By: Oliver Marks
When shopping for a fence, you need to consider everything from style to function to how much
maintenance it'll require.
A fence can do any of these things - if you choose the right one. There are hundreds of different styles to choose from, plus a handful of different construction materials, each with their own maintenance requirements and prices.
And you'll need to make sure your fence doesn't create animosity in the neighborhood - or even violate local laws and regulations. Here's how to avoid those pitfalls and get a beautiful long-lasting fence that fits your home and your budget.
Follow the rules
Fences are subject to local zoning codes, which dictate the maximum height allowed, how far they must be from property lines, and whether they're even permitted in front yards. So contact your municipality's zoning department first, suggests Janet Arden, of the American Fence Association, a trade group based in Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Also, if you're in a neighborhood association, a historic district, or a fairly new development, you may face further limitations on fence style, height, and location - so check with local officials.
Be a good neighbor
As Robert Frost wrote, good fences make good neighbors - but they can also make angry ones if the fence appears one day without warning. If possible, consult with any neighbors whose property will abut your new fence to give them a chance to prepare emotionally for the change. (Heck, they might even offer to share the cost if you compromise on some design feature that they prefer.)
Also, unless you've had your lot surveyed, ask your neighbors to confirm your understanding of where the property lines are, says Roy Cuzzocreo of Orange Fence & Supply in Orange, Conn. "I've had to come back to relocate an entire fence by an inch and a half because the homeowner was wrong about the property line," he says.
Consider your goals
The first thing any fence salesman is going to ask you is why you want a fence-because your answer will help narrow your choices. There are four basic categories to choose from:
Privacy, security, decorative or safety
Click here to read about estimated costs and appropriate materials...
A former carpenter and newspaper reporter, Oliver Marks has been writing about home improvements for 16 years. His back yard is encircled by a white picket fence that keeps his Labrador retriever close to home.
Contact Kathy Stankard, of Coldwell Banker, at 508-369-5131 for more home improvement ideas and resources...
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