How to Choose the Right Type of Fence for Your Home
The first step in choosing the right fence for your home is determining what you want the fence
to accomplish. The top reasons for installing a fence are:
Safety
Security
Privacy
Establish a boundary
Curb Appeal/Property Value
Buffer Noise
Safety
Maintaining safety for children and pets is a priority for many people. You’ll want a fence that
children and pets can’t climb over or crawl under. You’ll also want a fence that will be high
enough to deter humans and wildlife from entering the space.
Security
Chain link and aluminum fencing are effective for security purposes. Chain link is less attractive
than other types, but can be affixed with a variety of features to prevent entry. Aluminum
fencing is highly attractive and resembles wrought iron. It’s very durable and can be designed
with spiked tops and similar features.
Privacy
For privacy, nothing beats a solid fence. The fencing can be installed vertically or horizontally.
Solid fencing doesn’t allow anyone to see in or out. Board-on-board installations are similar, but
do allow a small sliver of sight from just the right angle.
Boundaries
Fencing is an excellent way to mark a property line and set a boundary. Erecting a fence is also
effective for keeping pedestrians from cutting across lawns, along with keeping people and pets
away from dangerous slopes.
Curb Appeal
A fence for curb appeal should frame the property and home. It shows off the property to its
best advantage as viewed from the road.
Home Value
The right fence can significantly increase home value. A fence is especially valuable if the home
is going to be sold. It’s an investment that many buyers want and an already installed fence is a
substantial selling point.
Noise
Traffic, sirens, barking dogs and neighbors can make it difficult to relax, watch TV or enjoy time
in your yard. A solid fence is an effective noise barrier and can be especially beneficial for those
that work at night and sleep during the day.
Zepco Fence…South Florida’s Premier Fence Company
Since 1981 Zepco Fence has been providing superior quality fence products and installations to all of South Florida Residential and Commercial Property owners.
Serving all of Broward and Palm Beach County areas, we are the #1 Fence Company in South Florida.
We encourage you to contact us below to get started with a free estimate on your next fence project.
Call Today at 954-410-9570
Read moreFencing Tips for Pet Owners
Dogs are important members of the family and individuals will want to take many of the same
precautions to protect their pets as they would children. Never leave a canine unattended,
even within their enclosure. The following are some tips to help keep pets safely within their
boundaries.
Know the Dog
A 4-ft. fence is adequate for a puppy, but individuals need to plan ahead for the dog’s mature
height. Some breed types have a proclivity toward certain behaviors. Highly intelligent canines
are well able to open locked gates from observing what their human companions do.
Jumping Over
Some dogs are jumpers. Keep doghouses and other items away from fences. Even smaller
canines can be tempted to jump if they can gain elevation.
Crawling Under
A dog may be a digger and if they dig next to the fence, they’ll take the opportunity to escape.
Even worse, they can get trapped underneath it. The simple installation of an underground
barrier can prevent a canine from crawling under the fence or getting stuck.
Climbing Over
Chain link fences are popular dog enclosures, but a determined canine can scale fences if they
can gain a toehold. Chain link fences can be equipped with coyote rollers or inward facing
attachments on top to prevent a dog from climbing up and over.
Squeezing Through
Pay attention to the spacing of fence posts and pickets. Any upright elements should be spaced
closely enough together that a dog can’t squeeze through or get stuck between them.
Blocking the View
Canines can get overly excited when they see people and pets on the outside of the enclosure.
A solid fence will block their view and keep them calmer.
Gates
Dogs can – and do – learn how to operate gate closures. A locking gate is the best precaution.
All closing and locking mechanisms should be located where it can’t be accessed by the dog.
Zepco Fence…South Florida’s Premier Fence Company
Since 1981 Zepco Fence has been providing superior quality fence products and installations to all of South Florida Residential and Commercial Property owners.
Serving all of Broward and Palm Beach County areas, we are the #1 Fence Company in South Florida.
We encourage you to contact us below to get started with a free estimate on your next fence project.
Call Today at 954-410-9570
Read moreBest Way to Hurricane Proof a Fence
Fences in South Florida take a lot of abuse. Heat, humidity, insects, and even salt spray can be
detrimental to the structures. However, the real test of a fence’s sturdiness and longevity
comes with the arrival of a hurricane. There are some measures that anyone can take to help
hurricane proof their fence and give it a better chance of surviving a hurricane’s fury.
Hardware
Fencing is typically connected with nails, screws or nuts and bolts. Galvanized hardware is
resistant to rust and corrosion, but not impervious. Inspect fences regularly and have any
fasteners or joiners replaced that are loose, missing, or corroded.
Pickets and Posts
Fence posts are typically fixed in concrete for stability. Make sure any installer sets fence
uprights in concrete. Promptly replace any pickets that become damaged or loose. Another
thing to look for are any posts or pickets that may have become rotted, chipped, cracked,
warped, or the victim of insect predation.
Materials
Some types of materials are more resistant to damage than others. Materials such as vinyl are
more resistant to rain, wind and UV rays than wood, for instance. Wood fences can be blown
over in high winds.
Steel Frame
One of the best ways to hurricane proof any fence is by installing it with a framework of metal
posts. Metal is more resistant to the high winds that accompany a hurricane.
Spacing
Any fence with spaces between the pickets is going to be more resistant to the winds generated
by a hurricane. Those spaces allow wind to flow through, rather than forming a solid barrier to
be battered by wind.
Gates
An open, flopping gate can be twisted and detached from its anchor and has the potential to
damage the fence. Gates should be closed and locked when a hurricane is in the forecast.
Zepco Fence…South Florida’s Premier Fence Company
Since 1981 Zepco Fence has been providing superior quality fence products and installations to all of South Florida Residential and Commercial Property owners.
Serving all of Broward and Palm Beach County areas, we are the #1 Fence Company in South Florida.
We encourage you to contact us below to get started with a free estimate on your next fence project.
Call Today at 954-410-9570
Read moreChild Proofing Your Fence
Children are naturally curious about the world around them – and that includes what’s on the other side
of your fence. Simply installing a fence isn’t enough to protect your children. There are additional
elements that must be considered.
Height
Installing a sufficiently high fence may not seem like a problem for those with small children. However,
youngsters have no qualms about climbing a fence. Anticipate their height and reach as they mature.
Don’t leave swings and other toys near a fence that a child can use to get closer to the fence top.
Ground Clearance
Make sure the fence reaches all the way to the ground. A gap between the bottom of the fence and the
ground level is nothing short of an invitation for a child to crawl under it. An added danger is that they
can become stuck.
Outcroppings
Any fence should be free of handholds or outcroppings that a child can use to scale a fence. It will also
prevent them from losing their grasp, falling, and potentially sustaining an injury.
Spacing
The spacing of the posts and pickets is an equally important consideration. There should be no spaces
between posts and pickets that a child can squeeze through or get stuck between.
Damaged Elements
Inspect fences regularly and repair or replace any damaged piece or fastener used to connect it.
Damaged boards, panels or hardware provide an escape route and the potential for injury from broken
boards or metal.
Gates
Fence gates pose a definite risk when trying to keep children contained. Gates should be self-closing and
self-locking. Locking mechanisms should never be within the reach of children.
Never Leave Them Alone
It only takes a moment for children to discover a weakness in a fence. Never leave children unattended,
even in a backyard enclosure. Stray dogs, dangerous wildlife, and enterprising trespassers always remain
a potential danger, even with a fence.
Zepco Fence…South Florida’s Premier Fence Company
Since 1981 Zepco Fence has been providing superior quality fence products and installations to all of South Florida Residential and Commercial Property owners.
Serving all of Broward and Palm Beach County areas, we are the #1 Fence Company in South Florida.
We encourage you to contact us below to get started with a free estimate on your next fence project.
Call Today at 954-410-9570
Read more