Installing a fence for privacy or purely aesthetic reasons improves the peaceful enjoyment of a property. Privacy-seeking property owners often erect six-foot stockade-style fences in their backyards.
The classic white picket fence positioned in front yards sets the table for perennial gardens, flowering shrubs and provides eye-catching curb appeal. However, there are a few items many homeowners accidentally overlook. These rank among the sometimes overlooked items homeowners may want to consider.
1: Does the fence design meet severe weather needs?
Consider the severe weather implications of building a standard, six-foot stockade fence in your backyard. This design generally maximizes privacy because it offers a façade that's difficult to see through. However, those wide panels also act as "sail." One of the primary reasons fences topple is due to severe weather such as tropical storm systems and high winds.
If you're concerned about high winds, try fence designs with high wind speeds in mind. These may include chain links, tall pickets with spacing or jockeyed board designs. Fences that position alternating boards on both sides allow increased airflow and reduced sail. Accounting for strong winds could save property owners from replacing a fence prematurely.
2: Do you have the bandwidth to maintain a fence?
The type of fence a property owner selects will likely determine how much time they can spend on upkeep and repair. Pressure- and chemically-treated fences can last more than a decade without homeowners lifting a finger.
The downside is that these materials tend to turn gray and appear bland over time. By contrast, products such as cedar offer improved aesthetic value but usually require weather treatments once or twice each year.
The question may not be whether someone wants a fence they find lovely. It may come down to how much time someone can invest in maintenance. Consider consulting with a construction professional about upkeep before building.
3: Does your fence meet building code rules?
It may sound almost counterintuitive, but most municipalities require property owners to put the finished side of a fence facing an abutter. Other specifications property owners sometimes forget to follow include minimum distances from boundaries and heights.
It's not uncommon for communities to only allow six-foot privacy fences in backyards. Knowing the rules regarding fences before digging posts can help avoid a building code violation or having to tear it down once you start.
Building the right fence can improve the quality of life experiences of house members who want to relax at home. But to enjoy the long-term benefits of fences, it's essential to consider these and other items before moving forward with the project.
About the Author
John Hassler
Our goal is overcoming the housing challenge and getting to know one another, here is a bit about me. Providing you with professional guidance for buying and selling homes stems from an in-depth knowledge of the Twin Cities Best Homes and Neighborhoods. For us, the process is a simple one and starts with a conversation about your needs, desires and concerns. No contracts or promises up front. I ask only for the opportunity to understand your housing needs and have you become comfortable with my real estate knowledge and experience. I have lived throughout the metro area, have sold close to 1000 homes as well as built, remodeled and designed homes. My passion is assisting you in discovering that perfect home, location and setting that will bring you and your family pleasure and comfort for years to come. I would enjoy the opportunity to meet with you at your home, business or over a cup of coffee. I am readily available by email, text and enjoy a phone call as well. Please don’t hesitate to contact me, as I always enjoy a new opportunity to help someone!
