Most Popular Types Of Fences

**11 Minute Read Time**

The Great Wall of China was built to keep out invaders and make boundaries for China. Your backyard may not compare to that description, but nonetheless–your backyard may need a fence. Maybe to keep a dog or pet in, or something else out! Whatever the intended purpose, different types of fences come in many flavors and varieties. Some people may have a very well-thought-out idea of what they want in surrounding their yard, and others want a creative, inspired touch. Whichever the situation…

Different fences for yards and homes have various levels of appeal, especially to various landscaping specifications.

• Do you have a pool that you want an extra layer of fencing for?
• Do you have pets that will be roaming the backyard?
• Do you want to keep your landscape free of unwanted visitors and are looking for privacy?
• Or maybe you have young children you don’t want running beyond your property?

Whatever the case, let’s explore each kind of fencing available and see what style of fence is best for your home.

If wood fencing could be described by one word, “flexible” would probably be it.

Wood is very budgetable, depending on which kind you pick, and how long you want it to last. Pressure-treated wood, along with cedar and redwood last a long time. If treated very well, sometimes past the 40-year mark. Cedar and redwood will turn silver and gray as they age. This can be countered with paint and staining-however some agree the natural look is beautiful on its own.

Pine will require consistent treatment to stay in good shape, same with spruce. This is because these softer woods can crack, rot, and shrink relatively quickly. However, these woods will require a much lower cost upfront, and with staining and pressurizing, they can last a few decades. As with all wood, the more you take care of it, the longer it will provide your backyard with a pleasing aesthetic.

With wood, there are also lots of styles available. This is a key part of the flexibility that is often overlooked. Wood can be placed vertically or horizontally, which allows for any height or thickness. This also means that wood fencing can be edited when a small part of the fence rots, and while the rest of the fence may still remain in good shape. (The overall life of the fence can be extended many years without an entire new fence project). So all in all, wood fencing is readily available and can fit nearly any design. You can paint it, saw it, and shape it, unlike the other types of fencing. The original type and cost of wood (along with maintenance) are the key things to keep in mind for wood fencing.

A chain link fence often gets a bad rap. However, the picture above looks much more attractive than many rough, beat-up chain fences you have likely seen. Just because they are used in many unsavory environments, doesn’t mean they can’t provide what you are looking for in your landscape. So, is a chain link fence really a good option for a dream landscape? The details may surprise you!

Chain link fences do not have to be the four-foot-high rusty-silverish perimeter that someone might have up to let out a loud dog. Who knows, maybe the dog is rebelling against the inspiring, ugly fencing… All jokes aside, chain link fences can have some height, just like wood or any other kind of fencing.

Chain links can also have added colors or rubber coatings to prevent rusting. If you plan to weave plants or overgrowing landscape items into the fence, this can be an even bigger positive. Going back to the dog analogy, you can still keep pets in, while seeing and engaging your neighbors. Want to add in a gate for easy access to the next yard over? No problem.

For anyone on a tight timetable, chain link fencing is also very attractive. The time necessary to close a wide-open yard or area of your landscape into a safe, enclosed area is slim. Even though it can be a quick fix, this kind of fencing is still strong metal (as long as you buy quality) and will last the test of weather, time, and life. Want to get up fencing with decent features quickly? Do you need something super duper affordable that won’t break the bank? Look no further than a chain-link option.

Whereas vinyl fencing may be a longer-lasting version of a wood fence, aluminum fencing is the hybrid between the chain link we talked about a second ago, and wood fencing. Aluminum is lightweight and strong, making it the best of some worlds when it comes to basic style and longevity.

Maintenance is a huge plus for aluminum fencing. On the one hand, it won’t rot similarly to wood and can resist tough weather. There is such a thing as a heavy iron-wrought fence, though. However, this kind of fencing is simply more expensive and will likely have little to no upside on aluminum fencing.

If you have a pool in the summertime, aluminum fences are a fantastic option, even as a shorter enclosure within another property fence. For many, many community and house pools, aluminum fences are the go-to. This fencing will keep out animals and even protect young children from a drowning hazard, while still providing decent visibility. For any homeowner or business looking to install nearly the lowest maintenance, and close to the highest durability, aluminum fencing may be your best choice.

Vinyl is like aluminum and when it comes to style, it can’t be edited or changed as easily. However, if a simple design with the privateness of a wood fence is something you are looking for, this can be a great option. Like aluminum fencing, vinyl should last your lifetime around its landscape if not inappropriately damaged. Even with decades of wear, most vinyl has the same color all the way through, so no “touch ups” or repainting should ever occur. The only real maintenance is the occasional power-washing, or replacing of a chipped section of the fence.

Vinyl fencing is not cheap, however, and with all the positives pricing must be considered. Vinyl does not decay, is flexible and rare to crack, and as said above should last your lifetime. The saying, “You get what you pay for” lands well with vinyl (and aluminum fencing).

Vinyl can sometimes be a victim of harsh weather, and subsequent fading. Most people in the Midwest, however, should not encounter much of an issue… Vinyl is a go-to for the long term, but does not have as natural of a look–compared to wood or other materials. That is also why it stays around for so long, as it has a lot of positive engineering.

There you have it-popular backyard fencing from A-Z (or most of it, anyway). Be on the lookout for future LMG fencing blogs this year! Now that you have a good idea of what is out there, ready to get started?

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