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Choosing the Right Fence

Carrie

17 June 2009

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There are plenty of reasons you might want to add a fence around your property: privacy, protection, containment, architectural enhancement. No matter what your reason, there is a system out there that is perfect for you, and Buy Owner is here to help you find that solution.

IMPORTANT: Before we begin exploring the different types of fencing, it is important to remember that most communities have local zoning regulations. Know where your property line is, and be sure to check for underground utilities. You don’t want to break a water main or cause a city-wide power outage.

Privacy
Perhaps you want to create a little privacy in your backyard. This reason for installing fencing is especially common when homeowners have swimming pools and/or Jacuzzi hot tubs. Whatever the case may be, here are several types of fencing that work well with privacy matters:

Wood Panel fencing is generally used as a decorative means of providing privacy for homes in a given neighborhood. Wood fence panels typically rise up to four or six feet tall. One of the best features of this type of fencing is that you can stain the wood any color.
Vinyl fencing is becoming a growing trend among homeowners in lively communities across the United States. It is practically maintenance free and is easily cleaned with a hose or a power washer. Vinyl fencing also battles the elements better than wood fencing, as it does not rot or fade over time.

Protection/Containment
If you have a green thumb, chances are you will be planting some type of garden. Whether you spend hours arranging flowers or planting vegetables, you are going to want to keep any type of plant safe from nature. This includes neighborhood pets, strays and wild animals, depending upon where you live, of course. On the flip side, if you have pets, these types of fences also keep them from getting out of your yard. To keep your greens fresh, or to contain your pets, check out these types of fencing:

Chain-link fencing is one of the most inexpensive systems out there. You purchase the fencing in rolls of 25 to 100 feet long. When installed, the fence measures between four and six feet high. Prefabricated gates are roughly five feet wide, allowing you to carry large items in and out of the backyard. You will be able to tell if your chain-link fence has been weather treated if it is colored a shade of green or brown.
Welded wire fencing is generally packed into 25- or 50-foot rolls. Measuring anywhere between three and six feet high, this type of fencing is ideal for small gardens. So even if you don’t want to fence the entire yard, you may still wrap a small welded wire fence around your veggie/flower garden.
Poultry netting (or chicken wire) may be the most economical choice out of all these types of fencing. If you have small pets, poultry netting is ideal; as it’s name suggests, the fence is usually used to contain small chickens.
Electric fencing is generally used on farms to contain livestock. However, with low-output chargers, electric fencing may be used in residential settings to keep pets contained to the backyard.

Architectural Enhancement

Post-and-rail fencing gives country charm to a home’s landscape. It creates a visible separation between your property and your neighbor’s yard. Each post ranges between three and five feet aboveground, while the rails measure around 10 feet long. Rails are available either split or round, giving you some decorative options.
Polymer fencing re-creates the classic look of wrought iron. However, this type of fencing requires much less maintenance, is easier to install and, best of all, is rust-free.
White picket fences are probably the most talked about in the history of fences. They are short, mostly around three feet tall, and usually placed in the front yard. A tall (five- to six-foot) gate grants access to the front walkway that leads up to the house.
Wrought iron fencing is a little more durable than a wooden picket fence. The main difference is that a picket fence is more country-like and a wrought iron fence boasts city-like character. You’ll see this type of fencing more so around brick brownstones in an urban setting.

When installing a fencing system, you should have two goals in mind: form and function. There are many options from which to choose, and some of them you may have never even considered until reading this article. Your decorative style is important, but you should also consider weather and location.