Homeowners have an assortment of fencing options available to them and several things to consider prior to the construction of a fence. It is essential to make sure that the fence meets your family’s needs. For example, is your goal to contain your kids or pets, increase privacy or purely add value to your property? Besides the items mentioned above, maintenance and cost must be taken into consideration along with neighborhood restrictions.
A new fence costs between $800 to $8,000 on average, depending on the size and type of materials you select, so you want to be confident in your final decision. Other factors, such as your yard’s slope, also impact the cost of fence installation.
Tips to Pick the Best Fence for Your Home
1. Choose the fence best suited for your yard
We suggest that all homeowners identify the main reason they need to install a fence. Fences may provide the following: privacy, security, visual appeal and containment of our precious children and pets. We advise that you let your needs guide your decision making and aim to prioritize accordingly.
If privacy is what you desire, wooden fences are predisposed to work best.
If privacy is not a primary concern, another option is aluminum or wrought iron. These options give your yard a sophisticated, open look. In some neighborhoods, homeowners require aluminum or wrought iron, in lieu of wood.
If your goal is containment, understand what your animal(s) may be capable of in terms of digging, climbing and jumping.
2. Consider Fence Maintenance
Determine how much time you want to set aside in regards to maintaining your fence.
Wooden fencing, if maintained, has the potential to last for decades. We suggest that you apply water sealant twice a year in the Spring and Fall. It is also imperative that yard clippings are kept away from the bottom of the fence to prevent premature rotting. There are two types of fencing options, cypress and pine. Our company’s preference is cypress because it has a natural resistance to rotting. On a side note, cypress is slightly more expensive than pine; however it will have a longer existence. If your budget does not allow for the purchase of cypress, treated pine would be the next best option.
Aluminum does not require maintenance; however, it lacks the strength properties characteristic of wrought iron. We recommend that you avoid wrought iron around a salt water pool because it will quickly deteriorate. Ornamental aluminum will withstand the long-term exposure to a salt water system.
3. Check HOA Requirements
A homeowner’s association governs the type of fence you are allowed to install. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to make certain the fence meets the predetermined standards before moving forward with the project. Guidelines and procedures need to be followed to avoid legally enforceable fines.
RL Fencing is here to guide you through this process. Our company has experience with the requirements of the local Homeowner’s Associations. Our staff is knowledgeable craftsmen who will bring your vision to reality. Please call us to schedule a free estimate.
Date Published: 7/2/2015