Ranch Style Fence: A Guide
If you’re looking for a classic fence style for an agricultural property or one that you don’t need a security fence or effective barrier for, and you want a rustic style, ranch style fence should be near the top of your short-listed options.
Ranch-style fence has been around for a very long time, and there’s nothing that comes close in terms of a classic fence for ranch-style properties! Whether you have horses or other kinds of large livestock, or you just want to demarcate your property line with something a little different, this is a great choice.
What Is Ranch Style Fence?
Ranch-style fence is a classic fence style that consists of relatively chunky posts, usually spaced at about 6 or 7 feet or about 1.8 to 2 meters apart.
The space between those posts is filled with two, three, four or more horizontal rails that form the body of the fence. It’s simple, it’s stylish, and it’s also often white (which looks great against green pastures!)
What Is Ranch Style Fence Made From?
Like most fence systems, ranch-style fence is not a specification on its own. There are many ways to build a ranch-style fence.
Some are made from wood, which might be split rail style, machine-turned poles or something else.
Then there are vinyl ranch-style fence designs and even newer composite ranch-style fence.
You could even design a ranch-style fence from steel or other metals or from something a little different, like prestressed concrete.
The material does not define whether this is a ranch-style fence or not – it’s the classic design with posts and rails that does that.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Ranch Style Fence?
Like every fence style, ranch-style fence has some pros and cons you will need to consider before you make a decision to install this type of fence. Let’s start with the positive:
- Ranch-style fence is simple, and that makes it relatively quick to install
- There’s less material in a ranch-style fence than there are in many other fences, which makes it less expensive
- There are many design options available to create a ranch-style fence that works for you
On the flip side, there are a few negative things you need to know about ranch style fences:
- It’s not an effective barrier, so if you’re trying to keep pets, kids and smaller animals contained, this is not a good fence choice!
- It’s very easy to climb a ranch-style fence, so it’s also not an effective security fence option
- You need to be careful about the material and product choices you make and plan ahead for future repairs, ensuring that you stockpile any special materials that might not be available when you need them
Increasing the Security of Ranch-Style Fence
The good news is that even though ranch-style fence is not an effective barrier or security fence, there are some things you can do to improve that.
Adding wire mesh to your ranch-style fence is a great way to make it kid and pet-containment friendly.
You can also use electronic security add-ons like infrared beams or fence detection systems on a ranch-style fence to give you added security without changing the appearance of the fence.
Can You DIY Ranch Style Fence?
Yes, ranch-style fence is one of the easier styles of fence to do yourself.
As long as you have some basic tools and are reasonably handy, you should be able to install this kind of fence reasonably well.
Who Installs Ranch Style Fence?
If you think that ranch-style fence or ranch rail, as it’s also known, is the right kind of fence for you, you can try contacting local fence companies for quotes.
Remember that not every fence company does every kind of fence, so you might have to do a little research before you find companies that can help!
