the boundary, they must be removed before the installers arrive. Leveling the ground requires excavation equipment.

• If hills aren’t leveled, the bottom edge of the fence will press against the ground, and the coating will start to deteriorate.

• If holes aren’t filled, large gaps will remain under the fence, allowing neighbor’s dogs to pass through.

Treasure map: where are the pipes?

This is the installer’s biggest nightmare—drilling into the ground and cutting water, gas, or fiber-optic cables. The owner is fully responsible for hidden utilities. Locate or remember the schematics of underground pipes and cables. Walk the site with the crew leader before starting, and clearly mark dangerous spots with stakes.

Electricity and water: the fuel for the job

Fence installation requires resources—make sure they are available on-site, not 100 meters away.

• Electricity – welding machines, drills, and mixers all require 220 V. Prepare extension cords. If the socket is in the house and the fence is at the far end of the plot, the crew’s cable may not reach. If there’s no power, notify them in advance—the crew will bring a gas generator (usually an extra paid service).

• Water – needed for mixing concrete. If there’s no tap, provide technical water in barrels. Carrying water to the installers is difficult.

Logistics: how will the truck get through?

This point is often overlooked and can cause chaos on delivery day. Fence materials are heavy and long (profiles can be up to 6 meters).

• Access road – can the delivery truck pass along your street? Are there low branches or overhead gas pipes in the way?

• Ground conditions – if it’s rained and the road is soft, heavy vehicles may get stuck. Delivery might need to be postponed.

• Unloading area – prepare a flat, dry spot for materials. Placing expensive painted panels directly on mud or tall grass is a bad idea.

What’s included and what’s not?

To avoid disputes, separate responsibilities:

Usually included in installation:

• Marking the fence line

• Digging holes in the ground

• Concreting the posts

• Assembling sections and the gate

Usually NOT included (additional paid construction work):

• Cutting trees and mowing grass

• Removing excavated soil

• Dismantling old foundations

• Plot leveling with a tractor

Summary: preparation is the foundation of quality

Many people see plot preparation as a tedious task. Look at it differently—it’s your contribution to the quality of the future fence.

Installers are humans, not robots. When they have to navigate construction debris, carry water 200 meters, or struggle with roots, their focus decreases. Fatigue leads to mistakes.

On a clean, level, and prepared plot, work proceeds quickly. The crew doesn’t waste energy fighting chaos—they focus on accurate assembly, leveling, and perfect joints.

By dedicating a day to cleaning and organizing, you:

• Save budget—avoid extra charges for complex conditions

• Shorten installation time by 20–30%

• Achieve higher quality—the crew works comfortably

Planning construction or renovation?

Preparing the plot is just one stage. You’ll also face decisions on materials, communicating with neighbors, and legal paperwork. Our blog publishes step-by-step instructions and checklists to help you manage every stage of the contractor’s work and avoid overpaying for unnecessary tasks.

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