Fall is a great time of year to perform maintenance on your property. Homeowners often use this season to spruce up aspects of their lawns and landscapes that require attention. One of the most crucial elements of a home or property that you should remember is to pay attention to your fence. Now maybe the best time for a refurbishment, or even a replacement or new installation.
But what type of fence should you install? A great-looking, professionally installed fence gives every homeowner a true sense of home, affecting your property’s exterior design, while also providing one of the most important benefits of all homes: security. As a result, you should carefully think through the type of fence you want to be installed on your property since it will greatly affect the work of landscape designers like GreenPro.
Aluminum Fencing
Aluminum is one of the most basic and attractive fencing types. While it doesn’t provide the amount of security many homeowners look for, it’s relatively maintenance-free and can essentially look like other types of fencing. The only maintenance will come during installation when you choose to paint and decorate it – however, it’s not as strong as you may think.
Wood Fencing
Wood is the most popular fence type across America. It provides homeowners a sense of privacy with a sense of height and is also one of the more attractive options on the market. Wood fencing can give homeowners a warm and welcoming feeling when they arrive home at the end of a long day. Be mindful however that the desired height and size of your fence will greatly impact the price; the more lumber the fence requires, the more expensive the project. Additionally, like all fences, they take time to install. (A smaller fence will therefore obviously be cheaper than a larger one.) The longevity of wood fences means that they can easily last the lifetime of your home. Like hardwood floors, your fence’s quality will greatly depend on the type of wood you choose. (There are several options to choose from.)
PVC Fencing
The least expensive way to fence your yard is with PVC. These fences use PVC to replace wooden stakes and pickets, and although not nearly as sturdy, they can certainly serve their purpose. The posts are PVC sleeves that go on top of wooden posts to add stability to the fence, but also cut down on material costs by using less wood. Sometimes, the PVC stakes are attached to the crossbars with an adhesive; other times, they are fastened with screws. This type of fencing comes in a variety of different heights and colors. Because of its PVC makeup, the fence is very resistant to the elements and can last for years.
Wrought Iron Fencing
Homes with interesting or unique designs atop their fences oftentimes use a wrought iron fence. Wrought iron fences are both strong and beautiful, but can require constant upkeep. To maintain their beauty, wrought iron fences need to be sanded or repainted every two to three years. A less popular option for the more conservative homeowner, wrought iron fences are custom made and therefore, will not be cheap.
Vinyl Fencing
Vinyl fencing is an attractive option for many homeowners since vinyl is maintenance-free and resists paint, allowing homeowners to easily clean unwanted stains (just a hose and soap is all you need to make it look as good as new). Additionally, according to HomeAdvisor, some manufacturers claim that vinyl fences are nearly five times stronger and four times more flexible than comparable wood fences. Installing a vinyl fence may have a higher upfront cost, but given its low maintenance costs and long lifespan, it’s cheaper than many other fencing types.
Chain Link Fencing
Chain link fences do not add much privacy to the home but perform the other basic functions of a fence quite well. Homeowners often choose this option because of its durability, inexpensiveness, and low maintenance needs. Oftentimes, homeowners seeking a bit of additional privacy will add shrubbery, flowers, vines, or even privacy slates on the outside of the chain-link fence – a little creativity can go a long way!
Electric Fencing
A popular option for homeowners with dogs, invisible fences can contain dogs through an invisible field of electricity. Typically, a wire is placed in a trench along the property’s boundary. A wireless transmitter is set up nearby to activate the wire, while a battery-powered collar receives the signal from the wire. The collar warns the animal when it’s near the boundary via a sound pitched only to the animal’s hearing. If the animal tries to cross the boundary, the collar delivers a (relatively harmless) electric shock.
Bamboo Fencing
Like hardwood flooring, bamboo fencing is starting to hit its stride in the market. It can be grown naturally and is one of the most environmentally friendly and attractive options on the market.
There are three styles of bamboo fencing: live bamboo, bamboo cane, and rolled bamboo. Rolled bamboo and bamboo cane use poles linked together that are a bit sturdier than live bamboo. Live bamboo can grow up to a foot a year but isn’t recommended for colder climates.
Farm fencing
Farm fencing plays a vital role for properties all across America, even for non-farm homeowners. There are several options, including wood, electric, barbed wire, woven, or high tensile. No matter the choice, be mindful that installation is expensive and timely, particularly for homeowners with larger properties.
Conclusion
While security and privacy are certainly the top two functions of all home fences, design and creativity should never take a back seat. With all the fencing choices available, no homeowner needs to sacrifice looks for security. Call GreenPro and we can advise you on the best choice for your desired landscape design and work with you to integrate your new fence into your overall design aesthetic.