Gates and Fences: Materials, Security & Boundary Design
A boundary to your garden is useful and meaningful. It defines space, creates privacy, and security while affecting the first impression to your home. The most appropriate boundary to your space offers all of this while fitting the needs of your budget (in both the long term and the short term) and landscape.
Fence Materials: Costs, Durability and Maintenance Trade-offs
Wooden fences, for good reason, are the most popular garden boundary in the UK. Pressure-treated softwood (pine/fir) can be the most affordable option, with installation and posts costing £40-80 per linear metre. Hardwood options are more expensive, and have a greater longevity. Timber has a good aesthetic, but has a high maintenance cost. In untreated, poor conditions, fences can begin to rot in a few years. With periodic treatments, fences can last 15-20 years.
Wood fences have good aesthetics, are warm and feel natural. They age well. The maintenance is labor, and treatment can be done periodically, or people can accept weathering and rot.
Closeboard (featherboard) fencing is a great option for a solid fence. With excellence in privacy and construction, it has a very robust and dense design. It costs well, and keeps animals from seeing or passing through it. Some maintenance is needed for treatment since it can also be very windy.
A more modern and abstract design is Hit-and-Miss or Slatted fencing. The most important aspect of this design is the alternative boards, which create a less oppressive design with a lot of light and air passing through. Cost-wise, it is still very comparable to Closeboard fencing while achieving great privacy and decreasing wind resistance.
Metal Fences – Lasting, low-maintenance metal fences come in wrought iron, steel, or aluminum. Wrought iron lasts decades but is the costliest. Compared to wrought iron, galvanized or powder-coated steel is cost-effective and strong. Aluminum is lightweight and rust-resistant. Fences can look modern or fit the style of the era, especially wrought iron. Metal fences do have their challenges. Unlike wood, metal fences conduct heat and cold. Galvanized or powder-coated fences require routine maintenance as the coating can corrode. Metal fences typically cost £80-150 per meter.
Composite Fences – Newer fences made of plastic and wood fiber have the appearance of wood without the maintenance because they do not need to be treated. The price of composite fences is comparable to wood and are a more durable option. Compared to other fencing options in the UK, they are a newer option and are reported to be more durable with less risk of severe rot.
Security and Design
A closeboard fence provides privacy because there is no ability to see in or pass through the fence. However, there is no security, as this design covers a person scaling the fence. For a fence to provide security, it has to have very few hand or footholds, which means that the design has to be primarily vertical with no horizontal rails. Metal fences that do not have horizontal rails are more secure than closeboard fences.
Solid gates provide privacy, but may reduce security by concealing activity. Open gates allow visibility of those entering, and the ideal scenario provides the most privacy and the most visibility. Side gates should be solid and lockable (not visible from the street). Main perimeter fences should be designed to avoid easy disturbance or defeat. Access points should be equipped with the appropriate locking devices.
Height is an important consideration both from a legal and security perspective. For the most part, fences up to 2 metres are unproblematic with planning regulations. For security, fences with a height of between 1.8 and 2 metres are most effective. Fences of greater height begin to feel imposing, and block light.
Fences and gates
Wooden gates match timber fences. They have a warm feel, and their aging matches the fences. The price range is between £150 and £400 depending on dimensions and finishes. Wooden gates, like fences, need treatment because of decay.
Metal gates (wrought iron, steel, or aluminium) are more secure and stop decay. They are heavy, and the support of hinges and posts is more demanding. Wrought iron is expensive but is decorative. Steel is galvanised for strength with a lower cost. Aluminium is safe, maintenance free, and lightweight. It is a compromise.
Hinged gates should have hinges on the inside or on the back of the gates to prevent tampering. Locks should be latch locks, not latch catches. Padlocks are an acceptable but unrefined. A good lock mechanisms is less cumbersome. Ball-bearing hinges are appropriate for heavy gates and diminish the effects of sagging.
Installation and Maintenance
One of the most important parts of a fence is the posts set in the ground. Concrete helps hold the posts, and posts should be set at least 600 millimeters beyond ⅓ the height of the fence. Without concrete posts, a fence will sag or lean in a couple of years.
Wooden fences should be checked at least once a year. Panels that are loose or sagging should be refastened. Fences should be examined for rot and be painted or stained in a time period of 2 to 3 years. This fence, in particular, should be addressed more frequently. Metal fences should be checked for rust and not be painted. These fences also require maintenance for set posts and hinge lubrication.
Cost and Longevity
Wood fences are cheap but require yearly maintenance which will cost more in the long run. Metal fences require little to no maintenance, but are costly in comparison. Composite fences are a moderate investment with little maintenance. Walls are set at 200 to 400 dollars per meter but are truly a once in a lifetime investment.
A fence is a boundary that is seen by you and those who visit your home especially. It should be character defining and accent your home. Spending money on maintenance will be worth the investment.