Fences - Fence and Gate Materials
About Fence and Gate Materials
Introduction
| In the landscape, fences and gates serve many practical purposes. They are used to secure your yard, provide privacy, screen unwanted views, mark your boundaries, slightly control the climate, and embellish the total appearance of your house. Adding a gate will prove beneficial as it restricts access to unwanted people coming in, and others (for example children or pets) wandering out. A nicely designed gate can serve as a landscape’s point of interest, one that welcoming leads visitors to the front of your house. |
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Fences and gates come in a wide array of styles, sizes and shapes ranging from lightweight open latticework that allows for a cool breeze to thick, heavy, solid boards that keep back strangers. Gates can be built from the same materials as your fence, you can have one custom made, or you can purchase a do-it-yourself gate kit from most home improvement centers or online shops.
Before Getting Started …
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If you decide you want to install a fence and gate, or you would like to replace an old one, then like any landscaping project you must first do some research. It is vital to contact your local zoning officials to see if fences are permitted and what the requirements are in terms of height, position, type and style. It’s advisable to check your deed, or other paper work, as you may notice other neighborhood restrictions concerning fences and gates. |
When you get the green light for construction, you will need to identify your property lines. Pins may already exist from a recent survey, or you may have to get one done. After verifying you can legally build and you know where to construct the fence, next in line is choosing a fence and gate material.
Fencing and Gate Material Options
| Upon deciding on which fence and gate material to use, you need to consider the purpose of your fence, the size, and finally your budget. Your fence and gate should match the colors and architecture of your house and the style of your landscape. For example an elaborate iron fence and gate would not look too good against a casual, modern background. After considering these factors you’re ready to choose. There are many materials available to build your fence and gate. The most widely used materials are wood, vinyl and metal (like iron or chain-link). |
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Wood
Wood comes in an array of colors, qualities, sizes, styles and prices. What’s good about wood is that you can find it for any kind of fence or gate conceivable. For complete privacy and security, a solid wooden fence can be built, or you can go for the picket or split-rail style which will define the boundaries of your landscape and allow you to see through it.
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The grade of wood is very important, especially when used as posts. It is advised to use rot-resistant and pressure treated wood like cedar, cypress and redwood. The downfall of using wood is that it’s susceptible to splinting, rotting and warping and therefore requires a fair amount of maintenance. It will need to be painted with a wood sealant annually to help lengthen its life. |
Vinyl
| Vinyl is rapidly growing in popularity. This type of fence and gate material is practically maintenance-free thanks to the raw materials used to make. With PVC, UV inhibitors and impact modifiers, vinyl fences are weather-resistant and will not fade, shrink, splinter, rot, rust or warp, so no repairing needed. Most manufactures of vinyl offer lifetime replacement guarantees. They can be made in a wide variety of styles but come only in a few colors: gray, tan and white. Vinyl fences are 100% recyclable. |
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Metal
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Metal is probably the more costly option, but definitely the most enduring. Chain-link fences and gates are one type which is mostly used to enclose large areas in the backyard, such as a tennis court. Coating it with zinc and vinyl will help protect against rust and corrosion. Aluminum panels are manufactured, spray painted and easily installed. They offer strength and durability. For an ornamental fence and gate design, iron does the job beautifully. |
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