How to Choose the Right Kind of Fencing
People need fences for all kinds of things. Sometimes they want to keep things out. Sometimes they want to keep them in. Sometimes they're just looking to define a boundary or add privacy to part of their yard. There are many different kinds of fence too, so figuring out how to choose the right kind of fencing can be tricky.
Here are some insider tips to make it a little easier.
Know Your Budget
The first thing you need to know is what you can afford to spend. Or what you want to spend.
Everything begins and ends with your budget for your new fence. If you don't have enough money available, you might have to scale back your plans and opt for a cheaper fence type. If you have a bigger budget, you will have more options. So figure out what you can spend, and keep that in mind.
Know the Purpose
Next, you need to know what you want your fence to do. Do you just need to keep dogs and kids in your yard, or are you looking for a high security fence system to protect your home or commercial property?
There are fences that are solid, like wood fence and vinyl fences that are great for privacy, and there are fences that let you see through them - which are great if you don't want to obscure your view!
Be clear about what your fence needs to do, so that you can tell potential fence contractors and they can quote accordingly.
Consider the Site
Some fence types are more suited to certain kinds of sites. Woven mesh products, for instance, can follow ground contours and work better on sites with undulating ground. Welded mesh systems, however, require a lot of cutting and extra labour to work on those kinds of sites.
Likewise, if you want to install an ornamental, bar or palisade fence, you need to choose a type that can be raked or angled to follow the ground.
Consider Esthetics
The next thing you need to think about is how the fence looks. Some people don't like the way chain link looks, for instance. But if they need to save costs, they might be able to mix fences, and put a palisade or ornamental style fence on the most visible parts of the site, and chain link where it won't be seen.
There are also upgrades to fence systems that might improve their appearance - for instance, a powder and PVC coated chain link fence or diamond mesh fence looks better than a plain galvanized fence, but costs a little more.
Ask the Experts
The best thing you can do when you want to choose the right fence for any application is to talk to professional fence companies. They will come and look at your site, analyze your needs and your budget, and develop a solution that works for you.
If you don't know enough about fencing to do this yourself, fence companies are an invaluable resource. Use them.