Fence Styles

On the fence

The right fence for your property should combine consistent architecture and the utility you desire.  It is not easy.  A classic ranch may be best complimented by a simple post and rail fence, but this doesn't pass for adequate security or privacy.  For a proper privacy fence, a stockade fence around six feet high would be ideal, but they are expensive - not to mention a domineering specter on your property. 

Swinging for the fences, you'll strike out

Accept that all decisions end up as compromises.  Your fence is no exception.  The first pair of characteristics that cannot be married deal with security.  A chain link fence offers up the best strength and leaves no place for a trespasser to hide.  They are, however, unanimously derided as unsightly.  Chain link also affords no privacy in the enclosure.  Wrought iron, the only comparable option, has long fallen out of reach for most incomes.  Vinyl and aluminum replicas of wrought iron fences can do the job, but they are more expensive and ultimately not as secure. 

What if all you need is something aesthetic that demarks your property?  A simple and affordable choice, again, would be a post and rail.  If it doesn't cohere properly with your home, go with simple picket fences or lattice work.  These styles can be purchased at all stages of construction for varying levels of handymen, with the assumption that he can dig a straight hole and fill it properly with cement. 

Wood, like wrought iron, steadily loses out to vinyl, a more durable and trouble-free material.  It gives the appearance of wood (at a distance anyway) while never requiring staining or paint.  On the other hand, vinyl gets brittle in the winter, leaving it vulnerable to damage.  It will surely cost you more money upfront, but expect to make it back over time.

Post script

Consider also those purely visual uses that fences serve.  A short picket fence keeps animals out of the garden, but perhaps more importantly, provides a picturesque backdrop to your colorful blooms.  It isn't even necessary to make a complete enclosure.  A stretch of stockade fencing or latticework can obstruct the view of an unsightly HVAC unit or a heaping, steaming compost pile.

More information on fences