Outdoor Fences

The variety of outdoor fences available on the market today is incredible!

Each type of fence comes with it’s own set of pros and cons. Some yard fences can be installed by the do it yourselfer while some yard fences should be installed by a professional. Some yard fences are relatively inexpensive while some yard fences are quite costly.

As with all backyard landscaping projects, when deciding among your many choices for outdoor fences, you should first and foremost consider what purpose the fence will serve.

I know this sounds trivial, but if you don’t identify the purpose of the fence first, you may end up with something you don’t like, and that doesn’t meet your needs.

When I first moved into my home, I knew I needed a fence for my dog. My almost 1-acre lot was completely open, and she is not a very well-behaved poochy! (I say that with a lot of love.)

We didn’t have a lot of money to spend on outdoor fences, so I started looking at one of the cheapest alternatives that could be installed quickly – the chain link fence.

Believe me when I tell you I didn’t really want this type of fence – I think they’re kind of ugly, and it would’ve detracted from my view in the backyard.

I was so focused on the need for a fence, however, it took me awhile to realize that all I needed was to make sure my dog stayed in the yard.

Fortunately I came upon information for an electric fence for dogs! What a great idea! I was able to have this installed in the front and back yards for about $900, when a chain link fence would have cost me about $3,000 plus! Yuk!

So start out by identifying what you’re MOST hoping to achieve by the fence installation:

privacy
keep kids or dogs inside
keep kids, dogs or neighbors outside
cutesy up your yard
provide a wind barrieror whatever!

Then identify any other important factors:

budget for the project
timeline – when do you HAVE to have it installed
desire to complete project yourself
amount of maintenance you’re willing to invest

Once you’ve identified your top reasons for getting a fence, along with any other mitigating factors, browse through the types of outdoor fences I discuss on this site to help you make your decision.

Outdoor fences - Building a Privacy Fence
Building a privacy fence is the same process as building a wood fence except for the installation of the boards that make up the actual design of the fence. If it's privacy you're after however, you might want to consider a living fence made from hedge plants. Better yet, combine the two for the ultimate in privacy and noise reduction!

Outdoor fences - Wrought Iron Fences
The installation of wrought iron fences is a major home improvement project, and should not be embarked upon by the do it yourselfer. These fences add a great deal of beauty and elegance to a home, however the installation process must be meticulous. Wrought iron fences offer the benefits of less maintenance costs and longer life spans than other fences, however the initial cost of the materials and installation process is high. Be sure to conduct thorough research before having wrought iron fences installed.

If it’s the look of wrought iron fences that you’re after but need a more economic alternative, consider a steel fence designed to mimic the appearance of wrought iron. This material may be more forgiving and easier to work with than wrought iron. The product is built to last many, many years, and is virtually maintenance free.

Outdoor fences - Composite Fences
Composite fences?? What the heck are composite fences?? If you’re unfamiliar with this terminology, composite fences are those fences that are made of material which is essentially a combination of wood and plastic, which is sort of fused together. The material that results from this process is something that has the appearance of wood, without the required maintenance of wood. This material can be pricey, but the benefits of composite fences definitely out way the costs if you’re able to afford it.

Outdoor fences - Lifetime Vinyl Fence
A lifetime vinyl fence is a lower priced alternative to composite fences. The theory behind this type of fence is the same – little to no maintenance over the life of the fence, with the exception of cleanings. A lifetime vinyl fence may not necessarily have the look of wood that composite fences do, however, and they will not withstand the test of time in quite the same way. Pay for the highest end fence that you can afford, and you will be much happier with the product as a result. If you can afford it, composite fences are the way to go.

Outdoor fences - Electric Fence for Dogs
This is a wonderful thing! An electric fence for dogs is an “invisible” fence, that is placed several inches below ground around your perimeter, and keeps your dog contained in the yard when they wear the complimentary dog collar designed to work with the fence. These fences will literally work for ALMOST ANY DOG, regardless of how “escape prone” they are, and no one will even know you have a fence! They’ll simply think you have a well-trained dog who refuses to go past a certain perimeter. Let me tell you a little about my experience with the electric fence for dogs and why I recommend it and use one myself.

Outdoor fences - Living Fence
A living fence is often made up of hedge plants – hedge plants that are stacked lovingly together to form a nice, privacy barrier between you and your neighbors. I can’t tell you how much I love my living fence! My hedge plants are over 20 feet tall, and I get lots and lots of privacy! Don’t be turned off by this if you’re not looking to be a recluse like me...there are lots of landscaping bushes that can be trimmed to a height of 3-4 feet. These hedge plants will provide you the fence that you want or need, without the seclusion. Find out more about the best plants for your living fence.

Outdoor fences - Child Safety Pool Fence
If you have a pool and you’re reading this section, you probably already know how incredibly important a child safety pool fence is. Children are drawn to water like moths to a flame, and they are known for getting into things that she shouldn’t. You can’t possibly keep your eyes on your child every single second of the day, and unfortunately, seconds is all it takes to have something bad happen. Give yourself some piece of mind by having a child safety pool fence installed.

Outdoor fences - Chain Link Fence Installation
If you’re considering chain link fence installation, you’re considering one of the more economical and durable fencing options on the market. Due to the variety of styles available nowadays, chain link fence installation means many more options are available to you than before. The fence is constructed of galvanized or coated steal wire, comes in a wide range of sizes ranging from 3 feet to 12 feet in height, and can even be equipped as a privacy fence with slots of material running through the wires.

Outdoor fences - Vinyl Coated Chain Link Fence
Don’t like the color of grey steel? Try a vinyl coated chain link fence! They typically come in green, however I have also seen them in white or brown. There isn’t a great deal of additional cost, and the vinyl coated chain link fence really does have a much warmer look and feel to it than the standard chain link fence.

Outdoor fences - Fence Building Contractors
There are fence building contractors out there by the dozen, aren’t there? So how are you going to know which one to choose? How do you even know where to start? Presented in this section are some helpful tips to help you select good fence building contractors in your area. Of course, my first recommendation when looking for a good contractor is a subscription to Angie's List (opens new window).

Other considerations when installing Outdoor Fences:
Prior to installing any outdoor fences, or having one installed in your yard, you’ll need to obtain a permit for such from you local municipality. In my situation, for example, I would look in the phone book under my village, and contact the Village Hall for general information on obtaining permits.

If I look under a larger city, such as Milwaukee, there’s a specific contact number for “fence permits.”

So how do you convince your city to give you a permit to install a fence? Well, you have to convince them that you’re going to install the fence on your property (not your neighbor’s) and that it will meet any guidelines that the city has established.

For example, there will be rules as to how high the fence can be built (my village says no more than 6 feet, unless the fence stands between 2 houses in which case it can only be 4 feet), where it can be located (I can install a fence in my back yard, but not my front yard) and how it should be positioned (there’s generally an “inside” and “outside” to a fence, and the “inside” must face the owner of the fence with the “outside” facing your neighbor’s property.

To prove to your municipality that you’ll meet their expectations, you have to draw up a plan as to what type of fence you intend to install, and where you intend to install it.

The key to installing outdoor fences, of course, is to keep the entire structure on your property. Drawing up a plan will not be enough to satisfy your municipality that the fence will be installed on your property. If you plan to build the fence as close to the property line as possible without going over it, you’ll need a survey of your property.

A property survey gives clear information as to exactly where your property ends, and where you can establish structures without encroaching on your neighbor’s property.

A property survey is NOT what’s provided at settlement when purchasing a home. This type of survey generally only discusses the actual location of the house on the lot, and would not be sufficient to meet the needs of obtaining a fence permit. A bonafide property survey is conducted by a firm who is licensed to perform this type of function.

If a property survey has every been conducted on your home since it was built, it is possible that this information is on file at your city hall. It’s definitely worth checking into. A property survey can be several hundred dollars, so if this has already been completed, all the better for you!

One way to avoid having to complete a property survey is to build your structure well within the limits of your property. When I had my above ground pool installed, I placed it at least 10 feet from the property line, and as a result I was able to get the permit from the village. They were confident that with that type of spacing I would not be encroaching on my neighbor’s property.

If you need to get a property survey (opens new window), this article discusses steps that you can take to obtain such.

Please be aware that if you plan to hire a company to install your outdoor fences, they will require that a permit is obtained...well, let me say that any REPUTABLE company will require that a permit is obtained.

Let’s say you decide to install the outdoor fences yourself, and you forgo obtaining a permit. After all, are there “permit police” running around waiting to arrest the poor unsuspecting fool who installed a fence without a permit?? I mean really, who would even know?? Right??

Let’s talk about the whole heap of trouble you could run into if you forgo the permit.

I had a neighbor who installed a 6 foot fence by himself, without a permit, with the ”outside” of the fence facing his way. He ran the 6 foot fence between his house and mine instead of lowering it to 4 feet as indicated by the regs.

Believe me when I tell you, I didn’t care! I was happy to have the privacy!

Unfortunately, we had a very nosey neighbor who decided to be a “budinski”!

She contacted the city hall and had him cited. The neighbor who installed the fence had to take it down, turn it around with the “inside” facing him, and lower the 6 foot portion between the houses down to 4 feet. Oh, and he was fined for improper installation.

Even if you don’t have problems with your neighbors, if you miscalculate the location of the fence and inadvertently place it on your neighbor’s property, even by an inch, you will have problems selling your home in the future, OR your neighbor could legitimately tear it down as it is on his property.

Let me reiterate again how important it is to contact your municipality, obtain the rules and regulations of fence installation before beginning, and do things right from the start!!

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