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You should stain both sides of your fence to get the full benefits. Fences often fall along property lines, so you may want to save a buck by leaving your neighbor’s side in the dust. If you do that, all you get is a slightly better view. Moisture and UV rays can still sneak in through the side that’s unpainted or worn down and damage your fence. Rot and rust will spread, even if you can’t see it from your side of the lawn.

It’s usually cheaper to buy pre-made fence panels than to build your own. This surprises many people since DIY tasks so often save money. However, large stores don’t have to pay the same amount per board of wood that homeowners do, allowing them to sell pre-made panels at a more cost-effective rate. Pre-made panels also save a great deal of time, energy, and guesswork. The drawback is that they are harder to customize to the shape and slope of your yard.

A gate shouldn’t be higher or lower than the fence it's attached to. If the gate is lower than the fence, it encourages strangers to peek at your property. If the gate is higher than the fence, it just looks weird. Gates allow for increased security and aesthetics, so ensure the gate rests at the same height as the fence.

A fence gate can sag for several reasons. The issue often stems from the hardware, such as damaged or bent hinges, or loose screws that can no longer support the gate's weight. The gate frame itself might also have come out of square due to failing supports. Alternatively, the problem may not be the gate but the supporting fence post, which could be leaning or out of place. In many cases, fixing a sagging gate is as simple as tightening the hinge screws or upgrading to more robust hinges.