Your new puppy will require much the same in the way of fencing as a child. They’re similar to toddlers in that they’re very curious and don’t understand potential dangers. It’s up to you to protect them by taking appropriate precautions and that certainly includes a fenced-in area where they can run, play, and explore in safety.

It’s equally important to have a secure gate that can’t be accessed by random individuals. Sadly, there are unscrupulous people that will steal dogs from their own yard for any number of nefarious purposes. The pups may be used in dog fighting rings, sold to laboratories, or become part of a puppy mill.

If you choose a fence that’s not solid, it’s essential that the spaces between the vertical elements are close enough together that he/she can’t slip between them. Another important consideration will be the size of the pup when he/she’s full grown. A large adult dog can easily escape an enclosure designed to contain a puppy.

The fence will need to be high enough to prevent an adult dog from jumping over it. Some breeds, such as German shepherds, can easily clear a fence. Ensure there’s nothing your dog can jump on to launch himself over the wall. Dog experts suggest installing a six ft. fence.

Jumping isn’t the only thing you’ll need to worry about. Shepherds, Huskies and similar breeds are adept at climbing. Chain link fence isn’t effective for pups that turn out to be climbers.

Not all dogs are diggers, but some are and you’ll need to install a fence that includes an underground cable at the bottom to prevent tunneling escapes.

One of the ways to minimize the desire for a puppy to head for the other side of a fence is to install a solid barrier rather than a see-through option. Dogs that can see objects on the other side are more likely to try to escape, but less likely to bark at what they can’t view.

You’re responsible for the health, safety and welfare of your new pup. There are multiple types of wildlife, most notably alligators, which can and will prey upon your puppy and can scale fences with sufficient motivation. An invisible fence is never an option in Florida and it’s never a good idea to leave a puppy unattended, even within an enclosure.

Fencing is a decorative addition to any property. However, most individuals don’t know the value that it can add to their homes, particularly if they’re planning to sell in the future. A fence provides one of the best ROI ratios available, making the property more desirable to a wider range of potential buyers. In addition to the monetary and aesthetic value, fencing satisfies a myriad of other desires.

There are specific considerations when erecting a barrier that homeowners should consider when choosing a fence. A fencing professional can help with those decisions. To be an enhancement rather than a detraction, the fencing should complement the character and architecture of the surrounding environment.

One of the biggest benefits to a fenced yard is that it appeals to the elderly and people with children and pets. It provides an extra layer of safety and security from unwelcome humans entering the space and it’s a definite deterrent to incursions by a wide variety of wildlife.

For those that crave privacy and relief from road noises, a fence can be the perfect solution. Advanced technology has made possible fencing options able to buffer up to 95 percent of sound, while also providing the privacy that so many people desperately seek.

Homes with a pool are required to maintain a fence that prevents access by small children. The pool will be a draw for many buyers and the fence provides safety for youngsters, the elderly, and pets. Having a pool and the fencing already installed is a powerful incentive for many people.

Fencing can also be utilized to conceal unsightly features such as air conditioning units, trash cans, and generators. It prevents individuals from falling off slopes, bluffs and cliffs on the property, thereby mitigating the potential for a lawsuit. Fencing materials can mimic the look of wood or granite to meet aesthetic considerations. Fencing is also available that will withstand hurricane force winds, a feature that will definitely add value to any Florida home.

A fence can function in a variety of capacities, from minimizing street noise to containing children and pets. It’s important to ensure the chosen fencing contractor is qualified, cognizant of local fence rules and ordinances, and that individuals have some idea of what type of fence they want.

It’s never a good idea for a fence to become a DIY project. It can conceivably require the better part of the summer to complete, while a qualified fencing company can perform the required work in a day or so, depending upon the area to be fenced. There are a myriad of steps individuals can take to facilitate the process.

1. Reason for Fencing

Clients should know why they want a fence. It could be for privacy, security, beautification, to minimize road noise, establish boundaries, or safety. Those factors will impact the type of fencing and materials selected.

2. Type of Fencing

Individuals have a wide range of fencing options and innovative materials from which to choose. Some are better for specific uses, while others are multi-functional. The fencing should blend with existing architecture, features, and aesthetic concerns.

3. Multiple Estimates

Don’t agree to the first estimate received. Optimally, individuals should obtain three estimates. It will allow clients to select the combination of pricing, quality, materials, and installation that best fits their individual needs.

4. Estimators

Even with an online estimate, at some point an estimator will make an on-site visit to view the area to be fenced. Make the estimator aware of any slopes, obstructions, adjoining fences, and access to the work site that could affect cost and installation time.

5. Pertinent Questions

It’s essential that clients ask if the company will obtain needed permits, knows local zoning regulations, and any setback requirements. The company should also be responsible for contacting utility companies to identify underground lines.

If the area has a slope, clients need to know if the fencing will be uniformly the same height or if it will vary according to the slope. Make sure any hardware is included in the price, the installation timeline, and the fine details of warranties and guarantees.

6. Red Flags

Once individuals have performed their research and narrowed their contractor choices to three, there are some red flags of which individuals should be aware. Pass on a contractor that:

• Refuses to provide a written estimate
• Utilizes pressure tactics for clients to make an immediate decision
• Requires cash payments only

Fencing no longer conforms to strictly utilitarian constructs. The barriers are being embellished and decorated in a myriad of ways. Fence art encompasses a variety of items and is only limited to what the imagination can envision.

Lighting

Individuals can choose from an extensive array of solar lighting solutions that utilize decorative post caps to add beauty and distinction to any fence. There are also wired options, along with rope and LED lights to consider.

Plants

Potted plants and hanging baskets are easy ways to satisfy a desire for greenery. Planters and hanging baskets on fencing offers the advantage of vertical planting, allowing individuals to expand their growing options while beautifying their fence. Popular planters include decorative metal buckets, recycled tires, and those in the shape of picture frames.

Outdoor Décor

The market for outdoor fence décor has blossomed across the nation. Individuals can purchase metal décor featuring birds, butterflies, fanciful insects, and fantastical creatures to hang on the fence, along with small statues of everything from animals to angels that are designed to peek over fence tops.

Silhouettes

These are known by various names, but essentially they’re wooden or metal cutouts in the shape of people, plants or animals that can be painted and hung on fences.

Birdhouses

A single decorative birdhouse – or several – can be attached to a fence in multiple ways. They also provide nesting places for birds that help keep down insect populations.

Shelving

Hanging a decorative shelf on a fence offers a wealth of options. They can be used to hold and display anything from plants and statues to other favorite items that individuals want to show off. It’s an especially creative way to display smaller items and keep them off the ground.

Trivets

A trivet isn’t just for protecting tabletops from hot pots. They make excellent decorations and offer an ideal way to exhibit similar types of artistic elements.

Safety in your new home is one of the thoughts that should be paramount in your mind. There are some basic measures you can take to help deter would-be prowlers and intruders. The methods are equally effective if you’re going on vacation or if you have long commutes and work hours. In the excitement of moving in, it’s easy to forget that 73 percent of burglaries and break-ins occur in residential neighborhoods.

Alarm Systems

Installing an alarm system is a basic safety precaution that may also save you on homeowner’s insurance costs. If your new home comes equipped with an alarm system, change the code immediately. Ensure windows have a sticker indicating the home is protected by a security system and place one in the front yard. It’s proven to discourage anyone targeting the home.

Landscaping

Be sure to keep hedges trimmed and growth around doors and windows to a minimum and at a height of no more than three feet to deter crime. Planting prickly or spiky bushes near windows also helps. Mulch them with gravel – the sound of crunching gravel is a definite deterrent.

Lights

Homes that are well-lit are unappealing to thieves and burglars. Invest in some inexpensive timers for different areas of the home. It’s also helpful to alternate the rooms that are lit. The same light in the same window every night establishes a pattern that can be easily tracked by intruders. TVs can typically be set to go on at specific times from the device itself. Smart timers are also available that can be set and monitored from your phone.

Locks

Changing the locks should be at the top of every new homeowner’s to-do list. You never know who might have a key to the existing locks, from local teens to the neighbor across the street.

Motion Detectors

For outdoor usage, few items are as effective and inexpensive as motion detector lighting. The devices should be installed on all four sides of the dwelling. Additional motion detector floodlights should be installed in particularly dark areas or those where people could easily hide.

Video Doorbell

Video doorbells are a smart way to monitor who comes to your door, whether it’s a delivery driver or the mailman. A common ploy used by burglars is to ring the doorbell first to see if anyone answers. A video doorbell will notify you if anyone is at the door via your phone no matter where you happen to be and allow you to respond. You’ll never have to open the door without knowing who is on the other side.

People planning a pool in Florida often forget one of the most important items required by law – a pool fence. Florida law requires every pool owner to install a barrier at least 48 inches in height for any pool that’s 24 inches or more in depth. It can’t have any gaps, openings or other entrances that a curious or unattended child could climb over, crawl under, or push through.

The pool fence must be installed in such a way to ensure it surrounds and blocks off the entire pool and it can’t have any protrusions or indentations that a child could use as a handhold. Pool fence laws apply to in-ground pools and above-ground pools. There are a number of associated laws that govern night swimming, pools and decks and similar situations, many of which new pool owners aren’t aware of until they’ve already contracted for the pool to be installed.

When selecting a pool fence, there are multiple options from which to choose. Many people automatically think of chain link fence because it’s cost effective, can be installed quickly, and is the option of choice for location near lakes and waterways. It’s a good choice and also comes with a bottom cable to prevent unwanted wildlife and pets from entering.

SimTek is another choice that provides beauty, safety, and stylishness. It’s extremely durable and easy to maintain, is available in textures that mimic wood and stone, and provides exceptional sound absorption. It’s also eco-friendly. PVC fencing is another option that is long-lasting, resistant to hurricane winds, highly decorative, and has a lifetime warranty.

For a luxury look that combines elegance with functionality, aluminum fences are an aesthetically pleasing alternative to chain link that’s available in multiple colors and styles. It’s a great way to meet pool protection laws. The rails and gates can be customized for complete safety. Wood stockade fencing is also available.

A pool is a wonderful way to cool off and a focal point for entertaining. It’s also essential that pool owners be in compliance with laws for the safety of small children that don’t understand the danger.

Homeowners have a variety of choices when selecting fencing for their homes and there are multiple factors to consider. It has to meet your specific needs, but it must also conform to any local laws and regulations. You’ll want a fence that fits in with the character of your home and the neighborhood and your particular lifestyle.

There are also maintenance requirements to consider. Depending on the material, some need periodic painting, while others are almost maintenance free. The slope of your property will affect the installation of the fencing and its cost. People install fencing for one of several reasons that include:

• Privacy
• Security
• Protect and contain children and pets
• Safety from falling into pools or off bluffs and cliffs
• Enhance property values
• Establish boundaries
• Conceal trash cans, generators or central air units
• Dampen road noises
• Stop encroaching weeds

The reason for installing your fence will have an impact on the type of fencing you choose. Chain link fencing is great for containing children and pets, but it’s not as aesthetically pleasing as aluminum fencing. Chain link and aluminum fencing enable kids, pets and homeowners to see through it and into the outside world.

Aluminum and chain-link requires very little maintenance and are handy for marking property boundaries and preventing individuals from approaching dangerous areas. Either type is appropriate for security concerns and to prevent trespassing.

SimTek and PVC fencing provide a solid barrier against road noises, provide security and privacy, and delineate boundaries. They’re also ideal on a small scale for concealing unsightly trash cans or valuable generators and central air units. Available in multiple colors and styles, they’re almost maintenance free. The fencing is effective for stopping most encroaching weeds.

Traditional wood fencing can be erected as a solid barrier or with small spaces between the boards. They can be painted or stained and the hardware should be examined regularly.

The most important step before contacting a fencing specialist is to determine why you want a fence. Once that’s decided, your fencing specialist can assist you with the type that best fit your needs.

Fencing is available in so many colors, styles and materials it can be difficult to decide what to choose. Fencing materials run the gamut from wood, aluminum and PVC/vinyl to SimTek, chain link, and wrought iron. One characteristic will be fairly easy to decide – if the fence will be solid or see-through.

The materials can be utilized in a variety of ways to create solid or see through fences, though some perform best when used in specific ways. Much will depend on the reason the fence is being erected, local regulations, and taking into account personal preferences.

There are advantages and drawbacks to each type of material. Wood will need to be stained, painted, or replaced periodically. Aluminum and PVC/vinyl won’t rust and doesn’t need painting. It’s a relatively low-maintenance option that’s also economical. SimTek is eco-friendly and one of the most versatile and durable materials available.

See-Through Fencing

A stand-alone see-through fence can provide security, safety for children and pets, and doesn’t prevent natural light from entering. The biggest benefit of see-through fencing is that it enables people see out. It can keep intruders and unwanted wildlife out. The fencing styles have the advantage of being decorative and aesthetically pleasing.

Solid Fencing

A solid fence has a variety of benefits, not least of which is privacy and the ability to completely block activities from neighbors and the street. They provide increased security to prevent wildlife and intruders from entering and it’s equally effective for keeping children and pets inside and safe.

Solid fencing can be used in a myriad of situations to address specific problems. It buffers street sounds and noises for a more tranquil environment. It’s also effective as a windbreak and for coastal dwellers as a barrier against blowing sand and debris.

Pick the Purpose

One of the most important decisions individuals can make is why they want a fence. It doesn’t have to provide privacy, safety or a barrier against noise. It can simply be ornamental, decorative, and enhance the aesthetics and value of the property.