America’s Most Popular Fencing Materials and Pros and Cons of Each

You very well may be one of the millions of people around the country that have decided that you want to experience the benefits that are available with installing a fence around your property. However, what fence will provide you with the various amenities that you are seeking from its presence? Are you looking for heightened security and safety for your property? Is it an increase in property value you are looking for? Or are you interested in the look and feel a new fence will provide for your home or business facilities? Whatever your reasons for wanting to install fencing you should first know your options and the pros and cons that the different types of fences have to offer.

While there is a plethora of fencing options available all types fall within three major categories. This includes Natural Material fencing which consists of mainly stone or wood style fencing; Man-Made Material fencing which includes composite and vinyl fencing; and Metal Material fencing such as chain link and wrought iron styles. Throughout the United States people have found the most popular styles of fencing to be wood, vinyl, and chain link. But other than their popularity, what do these fencing options have to offer and what drawbacks do they carry with them?

Wood Fencing
Wood fencing is available in a wide range of styles giving people the ability to find an option that will produce the look and feel they are seeking around their property. This is the type of fencing that was first introduced in the United States as a way of setting up property divisions and securing livestock for early settlers. From split rail fencing to 8 foot stockade fencing, you will find these products available in most any home improvement store in your area.

iStock_000020891929_ExtraSmall

For individuals that choose to install wood fencing around their property they gain the ability to paint or stain their fencing to compliment their property. However, it should also be noted that wood fencing does require a great deal of maintenance as it will have to be painted often and protected from the outside elements frequently to prevent it from deterioration. Wood fencing styles can also be damaged due to insect infestations, discoloration due to the sun, and swelling during high levels of rain or snow seasons.

Vinyl Fencing
Vinyl fencing is one of the newest options for fencing that has recently become available. You will find that when choosing to create a fence with this type of material you are provided with the ability to purchase from a wide range of colors, sizes, and styles to match your residential or business building facilities. Made from some of the toughest materials available, vinyl fencing is virtually maintenance free, requiring simple washing with a garden hose or power washing machine to keep it looking new throughout the year. This type of fencing is believed to last for many decades when properly cared for.

iStock_000017612445_ExtraSmall

The cost is one of the biggest drawbacks of vinyl fencing as it can be quite costly to purchase. Due to the fact that precision drilling or fitting is required it can be time consuming as well to install a vinyl fence around your property. There are vinyl fencing styles that can be purchased pre-drilled so that you simply bolt the various sections together, but again this can be an added expense that people do not always want to invest in.

Chain Link Fencing
Chain link fencing was created to provide a more economical option to wrought iron fencing. Created from galvanized steel, people could eliminate the fear of having their fencing rust or breakdown due to exposure to outside elements such as moisture, heat, snow, and ice. People found that chain link fencing was easy to install even if they had to do the work themselves. The design of a chain link fence requires that long steel posts be inserted into the ground. The mesh chain link fencing is then wired to these posts allowing for a barrier around the property. This type of fencing is ideal when your purpose for the fence is to keep unwanted foot traffic through your property or to prevent children and pets from getting out of the yard.

While there are many pros to installing a chain link fence around your property, there are some negative factors that should be considered before you head out to your local home improvement store to purchase this type of fencing. The chain link fencing can be pushed out on the bottom if some type of edging is not installed around the bottom of the fence. There is very little privacy that is obtained by the installation of a chain link fence. There are however special mesh strips that can be woven through the links of the fence to allow for limited privacy from the outside world but this is an added expense that many people do not always want to take on. It should also be noted that chain link fencing does allow for children and other people to climb the fence to get in or out so special precautions should be taken if this is one of your main purposes for installing a fencing system.

Regardless of the specific type of fence you choose to install around your property you will find it to be a worthwhile investment should you obtain the specific benefits you are seeking. There are positive and negative attributes of every style of fencing that you will find, but knowing what they are is the key to receiving the satisfaction you are seeking.