Are you ready to build a fence or replace an older one? Maybe you need to contain an active dog or young child. Perhaps you have a busy, crowded neighborhood and would like some private space.
Whatever your reason for building a fence, there’s probably a type of material that can meet your needs better than others.
In this article, we’ll go over four common fencing material options, and one you might say is among the more unique DIY fence ideas. Keep reading to learn more.
Five Very Different Fencing Material Options
Four of the following materials are considered durable and secure for a backyard fence installation. The fifth is more of a decorative or landscaping-related choice. Each, of course, has its pros and cons.
Aluminum
The pros of aluminum fencing outweigh the cons. For one thing, it’s lightweight (making installation easier) and low-maintenance. Also, it is both inexpensive and recyclable.
However, aluminum will afford you less security and privacy since it’s meant to be more decorative than durable. And it’s relatively easy to see through.
Vinyl
A vinyl fence is very low-maintenance. It seldom needs repainting or staining during its lifetime. It also has the option of being solid, not picketed—which allows more privacy.
Vinyl fencing is generally more expensive than some other fencing types, and it’s plastic, not a natural or recyclable material. On the upside, though, vinyl fencing is easy to clean, even if it sometimes acquires some mold or mildew.
Chain-Link
Chain-link is one of the most traditional and inexpensive fencing material options. It’s a durable fence that could last for decades. Sometimes, they can be hard to remove—even if you would like to.
Unfortunately, chain-link can be rather drab and institutional-looking. And the only ways to make a chain-link fence more private are to cover it with plants or weave plastic strips through the links.
Wood
People tend to associate a backyard wood fence with comfort and domesticity. For a long time, these fences were featured on sit-coms to signify domestic life’s joys and “the perfect family.”
But wood fences need regular maintenance, such as routine painting or staining and replacing rotted or fallen slats or posts. Wood fences are relatively inexpensive, though—so if yours needs periodic replacement, it shouldn’t break the bank.
Natural Stone
The most significant benefit of a natural stone fence is natural beauty and landscaping potential. This type of fencing doesn’t and probably shouldn’t secure much of anything.
Unlike a stone wall held together with mortar, a natural stone fence generally has stones strategically stacked on top of one another.
When it comes to excellent fence-building ideas, this one is a natural.
There are other fencing materials available besides these five, of course. But we wanted to offer a bit of range in the options.
Having a Fenced-in Yard Comes With Many Benefits
For one thing, a front or backyard fence installation will clarify where the official property lines are—which gives truth to the old saying that “good fences make good neighbors.
Even though you seldom want to alienate your neighbors by having a fence between you and them, any fence you put up is their fence, too. That means that you each get just a bit of privacy from the other. A fence should never be a barrier, though.
If you need fencing in Pinellas County, Florida, let us know. We have many different fencing material options. Alas, we have no stones for you to stack, though.