Materials to Consider for a Home Front Fence
Posted on: 2 August 2023
Front fences not only offer plenty of style choices, but they also come in diverse materials. Here are several options to consider when planning a barrier for your home.
Timber
Timber has a classic appeal, whether painted, stained, or left raw. It's used to build a diversity of fence styles, including picket, slat, paling and post and rail designs. Thus, wood covers many house styles, featuring pickets in period homes, slats in modern houses and posts and rails in rustic settings.
While timber is attractive and adds to a home's kerb appeal, it typically requires regular maintenance. Stained woods may need refinishing, and painted fences require a fresh coating of paint as the old layer flakes. Timber may also not endure as long as other materials, such as metal or masonry, as it's susceptible to rotting and warping.
The wood you use will be treated to help it withstand the external elements and termites, or naturally resilient hardwood timber may be used. A fencing services contractor can offer advice on timber options in your region.
Metal
Different metals like steel and aluminium are shaped into varied front fence designs such as tubular, slat and corrugated panels. Tubular metal fences can be minimalist or decorative to suit diverse architectures, and they can be used in other parts of the yard, such as around a pool. Aluminium resists rust and is thus able to resist pool damage. Steel is sometimes heavier and stronger than aluminium, depending on the fence, and it is ideal for providing security.
Slat fences usually consist of aluminium in various colours, creating a sleek design that gives some privacy while not being visually heavy because of the gaps within the structure. An alternate fence style using metal panels consists of corrugated metal and provides full privacy. These fences are attractive, with rippling metal sheets and posts with decorative caps, often in contrasting colours. They can also be dressed with lattice or other infill along the fence line, which increases the privacy they afford.
Metal is relatively easy to care for, as it's often powder coated in a process that fuses the paint to the surface, making it unlikely to flake. This finish is durable and long-lasting.
Vinyl
If you want to construct a fence that requires virtually no maintenance other than a wash with a garden hose, you could select a vinyl fence. Vinyl doesn't rot like wood or rust like metal. However, you should install a quality vinyl fence that can withstand the elements and is protected from UV. Because the colour of vinyl reaches through the material, it won't flake off.
Vinyl is made into various fence styles, such as pickets, slats and panel fences, which often feature a textured, grainy surface to mimic the appearance of timber. For more information, contact a fencing service near you.
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