Backyard fences add so much to your property: beauty, safety, value, and privacy. However, if you don’t study up on your choices ahead of time, the installation process can be unnecessarily complicated and frustrating. At DeFazio Company, we encourage our customers to specify the intended height, purpose, design, and material before starting the process. It is also important to know your city’s and neighborhood’s fencing restrictions so you won’t have to make adjustments to your fence after installation.

What Type of Fence Is Right for You?

Determine the Purpose

A good first step is to ask yourself a number of questions. Is your fence mainly going to be to keep your children or pets from straying? Is it to add value and beauty to your yard? Is it for privacy from the neighborhood? Is it for security purposes? Is it going in the front yard, the back yard, or both?

Determine the Height

Once you determine the fence’s function, you can move on to its height. For example, if you’re installing a fence for purely aesthetic reasons, you don’t need an extremely tall fence. It just needs to look pretty. But if you’re installing a fence for security or pet reasons, you will want it to be at least five feet tall.

Determine the Material

Once you know your fence’s purpose and how tall you want it to be, you can determine which material to use. Materials to choose from include:

  • Wood- very popular for fencing because it can be painted to match your home, it lasts a long time (15-20 years), and there are different types of wood to select from, including spruce, cedar, and redwood. Keep in mind that wood fencing requires frequent maintenance and touch-ups in order to last for a long time.
  • Aluminum-  great for security, children, and pets, because it’s durable and strong. Made from sturdy rails, aluminum fencing lasts a long time and requires very little maintenance.
  • Wrought Iron- can last up to 50 years or longer. Like aluminum fencing, wrought iron is strong, durable, and great for kids and pets, but not for privacy.
  • Vinyl- usually only comes in a few colors and can’t be stained or painted. However, vinyl does have a high protection against moisture, and it lasts a long time. Vinyl fencing is best for children and pets.

At DeFazio Company, we want to help you find the right fence to fit the needs of your yard, your family, and your lifestyle. Contact us today at (440) 652-6545. Or request an estimate online for our fence installation services for your home or business in the greater Cleveland area.