Have you thought about getting a fence for your home? A fence adds a lot of value and functionality to your property. But, with all the many types of fences out there, maybe you’re not sure what kind to choose. You only want to install a fence once, so selecting the right one the first time is vital. Here are three tips to help you choose the right fence for your Texas home.
Consider the Fence Purpose
Before you select your fence, determine what purpose the barrier will serve. By figuring out the primary goal of your fence, you will also be one step closer to deciding what type to choose.
- Security: People use a wall to deter people from quickly accessing their property. In this case, maybe the look of the fence is not quite as important as keeping people out. A chain link fence would serve the purpose well if that were your only goal.
- Privacy: If you live in a neighborhood and crave a little more intimacy than you have, then a fence is an excellent way to keep prying eyes out. A tall privacy fence that is a solid wall of vinyl or wood or closely spaced lattice is best for total privacy.
- Property boundaries: Maybe you want a fence to mark off where your property begins and ends. A shorter wall would do the trick!
- Ornamental: You may want a fence to decorate your home. A fence is an excellent way to add some interest to the property. Wrought iron or white picket fence can boost curb appeal, which is what some people want in a fence.
Fences also serve a useful purpose by keeping things in or out of your yard. For example, you may want a small area to put your dog when they’re outdoors, or you may want to block off your garden to deter pests. Visualizing a purpose for your fence will also help you decide on the necessary budget.
Long-Term Maintenance Costs
As you make your choice for your fence, decide how much upkeep will be required. Each fence material will have a different amount of necessary maintenance. Wood and wrought iron are two of the higher maintenance fences: both of these need regular painting or staining every few years under the effects of Texas weather. Wood fencing, however, is simpler to replace if a piece is damaged.
Vinyl and aluminum fences are low maintenance: they won’t need any painting and are easy to clean. If you need to replace a piece, there is no guarantee that you’ll find the exact color that matches.
Chain link fencing is durable but prone to rust if not correctly maintained. If you coat the fencing with a rust-resistant finish, you shouldn’t have problems with rust, and the fence will last much longer!
Assess Your Budget
Finally, you’ll want to decide what kind of investment in a fence is right for you. Each fence has its initial price point and then the cost to maintain it. Three factors influence the price of the fence:
- Materials
- Simplicity or complication of fence design
- Terrain smoothness at the fence location.
Chain link fence is the least expensive and runs about $7 a foot. Wood fences are somewhere in the middle, depending on the height of the wall: the cost ranges from $9 to $15 per foot. Wrought iron is the most costly, averaging approximately $25 per foot.
The labor cost to install your fencing also varies depending on different factors:
- Can the contractors access the site without problems
- Is the site already prepared?
- Is there anything that needs to be removed from the site area?
Fences Shouldn’t Frustrate!
When considering the site, cost, and material for your fence, the options can begin to seem overwhelming. Take the stress out of your fencing project: contact your Texas fencing professionals at Fitz for a FREE fencing estimate!
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