Guest Post by Andrea Davis
Want to make your suburban home feel safe and secure while still maintaining it’s beauty? You might want to consider adding a fence.
Fences have been part of the home landscape since colonial days when they kept livestock like chickens and cows on the property. Now they accent homes, outline property boundaries and keep family lives private.
Why does your home need a fence? What kind of fence best suits your needs? Once you answers these questions, you can contact a fencing professional and start installing your dream fence.
3 Benefits of Fences
There are many benefits to installing a fence, but here are some of the most important ones to consider as you move forward with the installation:
- Privacy. A fence is one of the best deterrents against prying and intrusion. They are also great for home security, so people can’t easily break in.
- Keeping wild animals out and children and pets in. Foxes, raccoons and other animals will not be able to get in. At the same time, your children will be able to safely play in the yard without wandering out, and dogs won’t easily escape onto the road where they could be injured.
- Accentuating the landscape and your home. If you install a short fence in the front yard or a tall fence in the back, they add to the value of the property.
Types to Install
As you decide what kind of fence you want, one of the most important factors to keep in mind is your budget. As such, the cost to install a fence often varies by the kind of material you choose. Here are some of the most popular for you to consider, along with their benefits and drawbacks:
1. Chain Link
Pros: Chain link fences will not warp, split or crack. They require little to no maintenance and can be coated in vinyl paint to match their surroundings.
Cons: While there are privacy slats available, chain link is not the most optimal for privacy. They are good for home protection, as they make an audible noise when people try to climb over them.
2. Wood
Pros: Wood fences are durable and naturally resistant to rotting and decay when they’re stained and painted. They can be any color and will last 15 to 20 years. They’re nice for privacy, unless they’re installed as picket instead of boards. Wood is biodegradable, so you can recycle boards as compost in your garden when they wear out.
Cons: Wood tends to show its age because of climate conditions. It will need paint and stain touch-ups over the life of the fence. Pieces might also need to be replaced if any are broken or eaten away by termites.
3. Vinyl
Pros: Vinyl fences are durable, weather-resistant and not susceptible to mold. It’s very unlikely that vinyl will ever warp, split or crack due to climate conditions. It’s very low maintenance, requiring infrequent cleaning with water from a hose and some soap. It can be good for privacy if vinyl boards are installed, not pickets (like wood).
Cons: It is only available in neutral colors, and it is not biodegradable.
4. Aluminum
Pros: Aluminum is a type of metal that will not rust, making it very durable. It can be many different colors and designs, and you have a choice in the quality of aluminum that you want.
Cons: It is not good for privacy, only protection like chain link fences. It is also difficult to install and very prone to damage depending on the quality of material installed.
5. Brick
Pros: Brick fences require almost no maintenance, as they won’t burn, are energy-efficient and great for resale. You can blend the fence with your home or contrast it. It only needs to be washed occasionally.
Cons: It is expensive to repair and difficult to change its appearance–no painting or staining. The foundation on which you build the wall has to be very strong and invulnerable to any kind of shifting, or the whole wall could fall.
Andrea Davis is the editor at HomeAdvisor, which connects homeowners with home improvement professionals in their area for free. Connect with Andrea on Google+
Cover image via FLICKR
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My property has been without a fence since I moved in a few years ago, and I really want to add one. This is great information about the different types of fencing. I had no idea that vinyl was only available in neutral colors. I was considering it but now I don’t know if it is the right fit.
Hello thanks, for good information. I have a question what type of lumber should i choose for my wooden fence? I willing that it will last longer, but not be too expensive as fences from oak.
We have been thinking about getting a fence to keep our dog in our yard, but we didn’t know what kind to choose! I really like that chain link fences don’t warp or crack. Since he is pretty rough on the area, it would be nice to know that he can’t easily get through the fence.
My wife and I have been talking about putting in a fence in our front yard. I appreciate that you point out that vinyl is very unlikely to warp, split, or crack due to climate conditions. This is something that we have been talking about. We want to put in a fence that will last a long time. I’ll have to mention this to her and she what she says.
I never knew that even a short fence could add value to your home. It would seem that if you are looking to resell your home adding a fence could be an attractive way to help this process. I would imagine that if you do plan to install a fence you would want to find a qualified contractor to help you out in the process.
At the time of fence installation many people think only about privacy. But on a serious note there are multiple reasons behind a fence installation. It can add beauty to a garden, provide security for small children and pet and also able to set a boundary marker. Whether it is for privacy or decoration but knowing its purpose will make significant difference in what fence style should be built. I genuinely love the portion of your blog that describes the types of fences that needs to be installed depending upon the requirement very much.
My friend just moved to a new area and is considering on getting a fence for his property but can’t seem to decide on what material to get. I like how you mentioned that vinyl fences are durable, weather resistant, while also providing very little maintenance to keep in good condition. Hopefully this information should help my friend decide on what material to choose that will work for him and his family.
Hey,
I recently came across your site and I’m wondering if I can post one of my articles here.
I’ve been writing up home improvement articles too and would love the chance to write
on your blog but I couldn’t manage to find your email. If you could get a hold of me at
ikatie.jones@outlook.com?, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,
Katie
Out of all these options, a chain link fence sounds like the best option for me. I’m so busy all the time but love to keep my property in order. It’s why I was sold after reading how low maintenance it is.
Thanks for letting me know that if we decide to use chain link as the material for our fence, we won’t have to worry about doing much maintenance. Since we are getting a dog, my husband and I want to put a barrier in our yard to keep it from running away. We’ll definitely look at getting a chain link fence since we will also be able to cover it in vinyl to help it match our house.
I loved when you mentioned how chain link fences do not warp. It is good to know that choosing a fence like this can help you keep an appealing landscape and make sure it lasts. We are planning on getting a fence and a friend of mine was talking about how we should get a vinyl coated chain link fence, so I’m glad I found your post.
Personally, I agree that with you that a good fence can add value to your property by accentuating the landscape. Even if you don’t have pets or kids, I love the look of a good, sturdy fence around a house. It gives the property a polished look. My husband and I are planning on installing a fence for our dogs, but it is good to know that they have value beyond a simple barrier.