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GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
What is the purpose of your
fence?
A safe haven for children?
A fence is a great addition to help supervise the outdoor
activities of your children. Limiting access to busy
streets, or hazards from a nearby lake or pool can help
provide piece of mind. Of course, no fence is a substitute
for adult supervision. Building codes for pool fencing
provide good insight into issues to consider regarding any
fence specifically designed with small children in mind.
For example, the BOCA Code for pool fencing requires that a
4" sphere cannot slip between the pickets of a fence
ensuring that the opening does not permit a small child's
head to slip through, which could possibly trap their head
or create a risk of strangulation. Also, horizontal
surfaces that would provide a step for a child to climb the
fence must be considered. For a chain-link fence, that
means a standard 2" square opening in the diamond is not
acceptable in pool areas and a 1-1/4" opening is required
which is small enough that a foot cannot be easily
inserted. For an iron, wood or vinyl fence the spacing
between at least two of the horizontal members must be at
least 45". Gate latching mechanisms should be automatic and
the operating knob or lever should be at minimum 54" above
ground level.
Pet or animal containment?
Many fencing projects are associated with keeping pets in
or other animals out. Recently, products have been
introduced that control animal behavior without a physical
barrier. Typically, these are collars that give your pet an
electric shock when it approaches the zone created by a
radio signal from a buried wire. These products are really
not fences; they are animal training devices. If training
"Fido" to stay in the yard is your sole objective, these
may be a good solution. Remember, however, that these
devices do not keep "Spike" down the street from entering
your yard, and they may prevent your animal from escaping
if "Spike" poses a threat. The size and characteristics of
your animal must be carefully considered when selecting a
fence. An ornamental iron fence may do a great job of
keeping a large dog confined, but with nearly 4" between
pickets it will do little to keep your small breed in the
yard. Aggressive animals have been known to breach even
quality fences and breed is not necessarily an indicator of
how your animal will submit to being confined. Make sure
you evaluate your animal's behavior carefully when
selecting the type or quality of product.
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Design Issues to Consider
Aesthetics
A properly designed, finely crafted fence takes on an
individual quality all its own, independent of its
surroundings. Matched to the style of your house and
grounds, a fence will enhance your home's appearance and
add to its value.
Backdrop
Fencing that's used to show off landscaping should be
chosen so that all materials, including paint colors,
complement what will be planted in front of it. Also,
consider how the fence will look as the garden in front of
it changes throughout the seasons. Using a dark color fence
is another option that will help it take a back seat to
your garden display.
Security
While many types of fence can be used for security, local
building ordinances may affect the allowable height and
design. Familiarizing yourself with these limits during
your planning process will ensure that you don't block a
neighbor's view or obstruct a light source. A security
fence should be between six to eight feet tall, depending
on the intruders you're trying to keep out. If privacy
isn't an issue, an open design will allow air to circulate
through your yard. It also will keep the fence from
becoming the dominant feature in your landscape.
Boundaries
A rail fence, available in many styles, is the most popular
choice for a border. Rail fencing can be architectural in
design or blend invisibly with the background. No matter
what type of fencing you choose, two or three foot heights
may be all of the height you need to define your
boundary.
Traffic Flow
As another form of boundary, fencing designed to control
traffic clearly directs people to a specific area-usually
an entrance. It keeps visitors from entering or exiting
where they shouldn't. Plantings can be incorporated into
the design of this type of fence to help soften its
appearance to harmonize with your landscape.
Visual Screens
Hiding a bad view is the most practical reason for a
fence. A lattice design can effectively make a utility area
vanish.
Privacy
Privacy fencing creates a backyard area that's totally
yours! You can relax without scrutiny from the neighbors.
Or step outside in your pajamas to let the cat in or play
with the dog. A privacy fence can also offer your ears some
relief from a busy street or other sources of noise. Since
a privacy fence is a solid structure, you'll need to
consider its appearance and how it affects air currents
when planning the design. You'd be surprised how much a
solid fence can impact the microclimate of a garden. Paying
attention to the aesthetics of your fence will also help
make your yard a more appealing place to be.
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Neighbors, Zoning & Permits
- Check with your neighbors to make sure your fence
doesn't become an intrusion that blocks their view. Most
people won't mind the construction of a fence-especially
if you make them part of the project by asking for their
advice when choosing a design.
- Check with local municipalities regarding the zoning
ordinances and building codes in your area, and whether
they'll require you to get a building permit.
- Draw a plot-plan on graph paper, showing the layout
of your property to scale. You can then determine exactly
where your fence should be. Draw significant features
such as bordering property, separate areas of a garden,
entries, sidewalks and roadways. Mark the distance of
your house from property lines, as well as drives, trees,
gardens, and outbuildings. You will also need to measure
and draw setback lines and other limitations required by
applicable zoning regulations. You can use this plot-plan
as part of your application if a building permit is
required.
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Choose a Contractor or Do It
Yourself
Determine whether you have the expertise to design and
build a fence, or if you should consider hiring a
contractor. Most fences are designed so the average
homeowner can take on the project. However, not everyone
has the time, tools, or know-how required. There are plenty
of qualified people who can help, but you need to have a
clear idea of the design you want or the purpose you
intend. When dealing with contractors, be sure to ask for
references and any photos of completed work-and make
certain the company is insured or bonded in case of damages
to your property or personal injuries.
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Warranties
Many manufactures provide warranties on their products,
but keep in mind that a warranty is no more valuable than
the strength of the company that stands behind it. Take a
moment and ask some questions regarding not only the
company that might install your fence, but also the company
that provides the material. Look at what the warranty
actually covers. Many fencing warranties only provide
protection against structural failure, which is due to a
failure of the fence coating. Your fence may be covered in
rust, but, until it falls down, you may not have a warranty
claim. A much better warranty is one that protects against
rusting completely.
Some fences, like chain-link can be assembled from a
collection of components from various manufacturers. While
this might yield an acceptable result, if a component fails
you will need to sort out who provided that individual
component to determine who is responsible. A failed
component may also compromise an adjacent component from a different manufacturer. Consider the value of having a
single system warranty from the provider of the product and
an installation warranty from your contractor. This is your
best assurance that your entire fence is engineered with
parts that are matched in their expected service life.
On some products many manufacturers provide a lifetime
warranty. In this case, it is all the more important to
understand the company behind the warranty. Let's face
facts, when it comes to the definition of "Lifetime", very
few things last forever and fencing is not an exception. A
lifetime warranty that never terminates due to a change in
ownership of the property or some other event is a
tremendous liability to any manufacturer. A warranty that
can be passed from generation to generation, owner to owner
is either a very good deal, or the limit on the warranty is
probably the lifetime of the manufacturer. A good warranty
will provide meaningful protection for you as a consumer
balanced against a minimum expected service life of the
fence.
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