Privacy screens and fencing
Home Design March 11th, 2009
WHAT SORT OF FENCE DO I BUILD?
So you have just finished building your nice new house and it’s time to think about a fence. What sort of fence do you build? The first question to ask yourself is “What’s it for?”
A “Friendly Neighbour Control Fence”
This fence will keep friendly neighbors at bay and also stop your small dog from going AWOL.
It only needs to be a modest structure, such as an easily constructed low picket fence, paling or a post and beam fence.
Low brick wall fences are also a possibility but it’s hard to make these anything but completely boring.
Unfortunately I have never lived in a neighborhood where only a modest discouragement from a fence was required. My neighbours were always closet bogans or dead dreary.
The “I’m a Creative Person Fence”
Creative ski paling fence
If you really need to demonstrate your wild artist sensibilities in a fence then probably any old material can be used. Best use something that would otherwsie be thrown in the trash, like old surfboards or skis.
These are more serious fences, designed for discouraging the local drug-addled thief and other undesirables. This type of fence is always see-through, so that the pathetic low-life will always be visible from the street.
Cheap security fence
Drug Addict Control Fences are usually built from pressed metal spear posts which have nasty sharp tips and slippery vertical faces (with no toe holds). They also usually partner with snappy self closing gates with good locks.
The ‘Household Restraining Fence”.
This fence is for keeping persistenly active children and pets nice and secure inside the family compound.
A low (750mm) fence will usually suffice for this requirement. Some dog breeds, however, have been known to have uncanny fence climbing abilities.
For larger dogs, pole climbing dogs, or more determined children, a higher paling fence or a solid brick and rendered fence might be a consideration.
If you live in a nice housing estate and you really don’t want anyone looking at your backyard behavior perhaps a metal fence might work for you.
The ”This Is The Edge Of My Property Fence”
There again, if you are one of the world’s fortunate who do not have dead boring neighbors or thieving drug addicts in your street, what you need here is a modest little fence that just defines your boundary.
The practical washing line fence
A fence like this doesn’t really need to be a proper fence. A line of little shrubs, a low post and beam, or stumpy (300mm) fence of stone or masonry would certainly suffice.
Concrete sleepers can also look very good.
The “Improve The Value Of Your Property Fence”
There are a variety of fences that will enhance your real estate and improve your property value. A full brick rendered fence or its synthetic polystyrene equivalent looks surprisingly good, provides total privacy but has security issues; due to the fact that you can’t see through it.
Likewise a brush fence; which can also become a smart feature wall.
A curved brushwood fence
Timber batten screening, either alone or with a brick and rendered sub-wall, looks very good especially when it is integrated into the design of the house.
Timber battens, however, need to be maintained; either oiled or painted every 6 months.
Timber slats in fences looks great. If termites are a problem, don’t worry, just use Cyprus Pine timber and chemically treat your timber!
And if you are in bushfire territory, use fire retardant Merbau and fire retardant paint. You can get a full fire retardant timber list from the rural fire service
Another option for bushfire areas is powder coated aluminium (PCA) fencing and screening. It’s more expensive but looks sensational and is low maintenance. It comes in standard colours but can also be custom painted.
The stylish Peak Garden Wall Fencing System uses cement board and timber and is worth a look.
I myself dont have a fence. I guess I am lucky. I live on the side of a hill that backs onto a national park and don’t need to define my boundary or contain my household. The only thing I have to keep out are bush turkeys; the most persistent, stupid, destructive native animal that will ever transpess into your domestic space. No fence, of any kind, can possibly keep out this arrogant, intellectually challenged home invader.
Guest Blog by Writer and Copywriter Steve Connard
June 3rd, 2010 at 6:19 PM
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