If you’re looking for a way to enhance the appeal of your home, adding a fence is a great place to start. The right fencing can increase your property value, create excellent curb appeal, and give you and your family a sense of security. But before you go out with your post hole digger, there are some things you need to consider.
Before You Pick a Fence Style
Depending on where you live, there may be rules you need to abide by to comply with your homeowner’s association. Look into restrictions on height, materials, and whether you need to maintain visibility through the fence.
If you don’t have a homeowner’s association, it’s still a good idea to talk to your adjacent neighbors before building. Be sure to agree on property boundaries. Also, give them a heads up before you begin construction, so you don’t alienate your neighbors.
No HOA or neighbors to contend with? You still need to check with your city. Most cities require a permit before construction of a fence can begin. Most of the time, your fencing company will take care of this paperwork for you, but don’t assume that’s always the case. This is especially true if you’re hiring a contractor to do the work for you. Before you sign your contract, check the paperwork to make sure the permit portion is covered.
Once you know what you can do and where, consider the exterior of your home. The age and style of your home can play a large part in which fences look appropriate.
It’s also essential to choose a fence you are comfortable maintaining. Are you OK with making minor repairs? Do you mind painting every few years? Looking for something that’s more “set it and forget it”?
Here are some fencing styles to help you figure out what will work best for you and your home.
Low-Maintenance Fence Styles
You want a fence, but you don’t want a lot of work? We recommend these low-maintenance options that also afford you a sense of security.
Chain Link Fence Styles
The chain link fence is one of the most common fences and has been for decades. This fence style might be overly traditional to some, yet you will get many years out of a chain link fence. The fencing is easy to install and requires virtually no maintenance beyond the occasional repair. If holes or damaged areas crop up, they can usually be sewn together with a replacement fencing mesh. Because these fences contain pure metal, they can be sold to a scrap dealer if you want to replace the fence. It is a good way to get extra money back and keep waste out of landfills.
Chain link fencing is also much more affordable and is perfect for keeping pets within a yard space without preventing them from seeing out.
For added privacy, you can increase the gauge of the chain link and the dimensions of the wire mesh. Other ways to increase privacy include planting some climbing vines or flowers. Cedar lath or other types of slats can also be added to chain link fences to add a layer of privacy.
Vinyl Fence Styles
Both inexpensive and needing little maintenance, vinyl fence styles work well. If you do not want the look of metal fencing, this is your best bet. Individual fencing panels can be installed close together to improve the degree of privacy. This makes the vinyl fence your best option for low-maintenance privacy because outsiders cannot see through the panels easily.
After installation, the only care needed is periodic cleaning to remove dirt and debris. This can be accomplished with a power washer or a soapy sponge and a garden hose. Vinyl fencing never needs painting, and most brands are U.V. protected. They will not rot, bend, or come apart. This makes vinyl a popular option for those who want to close off a pool area while still wanting to see out. No matter how much you splash, the fence will not rot or rust.
When it comes to fencing styles, vinyl picket fences are a great option for homeowners who do not want to bother with wood. From a distance, a vinyl picket fence can look like a classic wooden picket fence. Private stockade fences also come in vinyl for a unique aesthetic that holds up through the worst type of weather.
However, you cannot recycle vinyl fences, which makes this a less green option than metal or wood fences.
Ornamental Metal Fence Styles
Ornamental metal fencing, usually made of aluminum or galvanized steel, offers a stylish look that is also low maintenance. It comes in a variety of fence styles that make it suitable for all types of homes, from traditional to contemporary. This metal variation can be painted in any color you want. Plus, they are sturdy enough to last for decades and do not require maintenance.
If your yard is not forgiving to fence design, aluminum can be your best friend. It can be fabricated to meet your needs and is rackable, which allows you to have gap-free fencing regardless of your landscape.
When it comes to security, metal fencing is a great choice. It’s strong enough that it can be built at any height. Metal fencing can also be designed in a way that makes it very difficult to climb and helps ward off intruders.
If you’re worried about children or pets squeezing through the fence, you can add unobtrusive mesh to the inside of the fence for added security.
If you decide to replace this fence, it can be fully recycled as scrap metal for a tidy sum. However, it is so long-lasting that you may move before you would need to replace the fence.
Ever-popular wood fences
Many people prefer wooden fences because of the natural look they provide and the more economical cost in construction. Wooden fences have the unique ability to be inviting while also keeping what you want out of your yard, well, out of your yard.
Wooden fences are also great if you live on a busy street as they have the ability to redirect sound. Add a wooden trellis and some climbing plants, and you can mute the surrounding noise even more.
Wood fences do require a bit more maintenance than other options, but it’s not especially cumbersome. You’ll need to re-tamp your support posts every three or four years and reseal the wood. If you choose rot-resistant wood and the style you pick does not sit directly on the ground, your fence can easily last 20 to 30 years.
Making Your Choice
With so many fence styles to choose from, you can always find the right blend of looks and privacy with a wooden fence.
Want open and inviting? A classic picket fence is a nice choice.
Looking for more privacy? A wooden stockade fence might be more your style. These are taller and can’t be seen through.
Searching for something in the middle? Shadowbox wooden fences provide some solidity while also providing a slight ability to see through to show you’re not hiding anything.
But the options don’t end there. You also have the split-rail wooden fence that’s most commonly seen on farms, ranches, or other bucolic settings. However, they don’t have to be used only in country settings. These can equally look attractive around an urban residential home.
A solid wood style with a rolling wavy top, convex fencing can be up to eight feet tall. It can add a touch of class to any property while keeping prying eyes out.
Board on board is designed to allow breezes to pass through your property. It is special in that it isn’t designed for privacy in the most traditional sense, but more so for definition. It’s an attractive alternative to picket style fencing.
A very beautiful and elegant design, lattice top privacy fences can bring a touch of class to your yard, and with the tightly connected wood slats, your yard will feel secure and safe.
Perhaps the most common because of its overall assembly, stockade style features picketed fence closely connected along with supports. The jagged tops not only look great; they also prevent intruders from climbing your fence.
Similar to the lattice top in design, but with the lattice replaced with solid wood slats, locking board is perfect for those who are seeking uniformity without placing aesthetic focus purely on the fence. Plus, it looks great!
Each different style of fencing can be designed to meet your preferences. You get to decide the height, color, spacing between posts, and more. This allows you to get the perfect look to accent your home.
Keep in mind that each material of fencing has its own different benefits. Knowing these benefits will help you make the right choice for you.
If any of the above styles sound appealing to you, we have them all here at Beitzell Fence. Contact us and we’ll work with you to decide on a fence style that best fits your home and surroundings.