Choosing the right fence style is not just a matter of personal taste but something that should complement your home’s architectural style. Not only that, but your selection should be one that provides one of the most important benefits—security. After all, a fence should easily indicate the bounds of your private property, but for others who don’t get it, a wall also needs to be sturdy.
There are several types of materials that you can use for your fence, as are the techniques used to install them. Some barriers, while not as durable a material (like wood), can still be made secure by the manner and the quality in which they were installed. With all things being equal, this post discusses accessible fence materials and what they mean for your property security.
Wooden Fences
Wood fences come in a vast variety, considering the types of lumber that can be used for home construction. When you are looking for a picket or plank fence that is lightweight, resistant to rot, and can stand up against little critters, then cedar and redwood are two of your choices. They can be installed without paints or stains. Otherwise, you can select pine and other treated softwoods.
The most significant benefit of a wooden fence is that it’s affordable, at least relative to other types on this list. They are also the most aesthetically pleasing, as you can easily paint, stain, and shape them to fit your visual philosophy. Still, wooden fences need to be treated to resist moisture, even hardwoods, especially if you’re in a humid area or an area with a lot of rainfall.
Metal Fences
Second on this list is a metal fence, which is the go-to option if you want security above all, but metal is by no means ugly or industrial-looking. Modern manufacturing techniques have made metal fences and gates more pleasing to the eye and robust too, with features like corrosion resistance on top of it.
Most metal fences these days come in aluminum and steel variants; the former is more decorative, but the latter is for serious security. Check your local area’s hardware store to compare their costs, though steel is generally more expensive.
In terms of both curb appeal and functionality, you can’t go wrong with an iron rail fence. Patterned wrought iron fences, meanwhile, combine strength and beauty that gives your home’s aesthetic a quick boost. Also, metal requires virtually no maintenance, unlike wood.
Vinyl Fences
If you’re looking for a cheaper yet long-lasting fence, vinyl fencing is for you. Vinyl fences used to be just cheap imitations of wood in terms of appearance. Thanks to recent developments in manufacturing, however, vinyl fences are now available in a plethora of colors and textures. More importantly, this fence style now shows incredible resistance to the elements.
Vinyl’s aesthetic options are limited, but every day, new technologies are adapted to make it more appealing. While you can’t exactly paint vinyl, their colors are baked into the material itself. Like metal, it’s also low-maintenance. That said, avoid using plastic in sunny areas, as vinyl usually warps under extreme heat or prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
Are you about security, or are you about looks? Your choice of fences is a straightforward way to state what you want your property to look like to outsiders.
