Introduction
Building a fence around your home isn’t cheap. Depending on the size of your property, materials used, installation charges, and other costs add up to make your fence a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. To get your fence installed, you can hire pros by searching for a “fencing company near me”. Otherwise, you can reduce that cost by doing it yourself. Either way, the cost has to justify the purpose. Let’s check out some common reasons for building a fence:
The Reasons
- More privacy – You don’t want nosy neighbors and curious strangers peeping into your property while you’re relaxing on the porch, grilling some meat, or going for a swim at the outdoor swimming pool.
Putting up a fence allows you to boost the privacy of your property. Build it high and thick enough and you’ll be able to keep prying eyes out of your domain. You also discourage malicious individuals since they can’t assess your property before they try to steal a package or decide to break in.
However, it only works if you have the right kind of privacy fence. A waist-height white picket fence may look good, but it won’t serve the purpose of privacy. Consult with your contractor about the local rules and regulations so that you can erect a practical privacy fence that works.
- Security boost – Security is one of the biggest reasons for installing a fence. While you may have plenty of cameras and alarm systems inside your property, all of that won’t be of much help if you don’t have a security fence.
Moreover, a security fence is significantly cheap compared to expensive high-end security cameras and alarm systems. A good security fence with barbed wire, protruding peaks, and sturdy gates do a great job at deterring intruders and trespassers. If you want to spend more, you can even get an electric fence that activates due to motion.
Note that, just like a privacy fence, your security fence needs to be tall, at least 6 feet. The external side of the fence also needs to be slippery or have other deterring measures to prevent intruders from climbing up.
- Prevent kids and pets from going out – The backyard is the best place for toddlers and pets. They get to run around, play with you or just roll on the soft turf. It’s a great way to get fresh air and have some physical activity.
However, if your yard isn’t fenced, you have to be on the constant lookout for your kid’s safety. Kids and pets are naturally curious and like to wander off. They will go out of your property at the first opportunity and that exposes them to numerous risks. If your home is in front of a busy street, it’s even more dangerous.
That’s why homeowners with kids and pets often install a fence around their property. If you have pets, you have to build a sufficiently tall fence that is difficult to climb and can deter the jumping power of your dog.
- Reduce noise – As mentioned above, if you live in front of a busy street, you need to fence your property to keep your kids and pets safe. Even if you don’t have kids or pets, the honking cars and rumbling trucks won’t allow you a moment of peace. It can get so loud that you may not be able to hear what other people are saying inside your home.
To fix this problem, you can do plenty of things. Some of them include installing insulated doors and windows and also putting up the right type of fence. You need to pay special attention to the materials if you’re putting up a fence to reduce noise contamination. It needs to reflect or dampen the noise significantly before it gets into your home.
For instance, a wood fence isn’t the ideal choice for noise dampening. Instead, mass-loaded vinyl is a much better and cheaper alternative if noise suppression is your primary goal.
- Marking boundary – Property disputes are a common occurrence when you don’t have a fence. It isn’t a major bother if you have amicable relations with your neighbor. However, even the good neighbor won’t be too happy dealing with your litter or landscape features intruding into his territory.
You can reduce these disputes by building a fence around your property. When you build a fence, you have to discuss things clearly with your immediate neighbors and even get your property surveyed. If you have good relations with them, you may share the cost of the fence on the shared property line.
Defining your boundary with a fence creates a visual representation of your property line and prevents you and your neighbors from getting into unnecessary disputes. It can save you from expensive lawsuits.
- Protection from the weather and hiding unwanted features – Your fence can also help you protect your property from harsh weather. For instance, if you have delicate plants and landscaping features, you can prevent the onslaught of the elements during a storm.
Moreover, you can even hide features that don’t look too good. You can choose decorative designs and high-end materials for your fence to direct attention away from unsightly parts of your garden or yard.
- Increase property value – Your home is one of the biggest investments of your life. When you sell it, you want the highest value possible. A fence is an easy way to increase the resale value of your home.
Most buyers who look for a property in suburbia usually want a home with a fence. If they can get a property with a pre-installed fence, they don’t have to go through the hassle of hiring a contractor or familiarize themselves with the local rules and regulations for building a fence. That will make them more inclined to pay a premium.
Conclusion
When people build a fence around their home, they usually do it for one or more of the above-mentioned reasons. If you have an equally compelling reason, a fence might be the right investment for you. To get it professionally installed, you can search for “fencing company near me”.