subject: Types Of Fencing For Your Home [print this page] Residential fencing has been in use for a very long time around the world, and there are many types of fencing used around the home. The type of fencing used depends on several factors, and different type and materials are better suited for certain purposes. Here, we will examine what types and materials of fencing are best used for some of the more common applications around the home. We will also take a brief look at the benefits of different materials when used in residential areas.
One of the more common purposes for residential fencing is privacy. This can mean that the fence is either used to keep strangers out of the general area of the property, or to reduce visibility around a perimeter, or both. Depending on what sort of privacy is needed, different materials are used. Iron wrought fences are a popular choice for keeping people out, because they can be made into very tall rods and worked into virtually any shape or look.
Iron is also a very strong material, and boasts an elegant look to boot. It can't realistically be used to make a solid barrier to block visibility, however, and this is where wood comes in.
Wood fencing is perfect for creating a visual barrier, particularly cedar because it is stronger and has a nicer appearance. Wood fencing can be made with slats that form a solid surface, in order to keep anyone from seeing through it. It can also be spread apart to create a solid barrier without the visual barrier. Wood is also frequently used as decorative residential fencing. A common example of this is the classic white picket fence, which is primarily used for decoration.
Residential fencing is not frequently made out of chain link, except for in certain applications, such as for keeping pets in a certain area. This is because it is not as visually appealing as some other materials, although it is a low cost solution and is therefore used with some homes.
One material that is becoming more and more popular for residential uses is vinyl. Vinyl fences are typically made with hollow slats and are largely decorative, because they are more fragile than wood or iron. They are easy to maintain, however, and will not need to be repainted because the color is actually part of the fence. They are also relatively cheap, but are visually appealing.
