Choosing the Right Type of Fencing

Choosing the right fence for your home can be distressing especially you have to factor in the up front cost, maintenance cost, property bylaws, security, aesthetic, and all the different type of materials available in the market. This article is here to ease some of that stress by giving you some insight on what is out there.

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Cost is a big factor in choosing materials, of course. But consider strength and maintenance, too. Repainting a fence every few summers is a headache. Wood is popular because it’s easy to come by and often less expensive than other materials. But before going straight for wood, take a look at the comparison of the available materials in the market.

Here’s a rundown of pros, cons and maintenance needed for a basic 6-foot-tall fence of several popular materials.

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Wood

In BC where there is an abundance of wood, we can see a wide array of wooden fencing from different material to different designs. Wood is often the go to choice for fencing as most people do not know many other substitutes for privacy fences.

 

Pros: Beautiful and versatile. Wood is great for privacy fences because slats can be placed tightly side by side. Wood is also most economical in terms of upfront fees.

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Cons: Most wood, even if treated, requires protection with a stain or paint. Expect to replace wooden fence every 10-15 years. Also, continuous maintenance will add cost down the road.

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Maintenance: Daily, weekly, or monthly wash down of the wood fence with a mild cleaning agent may be required to prevent molds and stains. Frequency depends on where you live and the wood type. Also, you will probably want to stain, paint and reseal the wood fence every few years in order to protect it from the elements.

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Concrete

 

Concrete fencing has change drastically over the last 20 years. It is no longer the big clunky industrial monolith of the past. With the advance in precast moldings, concrete fencing can take many shapes, forms, and designs. Concrete fencing is a long term fencing solution.

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Pros: Durable and long lasting, a high quality concrete fence can last past 50 years. Revolutionary changes in recent years has allowed the precast concrete fence to enter the residential markets. Concrete fence can take lots of abuse, provides high security and privacy value, and require little to no maintenance; thus, saving money down the road. Concrete fence can also adds sound abatement qualities to provide peace of mind at home.

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Cons: Up front cost for concrete fence tends to be higher than other fences. Furthermore, styles are limited to what manufacturers can offer.

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Maintenance: A high quality concrete fence should require little to no maintenance, but always check with manufacturers for exact details. Most manufacturers offer limited lifetime warranty on their products.

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Vinyl

 

Vinyl is a great alternative for privacy fence as it also works as a long term permanent fencing solution. It is considered the go to place between wood and concrete. Many people may consider it for its clean smooth finishes.

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Pros: Lightweight, economical and relatively easy to install. Parts snap together, requiring few tools. Vinyl slats can be installed tightly together, making it excellent for privacy fences. Most vinyl fences comes with a color, and so there is no need to paint or seal it.

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Cons: It sits in the middle where it is more expensive than wood and less durable than concrete. Limited styles and color is offered. While light weight has benefits in transport and installation, it is also not as secure as a privacy fence.

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Maintenance: 20-year to lifetime warranties from peeling and cracking. No painting required. It needs just an occasional washing, depending on conditions.