Not All Fences are Equal: A Short Background on Fences

The inventor of the fence is lost in time, but there is no question that fencing has been an essential element of early human settlements and civilization. Most early human settlements use wood, twigs and mud to create protective elements around campsites and living areas. As communities became larger, and hunters and gatherers became farmers, fencing became an essential part of any human settlement.

Before the arrival of European settlers in the Americas, many Native American tribes in the East Coast had been using high stockades to enclose their villages. It wasn’t long before the settlers started barricading lands and farms to protect their farm animals.

Soon fences became more than a protective barricade. In the 1800s, American settlers used wooden or stone-based fences and used it as a form of ornamentation and design for their property. Virginia Worm Fences were iconic for their zigzag look which are sturdy and practical. However, as the number of settlers increased, there were areas where stone and wood were relatively scarce.  In the 1860s barbed wire was invented to compensate for the lack of these materials. Since then, materials for fencing have evolved to suit the environment and please the senses as well.

Many buildings and facilities use fences not only as a form of security but also to improve the landscaping. In many cities such as New York City, people live in high rise apartments and condominiums. But in the suburbs, property owners still use fences for security and protection for their gardens, pool areas, and lawns. Property owners choose the material and design for their fencing and make sure it suits their property design.

Finding the Right Fence

You should choose the right fencing material for your property and use your aesthetic tastes and requirements as a basic foundation. The fence design should suit your property’s design. The material should also suit the climate, especially if you plan to use wood.  There are fence installation companies in Tampa, Florida, that can provide advice on which materials would suit you best, whether it’s for your vegetable garden or as a privacy screen for your pool area.

Different Types of Fences

Wooden fenceWhether you want a modern and sleek enclosure, or you want the look of a chic country fence, a fence installation company can recommend the most suitable one for your needs. Most modern fencing materials use steel in different forms and styles. Most often as black horizontal slats that are easy to maintain. They could also use vertical timber stockades and gabions as a fencing structure.

If your house uses a country or ranch design,  a slatted wood fence can complement houses that use cedar and warm tones. If you want to use metal, you can etch leaves or branches as patterns onto metal fence doors. You could also use bamboo fences as they are beautiful and flexible.

Some of these fence materials can be more expensive than others, so choose one that suits your budget and style. Depending on the type of material and the intricacy of the design, the costs would vary.

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