How to Choose the Type of Fence for My Home

Choosing the right fence type for your home or application can be tricky with so many different choices when it comes to a type of fence to choose from, its best to know your application and understand its use before choosing the material.

If you need a secure fence to keep animals like dogs and other pets and children in, a wooden-split rail fence won’t do. If you need to gain some privacy, a chain-link fence is not your best choice. If you need only mark – or imply – a boundary, you have many artistic options before you. Knowing the purpose of your fence guides you to the height, construction and material that best accomplishes this.

How Do I Know What Fence Style to Use

The architecture of your home makes it easy to eliminate what type of fence not to use. Imagine a chain link fence surrounding a Victorian gingerbread mansion to understand the concept of what is appropriate, and what is not. Older homes of classic architecture look best with brick or ornamental metal fences, while a contemporary ranch home blends harmoniously with a vinyl or wood privacy fence. There should be a design connection between your home and the fence that surrounds it.

What Fence Material Is Best for Your Application

Here are the most popular fencing materials being used, and the Pros and Cons.

Wood Fence is the classic American archetype, and it remains very popular because they can be built in any style, size or height, from the iconic white picket fence to the 7-foot privacy fence. You may find a wood fence can have the lowest purchase and installation cost, but a wood fence will require continual maintenance (applying new stain or paint every 2 – 3 years is recommended) and that must be budgeted for, both money and time. Wood is a green, sustainable material, and erecting and repairing them can be a DIY project.

Chain Link Fence is practically maintenance-free and used in all types of applications because its sturdy and long-lasting and It’s affordable to buy and relatively easy to install, which makes it the popular choice when having to cover a large area. It is also considered a “green” solution because the material can be recycled and reused. The downside to chain link is the look, its not very fashionable but there are some ways around that, including vinyl-coated styles that come in basic colors, turning it into a lattice for plants to grow on or letting your imagination run wild with chain link fence decoration ideas.

Vinyl Fencing is also known as plastic fencing and it rapidly became popular because it is truly maintenance-free other than keeping it clean, which can be done with your garden hose or in some case will need to be power washed. It comes in an endless array of styles and colors and can mimic most any other common fencing material. Vinyl is expensive, so if you have a large expanse to cover, consider mixing it up with another material. And while it can be a DIY installation project, there are some tricky aspects best handled by experienced installers. One last consideration for vinyl is strength; because of its hollow construction, it can break or crack under too much applied pressure, so if you have large, active dogs or rambunctious kids playing sports in the yard, you might want to consider something stronger until things calm down.

Composite Fencing is the other popular plastic fencing. It is also known as engineered wood and can mimic the look of most any wood boards. Composite is as maintenance-free as vinyl but is far stronger than a hollow vinyl fence because of its interior wood post construction. This also makes it more expensive than vinyl fences, and its installation really is best handled by professionals.

Ornamental Metal fencing lends a distinguished, traditional look to your grounds and privacy and can be worked into as many styles, sizes, and heights as wood. Wrought iron or cast iron can last for hundreds of years, with rust being the only possible maintenance issue (and that can be sanded off). It is also very strong and can be painted any color you wish (though that creates a maintenance issue). Wrought iron or cast iron can be cost-effective considering their low maintenance and durability, but if you go with a custom design, it must be installed by experienced professionals.

We hope this overview of fence options and the most popular fencing materials helps you make the best decision when considering a fence for your home or application. A fence is a great way to employ some creativity for the look and feel only you can decide. Feel free to call FenceCrafters Inc anytime to discuss your options. We have been in business for over 25 years, We Get It Right the First Time!