Expert Tips For Choosing The Right Fence For Your Home
As a homeowner, you will be faced with a variety of choices anytime you want to install a new fence for your home. Making the right choice can be somewhat easy if you are improving on or changing an existing fence, but there are certain factors you still have to take into consideration.
Whether you are going for a white stucco fence, a smart picket fence or a full privacy fence, you have to carefully consider your unique needs before making the investment.
The following tips will help you get started.
Consider why you need a fence
There are a number of reasons why you want to build a fence – for privacy, for aesthetic appeal, for security or for safety of children and pets. Done properly, a fence can have a lot of influence in the value of your property.
According to Ian, expert builder at Horizon Fence, Best Fence Contractors Near Ottawa, when choosing a fence, place more emphasis on what you need than what you want. Different fence types work best for different situations. For example, if you need a fence for privacy, wood or vinyl fencing tends to work best. Once you can decide on the exact purpose for building a fence, making the choice for the right one will come easily.
Consider maintenance
Your unique situation should also play a factor in your fence of choice. How much time will you have for maintaining the fence? Or are you willing to spend money for periodical maintenance? Opting for a wooden fence means you are committing to constant maintenance as a wooden fence will require painting or staining every few years. Aluminum and vinyl fences require less maintenance but they are also less easy to repair. If a storm damages your wooden fence, it is just a matter of replacing the damaged boards and painting them to blend in with the original one.
You should consider going for a fence that is easily maintained and easily repaired.
Consider local laws
Depending on the local laws where you are, you may not have a say in the choice of fence to use. In some places, council laws, home owners association and other regulations decide the material and design of the fence you can build, for instance, the line fences act covers the guidelines for fence related disputes in parts of Ontario. Therefore, it is a good idea to find out the available laws concerning fences in your area before moving ahead.
Consider professional help
There is a huge difference between carrying out minor repairs on a fence and building a fence. Building a fence requires some specialized tools and lots of labour. This is why you may want to consider getting a professional to handle your fence building. But first, make sure to check references and permits before settling for a fence building professional.
It makes more sense to spend money for a professional job than try saving money for a shoddy job that you will be forced to pull down.