Security is becoming an increasing concern and fences are the most popular means of protecting properties ranging from homes and businesses to production plants and utilities. With the many choices currently on the market, homeowners don’t have to eschew style when seeking security.

Aluminum

One of the benefits of aluminum is that it can be customized and fashioned into a myriad of decorative designs that rival wrought iron creations. The pickets can be spaced to prevent anyone from climbing it and the fencing can even be equipped with spikes at the top to further deter would be intruders.

Aluminum fencing is available in multiple colors and heights. People on the outside can still see inside your yard, but won’t be able to access it. Potential trespassers also won’t have a place to hide, since you can see through it. Aluminum fencing is virtually maintenance free.

Wire Mesh

Aluminum upright supports can be combined with tightly woven wire mesh to create a fence that’s stylish and offers no purchase for intruders to climb over. An additional feature is that it can be extended all the way to the ground level to prevent people from crawling under it and it’s effective for containing children and pets. The mesh provides many of the same attributes of chain link, but is far more aesthetically pleasing than chain link, and comes in multiple colors. Maintenance is minimal.

Vinyl

A vinyl fence can be customized in multiple ways and it’s offered in a variety of different colors and textures. Also known as PVC fencing, there are more than 30 different decorative and unique styles. It forms a solid barrier that prevents would be intruders from seeing in. It’s effective for keeping children and pets inside the yard and requires little to no maintenance.

SimTek®

Another type of fencing that provides a solid barrier is SimTek® You can customize it in a variety of ways and in multiple colors. It’s eco-friendly, resistant to graffiti, can withstand 110 mph hurricane winds. and gusts up to 130 mph. It’s also maintenance free and is effective for keeping children and pets safe from prying eyes.

Every family waits with eager anticipation the installation of their new pool. However, before taking the first dip in your new pool, there are fencing laws to which you must adhere under the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act. Failure to do so has stiff penalties.

Enacted in 2009, the law is designed to reduce the number of accidental drowning of children. Prior to passage of the law, drowning was the No. 1 cause of accidental death in children of all ages. Now pool owners are required by law to erect a barrier around their pool that adheres to stringent specifications.

Swimming Pools

Outdoor swimming pools are required to be encircled by a fence or other suitable barrier of at least 4 feet in height. It must be low enough to the ground so children can’t crawl under it and include no outcroppings that small children can use to crawl over it.

The fence is required to be a specified distance from the edge of the pool in the event that a child manages to infiltrate the barrier to prevent them from immediately falling in the water. The fence must have a gate that opens outward, be self-closing, and be equipped with a self-locking device.

Indoor Pools

There are some exceptions for indoor pools. If the pool is inside a screened in area, a fence isn’t required as long as the windows and doors that give access to the pool have a wired safety alarm. A fence also isn’t required if there’s a self-closing, self-latching device installed at least 54 inches above ground level.

Kiddie Pools

Small, shallow wading pools are popular for younger children at home. They’re designed to be temporary in nature and aren’t subject to fencing laws. Private community pools and public pools located in condos and apartment complexes are also exempt from the fencing law, but also have more rigorous laws to ensure the safety of children around water. Public swimming pools must be in compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Federal Pool and Sap Safety Act.

From scam artists and porch pirates to intruders, people are giving more thought to installing security measures for their homes. Some individuals choose to install selected methods, while others opt to have a full security system installed with all the bells and whistles. Individuals can also choose to transform their abode into a smart home that can be programmed, controlled from smartphones, and include a video feed.

Alarms

An alarm can and should be installed on all doors and windows. Homeowners can choose from wired systems that are integrated into a home’s electrical system, wireless systems that utilize radio frequencies, and unmonitored types that will emit audible/visual signals and are dependent upon reliable cellular reception.

Cameras

Many individuals choose to install cameras and that includes doorbell cameras. They’re an excellent deterrent and can even provide a means to prosecuting offenders. Cameras can be installed as part of an overall security system or independent models can be selected that constantly records.

Fencing

Attractive and effective fencing is available that will make intruders think twice before trying to enter a property. Fencing can encompass a wide variety of options, materials, and heights that combine beauty with functionality, though the most widely utilized is chain link.

Lights

Illuminating a property is a definite deterrent to would-be burglars that like to work in the dark. Homeowners can choose to light specific areas of their property with illumination that automatically turns on when a specific level of darkness is achieved. Motion sensor lighting is also effective and turn on anytime movement is detected.

Locks

There are a great many types of locks that can be installed on homes for elevated security. Deadbolts are effective, but individuals need to ensure that their door frames and hinges are strong. The most popular locks are electronic that requires a code to activate.

Safe Room

A safe room provides people with a secure place to shelter should an intruder enter the home. Depending upon the circumstances, it can also provide a safe place to ride out a tornado or avoid the air-borne debris of a hurricane if people aren’t able to evacuate.