How to Choose Your Correct Fence Height

Have you ever pondered how high the average fence should be? This is a question you may not have spent a great of time musing over. You may have a vision in your head of a common chain link fence surrounding a home or business in a city. But how high should the fence around your own home and property really be?

This is a question that invites even more questions to ponder. For example, how high is the average fence in your city or town? Do you live out in the country where a much higher fence may be necessary? You can maybe compare in your mind to the fences your neighbors use. But are they enough for the job?

There is also the local city council and home association to consider. Do they have limits in place on how high fences can be? Are there restrictions on the type of materials that can be used? These are questions that you will need answers to before you begin. But first, what is the reason for your fence?

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Why Do You Need a High Fence?

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Perhaps the most practical question to start with will be why you need a fence in the first place. Is it to keep the neighbors safely on their side of the property line? Perhaps they have kids that don't always know where their yard ends and yours begins. A high fence can put an end to this particular issue.

Do you have cats or dogs that you want to keep safely inside your yard? The area you live in may be home to wild animals or miscreants who aren't kind to pets. You also don't want to spend a lot of time and effort rushing around the neighborhood to track down a lost pet. A high fence can prevent this quandary.

You may have privacy issues due to prying neighbors, nosy kids, and other sources of irritation. Rather than confront them directly in a way that may lead to legal issues, it may be better just to shut them out. A nice high fence that is built to last and solidly maintained will be enough to solve this problem.

You may also be living in a neighborhood that has seen a recent rise in the crime rate. If this is the case, you will definitely want to do all in your power to put yourself in a safer position. A high fence, built of durable and long lasting material, can furnish a deterrent to convince crooks to move on.

There is also the fact that a good fence can add a considerable amount to the ultimate resale value of your home. This is due to the fact that a potential home buyer wants to see a property that is solidly maintained and fully secured. A high fence can give them the assurance they need to buy at the price you fix.

For all of these reasons and more, a high fence can be a very good idea. It will keep your pets in while keeping neighbors, nosy kids, wild animals, and home invaders out. It can also allow you to fix your home sale price at a much higher level. But when all is said and done, how high should your fence actually be?

Is the Fence Only Meant for Decoration?

You can start by asking yourself if the fence is meant to be purely decorative. If this is the case, then it won't need to be very high at all. The purpose of a fence of this type will be mainly to add curb appeal to your property. A nicely styled fence, usually wood or vinyl, will add beauty as well as resale value.

The first thing that a visitor or potential buyer is bound to notice as they exit their vehicle is the state of your fence. If the fence looks good, they will take it as a sure sign that the rest of your property is equally well maintained. This is a clue that your home is well worth the price you ask for,

The average decorative fence should be about three to four feet high. This is high enough to keep most pets safely inside. You can also add an electronic fence purely for the needs of your cats and dogs. Meanwhile, you can decorate your fence with wrought iron curlicues and all kinds of other fancy details.

The key to using a fence of this medium height to decorate your property is to make sure that it blends in well with other properties in the area. You want to build a fence that compliments the other homes and fences. It's fine to add a bit of your personal style but don't overdo it. You want to blend in peacefully.

By doing so, you can have your cake and eat it as well. You can have a nice fence that adds just the right touch of security mixed with style. At the same time, you'll also earn the respect of your neighbors as well as your local home authority. They will see that you are doing your part to keep home values high.

Is Your Fence Meant to Provide Privacy?

The next question you will need to consider is whether or not the fence you want to build will be primarily meant for privacy. Do you have issues with neighbors who don't seem to respect your wish to not be bothered? You may have people living next door who don't have much of a clue when it comes to personal space.

They may also have kids that they don't know how to keep a close eye on. These kids may be tearing up your front lawn with motorbikes or bothering your pets when they are outside. They may even be vandalizing your property or stealing Amazon packages from your front step. If this is the case, you need a fence.

There are several height and style options that you can choose from. Your best bet in a case like this will be to order a fence that is at least six feet tall. The fence can be made of such materials as chain link, vinyl, or wood. If you really want privacy, wood or vinyl may be a better solution than chain link.

The key is to build a barrier that isn't meant to frighten anyone or give them the impression that you are antisocial. All you are trying to do with a fence of this type is protect your privacy. This is an especially sound solution if you don't have the best relations with your neighbors and want to avoid problems.

Is the Fence Meant to Define Boundaries?

One of the most common reasons that you may wish to build a high fence will be to clear up any issues concerning your boundaries. You may find yourself in a situation where it will be up to you to deliver the last word on where your property begins and ends. You will need to do a bit of research to prove this.

A quick visit to the land office combined with a copy of your deed ought to clear up any confusion. You will need these documents for a number of reasons. To begin with, you want to prove that your property really does begin and end exactly where you say it does. These documents will provide strong evidence.

You also want to head off any attempt by your neighbor to dispute where your property actually extends to. Armed with these documents, you can quickly put an end to any legal action that they may threaten to pursue you with. You can take this evidence to the housing authority to answer any questions they may have.

Once you are sure that you have the legal right to build your fence, you can proceed to get started. A fence of this type is not really meant to keep anyone out. It's meant primarily to define the full extent of your property from start to finish. For this reason, it doesn't really need to be very high at all.

The average dimensions of a boundary fence will be something like three feet high with regard to front yards. As to back yards, an extent of six feet should be more than sufficient. You can decorate the fence with a bit of ornamentation that can also serve to maintain it in good shape for many more years to come.

Is the Fence Meant for Your Pets?

If you are building a fence for the purpose of keeping pets safely inside, a total height of six feet should do the job. This is about as high as the biggest and most agile dog can jump. For most small or medium dogs, a total height of about four feet should be adequate. Dogs are athletic but not always graceful.

Cats may pose a more pressing problem to consider. The best bet to keep your cats in the yard will be to build a fence of about six feet in height. It's a good idea to top it off with rollers. These will discourage the cat from trying to climb over the fence while not doing any actual harm to their legs or paws.

There are other ways to keep your pets safe. You can supplement the physical fence that you build with an electronic pet fence. This will give added protection as well as incentive to stay in the bounds of your yard. There are several types of electronic fence, wired and wireless, that you can choose from.

Is the Fence Meant for Your Pool?

A very common reason to build a fence in certain parts of the country is to provide protection for your outdoor pool. If you have a pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, or similar feature, you'll certainly want to keep it safe. You don't want uninvited guests dropping in to have a party in your pool while you are working or asleep.

For this purpose, a fence of about four to six feet should be sufficient. The fence isn't there to provide a massive impenetrable wall of security. It's just there to remind people to stay out of an area that doesn't belong to them. It may also be a wise idea to cover your pool with a tarp when you aren't using it.

Keep in mind that fencing around your pool may be subject to local zoning and housing commission laws. Check to see what the laws in your area may consist of before you take the step of building a pool fence. This can save you time and money. It can also render you safe from an adverse court or council judgment.

Is the Fence Meant for Your Garden?

The fence you are considering building may be meant to protect your garden. If this is the case, it should be built to a height of about three to four feet. The major concern you may have in a case like this isn't so much with people. The real source of the threat to your garden may come from nearby animals.

If you live in an area where rabbits, foxes, skunks, and the like are common, you will certainly need a fence of adequate size to keep your flowers and vegetables safe. Three or four feet is usually enough to keep out most curious or hungry critters. They don't usually have the ability to jump a high fence.

Choose the Fence That's Right for You

For all of the reasons listed above and more, you'll need to choose the right type of fence. It will need to be high enough to keep out animals, neighbors, kids, and criminals. This is not the type of job that you want to take on by yourself. Call on the services of an expert in your area for the best results.