Your Options For Fencing
You like spending time in your backyard sunning, playing with your kids, or gardening, but you probably don't appreciate your neighbors watching everything you do. The solution is to have a privacy fence installed. Three common privacy fences are wood, vinyl, and chain link with privacy slats added. Here's a look at how these options compare.
Wood Fencing Is Traditional
Wood fences are very common, so you don't have to worry about the fence not matching your house or blending in with your neighborhood. The lumber used in fencing is usually cedar, which naturally repels insects, or pressure-treated pine. Destruction by insects isn't usually a big problem when you use wood that repels termites and carpenter ants. However, since wood is an organic material, it will degrade over time due to rain and UV exposure. For that reason, wood fences require the most maintenance.
If you like to keep up with home maintenance chores, and don't mind keeping your fence repaired and painted or stained, then a wood fence may be a good choice for you. However, if you want a privacy fence you can have installed and forget about, then vinyl or chain link are better choices.
Vinyl Fencing Requires Little Maintenance
The biggest advantage to installing a vinyl fence is you don't have to worry about keeping up with maintenance. About the only thing you need to do is wash the fence occasionally. Dirt, pollution, mildew, and iron stains from your sprinklers will gradually build up on your fence, but washing it with a pressure washer is usually all you need to keep it clean. Another good thing about vinyl fencing is that it comes in a variety of colors. You can choose the common white color or pick a more vibrant color if you choose. You can even buy vinyl fencing that is textured and dyed to look just like wood planks.
Chain Link Fences Are Affordable
If you really need to save money, you can have a basic, bare metal chain link fence installed and weave privacy slats through it yourself. However, the more attractive option is to install a chain link fence that is wrapped in vinyl. This eliminates the industrial look of the fence. Brown or black vinyl blends in well with background surroundings so the fence is less noticeable. You can have the contractor attach privacy slats or screens to the fence, so your neighbors can't see through the links.
One advantage of installing a chain link fence is you can always change your mind and remove the slats so you can see through the fence, which you may want to do if you have scenic surroundings on one side of your property. Another advantage of chain link is that it is practically maintenance free. The metal is treated so it won't rust.
All the choices above will provide you with plenty of privacy so you can work and play in your backyard without worrying about neighbors watching. However, before you make your final decision, be sure to check your city's codes and your HOA regulations concerning fences. There is probably a height limit, and you may even be restricted to installing a certain type of fence.
For more information, talk to a professional like York Fence.