Think about it this way: you and your best friend are enjoying a summer day in your yard, listening to music from your favorite playlist, and chatting on the phone about the various fence options. A game that your children have made up is causing them to run around and play. The atmosphere is one of domestic coziness and homeliness.
Suddenly, an intrusive neighbor stops what they’re doing to walk by. Your nosy neighbor is watching your kids play and overhearing your conversation. You can avoid this scenario—which is annoying and disturbing—by installing the correct kinds of fence.
You can’t have a private yard and a peaceful lifestyle without privacy fencing. For this reason, it is critical that you select the most appropriate fencing for your requirements.
When it comes to choosing the perfect fence panels for your yard, Fence Company Raleigh NC is your reliable partner, providing quality assistance and a wide range of options.
In this most recent piece, we’ll look at the various fencing options and compare and contrast the most common ones. To help you choose the best fence for your needs, we’ll go over the Pros and Cons of wood, vinyl, and aluminum.
Wood Fences
Historically, wood has been the go-to material for fences of all kinds. It can last for around 20 years with the right care and has that natural look that a lot of homeowners are after.
While wood fencing is a popular choice, it does come with a number of drawbacks. Since it is made of natural materials, it decomposes quickly. Typically, it doesn’t hold up for the full 20 years it is supposed to.
For this reason, it cannot be considered eco-friendly or sustainable. The sooner you put up a new fence, the more resources you’ll have to throw away.
Upkeep is another major pain. When unwanted pests like termites chew on it, it becomes a real pain, and even under ideal conditions, it’s a pain to clean. Power washing and re-staining it once a year is all it takes to keep it from deteriorating. Due to the difficulty of doing this on your own, you should expect to shell out a substantial sum for yearly treatments.
Because of its natural beauty and the wide variety of colors it can be stained, wood fencing is still a popular choice. In contrast, vinyl fencing is not only more eco-friendly, but it also comes in a rainbow of colors to suit any personality.
But the added expense and upkeep required to maintain a wood fence isn’t justified by the fence’s rustic charm. More options for simulated privacy fences with realistic woodgrain and stone textures are available for those who prefer an organic look.
Pros:
- Be stained or painted to any color you choose.
- Very cheap
Cons:
- Always needs a little TLC
- Duration of life: not much more than 5 to 10 years
- Danger from pests and decay
- Colors and shades can fade and change over time.
Vinyl Fences
The finest vinyl fences look and function just as well as their wood counterparts, so there’s no need to sacrifice style for tradition. The most common uses for this material include privacy and pool fences, although it is also ideal for making white picket fencing.
You can get vinyl fences in a variety of styles, including modern, classic, semi-private, privacy, and more.
The standard height of vinyl fences is 3 to 6 feet, while the maximum height for privacy fences is 12 feet.
For nostalgic reasons, many homeowners go with white vinyl. However, there is a wide range of colors available, including almond, clay, grey, and blended colors that mimic a stained fence.
Pros:
- It is weatherproof, meaning it will not rot or be eaten by bugs.
- Very low maintenance (you won’t even need to hire an expert to assess it or fix it after you put it in)
- Almost cost-free maintenance
- Vinyl fences are low maintenance; in fact, they rarely require cleaning beyond the occasional light dusting with a mild detergent and water or, more frequently if desired, a power washing once every two years.
- Enduring because it can be used indefinitely without being replaced
- Excellent material for privacy fences because they don’t need to have any gaps
Cons:
- Have the potential to develop mold (which, as previously mentioned, is easily remedied by using soapy water or power washing).
- Greater outlay for setup (but wiped out by zero ongoing maintenance expenses)
- Does not originate from nature
Aluminum Fences
When asked about the different kinds of fences they prefer, aluminum ranks second. Using aluminum fencing as a fully oblique wall for privacy purposes is not a good idea because the panels don’t cover enough ground.
It is, however, a common option for ensuring the safety of children in backyards, especially those with swimming pools.
As an added bonus, it lets you admire the scenery beyond the fence while keeping your dogs safely contained.
An assortment of aluminum fence grades is available, ranging from Residential to Heavy Industrial.
Pros:
- Simple to maintain (needs an occasional wipe down)
- Minimal cost of upkeep
- Ideal for people who reside on rocky terrain, such as the slopes of the Missouri Ozarks, and can be installed on large slopes due to their adjustable design, which is referred to as “rackability.”
- Impressive for communicating with people and places outside your backyard
- Pickets can be widely spaced or narrowly spaced.
- Sturdier and less expensive than steel
Cons:
- Limited in its use, making it an unsuitable choice for those seeking privacy.
- As a result of aluminum’s low density, bars may be prone to bending when stressed.
- The benefits greatly exceed the drawbacks, once again! Whether you go with vinyl or aluminum fencing depends on your taste and the intended use of the structure.
In the end, things like budget, aesthetic preferences, maintenance habits, and environmental concerns should be considered when deciding between vinyl, aluminum, and wood fences.