Privacy Fences: A Great Option in Noisy Neighborhoods!

Today, homeowners frequently choose to install privacy fences. Ranging from 5 feet to 9 feet in height, these solid structures offer a number of important benefits. Is a privacy fence the best option for your home or business?

Real estate owners enjoy many different fencing alternatives, of course. Most people determine the suitability of a new privacy fence by considering the pros (and the cons) of this selection. Additionally, cost factors, maintenance issues, and long term value features usually matter to astute fence shoppers.

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Some Advantages And Disadvantages

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Historians trace the use of privacy fences back to ancient times. For example, many fine villas in the Roman Empire supplied pleasant gardens within fully enclosed courtyards. Stone and brick privacy fences sometimes helped shelter these residential outdoor spaces from public street. Just consider a few of the pros and cons of owning a privacy fence today:

Eight Important Advantages Offered by a Privacy Fence

Privacy fences still enjoy widespread popularity in the modern era. Realty buyers discover these distinctive fences in both cities and suburbs. Even homes and businesses in rural locations sometimes feature this type of fencing. It offers some striking benefits:

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1. Maintain Privacy

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Its name denotes one of the biggest benefits offered by a well-built privacy fence. Unlike chain link or spaced metal railings, this type of solid fencing shields the interior of an enclosed area from view. It minimizes the ability of someone outside the property to observe people using the grounds.

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2. Reduce Noise

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Privacy fencing frequently helps alleviate noise. The sounds of passing traffic may travel easily across an unfenced yard. Yet by installing a solid privacy fence, a property owner essentially creates an additional barrier against the penetration of unwanted sounds. Many homeowners use this type of fencing to help insulate their premises against noise pollution in crowded places.

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3. Create Safer Play Areas

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One of the most popular reasons to erect a privacy fence involves creating safer outdoor sites for young children and pets. These sturdy enclosures help prevent toddlers from wandering off the property into potentially dangerous environments, like roadways or parking lots. Do you own a dog who enjoys jumping? Frequently, an eight-foot high privacy fence also supplies a much better restraint for an active four-footed companion than a shorter, more easily bypassed, picket fence. Additionally, the use of a privacy fence may reduce barking problems. This solid structure may help prevent a dog from observing distractions nearby.

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4. Ease of Installation

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Today, consumers can obtain prefabricated privacy fencing. Many retailers sell this type of fence in sections. While correct installation remains important, the use of sections of privacy fencing eases the installation process (to some extent). Years ago, erecting a solid fence of this type often proved time consuming. Today, the availability of convenient prefabricated panels has greatly expedited privacy fence construction.

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5. Obtain More Shade

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Some types of fencing, like chain link, offers comparatively little shade on a sunny day. By contrast, a privacy fence may allow a landowner to create cooler locations within a back yard. In some regions, gardeners seeking shade for shade-loving plants like Host as appreciate this aspect of privacy fencing!

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6. Customize Your Fencing

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Privacy fencing offers yet another important advantage: it allows real estate owners to customize the style of the fence to a significant degree. For example, while most privacy fences use vertical boards to create distinctive panelling, even horizontal boards may contribute to this type of fence. Owners enjoy wide decorating latitude. Vary the materials and the color of a privacy fence. You can also modify its height and its shape. Some privacy fence owners even use lattices along upper portions of the fence line to create eye-catching designs. Today, consumers value the ability to craft unique privacy fencing.

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7. Produce Appealing Backyard Retreats

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Lovely privacy fences contribute significantly to numerous residential backyards. This type of fence line offers a great way to contain a garden and ensure flowers and other plantings won't easily spread onto a neighbor's property, for instance. Similarly, installing a tall privacy fence may help protect your yard more effectively against a next-door neighbor's blowing leaves or dandelion spores. The ability to craft a customized outdoor recreational zone causes many homeowners to prefer privacy fencing.

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8. Enhance The Marketability of Your Home or Business

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Yet another benefit of a privacy fence relates to the value it may add to a home or a business. By installing this desirable feature on your property, you may cause your real estate to attract a larger number of prospective buyers. Many families with young children search for listings offering solid privacy fences around backyard play areas. Having this fencing installed reduces realty marketing times in some areas.

Three Potential Privacy Fence Drawbacks

Of course, every type of fencing provides both pros and cons. In some cases, property owners find other kinds of fences suit their requirements for their realty more effectively:

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1. Privacy Fences Do Not Offer Transparency

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If you need to maintain a visual corridor inside a fenced area, then you should probably consider a different type of fencing. For example, for safety reasons, property owners may desire to fence a swimming pool in a way that permits them to see at a glance whether anyone has entered the water. In some cases, placing a transparent chain link fence around the exterior offers a better option than choosing a solid, seven-foot high wooden privacy fence as a pool enclosure.

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2. Accommodating Unique Settings

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Although infrequent, occasionally neighbors enjoy input into the erection of fencing. Installing a new privacy fence in some locations in which businesses share common areas may inspire complaints, for instance. Unique aspects of a tract may make a privacy fence a poor choice.

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3. Complying With Architectural Style Guidelines

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In a few rare cases, a solid privacy fence may clash with the architectural style of a residence or a business. This problem arises comparatively infrequently today, since consumers enjoy a broad selection of privacy fence building materials and styles. Yet in unusual circumstances, this consideration may compel a fence buyer to choose a different type of fencing. For example, Homeowners Association rules in some subdivisions prohibit property owners from erecting fencing that violates existing style guidelines. An HOA may require the use of picket fences instead of privacy fences in front yards.

How Much Will a New Privacy Fence Cost?

The cost of obtaining a privacy fence depends upon several variables. Some of the chief considerations include materials, location, height, length, labor costs, and installation. Additionally, in some places, property owners may need to obtain building permits and/or pay for marking nearby utility lines. In general, most homeowners in the United States pay anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 for this type of fence. The Angie's List website places the median cost for privacy fencing at $8 to $18 per linear foot. Consider several factors that impact pricing:

Materials

In the past, many homeowners relied upon stone, brick, concrete, or adobe privacy fences. While these materials still help create lovely privacy fencing today in some places, in general less expensive and lighter weight products predominate.

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1. Wood/ Wood Composites

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Many people prefer wood privacy fencing. As a construction material, wood offers impressive flexibility. It proves comparatively easy in most places to replace the components of a damaged privacy fence. Additionally, experienced carpenters sometimes craft very attractive wood privacy fences. During recent years, the development of weather-resistant wood composites for use in decks and fencing has gained popularity in cold-weather regions.

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2. Vinyl-Covered Wood

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Today, several manufacturers market stylish prefabricated privacy fencing panels utilizing vinyl-covered wood. These products offer the advantages of enhanced water-resistance and low maintenance. Just like vinyl exterior siding, this type of privacy fence potentially remains attractive for years without fading or discoloring.

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3. Bamboo

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In some places, bamboo provides a popular material for privacy fencing. It sometimes assists specialized businesses seeking stylish temporary fences, for example. Customers may find this material inadequate in locations subjected to extreme winter weather conditions.

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4. Plastic

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A variety of plastics, including PVC, serve as popular construction materials for light weight privacy fencing. Although not as sturdy in many cases as wood, plastic may offer an economical choice in some situations. It tends to resist water damage effectively. Businesses frequently use portable PVC privacy fences in outdoor display areas.

Location

The location of a privacy fence impacts its cost. Expect to pay significantly more to erect a privacy fence in a remote or difficult-to-access location. The challenges of inserting posts on rocky terrain may also contribute to a higher price tag for some privacy fencing.

Dimensions

Both the length and the height of a privacy fence factor into cost considerations. As a general rule, the higher and longer the fence, the steeper the price. Sometimes homeowners reduce the initial cost of this type of fence by purchasing five-foot high panels and then adding decorative lattices to the top of the privacy fence at a later date.

Labor And Installation Costs

Finally, the time required to install a privacy fence impacts total costs. This type of fence may prove challenging to erect on a DIY basis. Today, homeowners usually delegate the installation process to experienced fence installers.

Performing Privacy Fence Maintenance

Some popular types of privacy fences require comparatively little maintenance. For example, the use of vinyl and wood composites during recent years has alleviated the need to refurbish this type of fencing frequently (in some regions). Brick, concrete, and wood privacy fencing does require ongoing annual maintenance procedures:

Obtain Periodic Privacy Fence Inspections

Most homeowners and business gain advantages by inspecting their privacy fences from time to time. Some of the issues to check include:

• Uneven or Infirm Posts And Panels;
  
• Visible Damage, Dents, or Tears in the Privacy Fence;
  
• Privacy Fence Gate Security;
  
• Holes Around the Perimeter of a Privacy Fence.
  

Consider noting any problems and contacting a fence repairer to correct damage promptly.

Applying Protective Privacy Fence Coatings

Currently, some manufacturers market protective coatings specifically designed to reduce weather-related damage to concrete, masonry, and wooden fencing. Obtaining annual or biannual coatings may help maintain the anticipated useful lifespan of some types of privacy fencing. It proves very important to match the material used in your fence to the correct type of sealant.

Add Long Term Value to Your Realty

Installing and maintaining a lovely privacy fence frequently adds value to real estate. In most cases, this type of fixture increases property value. Failing to maintain a privacy fence may detract from the appearance of a home or business, however. The condition of the fence proves especially important if an owner ever places the realty on the marketplace. Some privacy fence owners discover creative ways to enhance the value of this type of asset. Depending upon the setting, some of these strategies may prove helpful:

Illuminate a Privacy Fence

The development of inexpensive solar-powered LED lighting has allowed some privacy fence owners to improve their real estate by illuminating enclosed areas at night. Adding attractive LED lights to a backyard privacy fence does not require an extensive budget today. However, taking this step offers a way to obtain greater enjoyment from a patio or a backyard after dark.

Incorporate a Privacy Fence Into a Security System

Another enhancement for a privacy fence involves the addition of outdoor cameras. Many homeowners and business proprietors appreciate the ability to scan an outdoor location from time to time. Particularly if young children or pets use the area frequently, adding a security camera to the site may enhance safety in fenced locations.

A Highly Personal Decision

Ultimately, a customer's personal preferences usually impact fencing choices. Some households simply prefer lovely privacy fences. These popular additions to back yards and play areas furnish hours of pleasant enjoyment. This type of fence may significantly increase the satisfaction an owner obtains from maintaining a home or a business in a noisy location. It supplies a highly cost-effective addition to enhance real estate!