Before purchasing a fence, you should first consider whether it should only be functional, whether only the visual aspect is important, or whether both play a role. When choosing the material, the price is often a decisive criterion, because the price differences can sometimes be considerable.
However, quality should not be neglected, because quality also has its price, as is well known. However, that does not mean that quality always has to be expensive. Ultimately, personal taste is decisive.
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Wooden garden fences
The classic variant of a garden fence is still the one made of wood, one of the most ecological types of fencing. For example, you can choose between a hunter’s fence, the classic picket or picket fence, a palisade, plank, privacy screen or screen fence, depending on the purpose.
Wood is a naturally grown building material, with cracks, warps and different grains. In addition, each wood has a very individual character due to the influence of weather, temperature and light. When choosing the wood, weather resistance is particularly important.
Accordingly, boiler-impregnated wood should be used, as these are much more weather-resistant than natural wood. Pressure-impregnated pine, larch and chestnut are particularly suitable for a wooden fence. Douglas fir, Siberian larch and Bangkirai are also very weather-resistant, but they are also very expensive.
Types of wooden fences
Jägerzaun
The hunter fence, which is also known as a scissor or cross fence because of its construction, is often used to enclose single-family houses or front gardens. It consists of intersecting semicircular profile slats. These are offered as finished accordion-like elements that can be easily pushed together or pulled apart, which makes their transport and assembly much easier.
Picket and
picket fence The picket fence is made up of vertical, rectangular or round wooden slats, each of which is attached to horizontal girders. The picket fence also consists of vertical battens that are beveled at the top. The so-called stakes are attached between an upper and a lower beam.
Palisade and plank fence
The picket fence consists, as the name suggests, of vertical palisades. These have a tubular or round full cross-section and are smooth or wavy. The tubular palisades are closed above.
In the case of plank fences, individual planks are screwed vertically to corresponding crossbars or inserted horizontally into wooden U-shaped strips, which in turn are attached to the posts. With a corresponding height, a picket fence can very well serve as a privacy fence.
Screen fence
The screen fence is also a kind of privacy fence, however, no planks are used here, but narrow strips. Such fences can be greened very well with different climbing plants.
Advantages and disadvantages of wooden fences
Advantages
Wood is a natural material and can therefore be easily integrated into any garden. With a wooden fence there are no restrictions in terms of shape and design. With a little skill you can easily assemble it yourself.
Wooden fences adapt naturally to their surroundings and, in contrast to metal fences, they are much cheaper, depending on the type of wood used. With a new coat of paint you can always set very individual accents with a wooden fence.
Disadvantages
While wood is relatively cheap to buy, the maintenance effort is all the greater. Since wood is a natural building material, it must be regularly painted or re-impregnated with special oils or wood varnishes, about 1-2 times a year.
Garden fences of metal
A metal fence can also emphasize the architecture of a building. Mostly these are made of aluminum or steel. A metal garden fence is representative and in most cases exudes a certain value. The range of models of fences decorated with arches, ornaments and patterns and simple designs is very diverse. Accordingly, the acquisition costs vary greatly depending on the model.
Types of metal fences
chain-link fence
- The chain link fence is the garden classic and, above all, it is functional.
- It is offered with different mesh sizes, materials, finishes and colors.
- Wire mesh consists of a flexible and, despite everything, stable wire.
- This is covered with a mostly green, weather-resistant cover.
- The chain link fence is the cheapest alternative among metal fences.
- It is very easy to set up.
Aluminum
fences Aluminum fences also offer many design options due to their different designs. Both design and shape as well as color can be freely selected depending on personal taste. There are also hardly any limits to the color design. Positive properties of an aluminum fence are its low weight, corrosion resistance, durability, robustness and stability.
Wrought iron and cast iron fences
These fences are particularly suitable for front gardens and are available in many different styles depending on personal taste. Baroque and antique designs and styles are particularly in demand. They are made of galvanized iron, which can be combined very well with masonry posts, among other things. Even if they are among the most expensive, wrought iron fences in particular exude a very special charm.
Advantages and disadvantages of metal fences
Advantages
Anodized, galvanized or powder-coated metal fence is particularly impressive because of its corrosion resistance and durability. In addition, these fences have a special stability due to the coating. They can significantly underline or influence the look of a house or garden.
Above all, aluminum impresses with its low weight, its high-quality appearance and easy processing and assembly. A fence made of steel is much heavier, but it is very stable and resistant.
A modern metal fence is usually very easy to care for and, unlike wood, does not require any additional paint. Despite everything, they can be given a very individual coat of paint.
Disadvantages
The erection of a metal fence is usually very complex. In terms of price, metal fences, with the exception of chain link fences, are very expensive. Particularly dense metal fences can appear very bulky and stocky. If the metal fence is not made of a rustproof metal, it will not be able to withstand rain and moisture for very long.
Plastic garden fences
Garden fences made of plastic are usually made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and are mainly offered in the form of picket fences. These are usually available as a system with individual elements that can be put together individually and that can be expanded, for example by retrofitting gates or arches. Here, too, the choice of colors and shapes is relatively large. Compared to wooden fences, plastic fences are much more expensive to buy.
Advantages
Compared to a wooden fence, plastic has the advantage that it does not have to be painted and is easy to assemble. The maintenance effort is also very low. As a rule, it is sufficient to clean especially white and generally light-colored fence elements with a structured surface once a year with a special plastic cleaner.
Since neither moss nor fungi can collect or settle on a smooth surface, you only need water and a sponge for cleaning. In terms of price, plastic fences are a bit more expensive than wooden fences, but you save the cost of glazes or varnishes. High-quality plastic fences are considered to be durable and weatherproof. In addition, they have a low weight and the problems with rust and corrosion as well as splintering do not apply to plastic.
Disadvantages
Plastic fences look very sterile and unnatural at first glance. Although the maintenance effort is low, if white or light-colored plastic fences are not properly cared for, they can look gray very quickly.
While such fences are very weather-resistant due to their material, they are anything but environmentally friendly in the long term. The low weight of this material is both an advantage and a disadvantage, because it is not particularly stable compared to a metal fence. In the cold it can happen that the plastic becomes brittle and thus prone to damage.
Garden fences made of WPC (Wood Plastic Composite)
WPC fences are mainly used as privacy fences and consist of 70 percent wood fibers or wood flour and 30 percent plastic, so-called single-origin industrial polymers and other additives. WPC is 100 percent recyclable, which means that it meets the highest ecological standards. It can be disposed of with normal household waste without any problems.
Thanks to their wooden look, fences made of WPC are in no way inferior to real wooden fences. The combination of both materials prevents splintering and cracking. There is also no need for maintenance work such as painting or oiling with this material.
A WPC fence is opaque and windproof, making it the ideal partition for gardens, properties or terraces. They are much more moisture-resistant than wood and do not expand as much in the event of thermal changes as, for example, plastic. Furthermore, they are durable, extremely weather-resistant and very easy to care for.
Conclusion
When purchasing a fence, the intended use, the respective type of fence and the material play a role. In addition, building regulations may have to be observed. No matter which material you ultimately choose, each one has its advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, personal taste decides, but quality should not be neglected.
