Landscape Detail: Do Fence Me In

A fence can come in just about any substance and any configuration. From the common but oh-so-homey white picket fence to the elegance of wrought iron metal, a fence expands the architecture of the house to the borders of the house. So just as a white picket fence could be out of location at which the house is all Tuscan villa, an elaborate wrought iron fence could be out of place before a Cape Cod house.

Fences have very specific functional requirements. They can separate, link, define, enhance and screen. Additionally, they can mitigate acoustic nuisances. To attain these goals, fences can be decorative and open, such as the picket fence, or solid and tall, such as one made of corrugated metal.

The style, substance and type of fence that is right for your house depends upon what you would like it to attain. And don’t forget to ensure that your proposed fence complies with local codes and ordinances.

Woodburn & Company Landscape Architecture, LLC

The picket fence is the one we associate with small-town America and our colonial roots. It’s the fence most at home in front of Cape Cod and colonial-style houses.

Since a picket fence isn’t supposed to be tall and aesthetically opaque, it is more often than not used to define a border or a corner and to make a backdrop. Therefore, a picket fence is much more suitable for a front lawn, where it can enhance curb appeal, forming the backdrop for those wonderful summertime blooms.

Frederick + Frederick Architects

The board fence is composed of vertical posts and horizontal boards. Less fussy and trendy than its picket fence cousin, the board fence is the ideal selection for big possessions. The spacing of these boards determines the transparency of the fence. Here the spacing is far apart, allowing the architecture of the house to come through.

This type of fence functions much like the picket fence since it defines a border. It also supplies that ideal place to sit on a warm summer day.

Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd..

The split rail fence is the rustic cousin of the board fence. Most likely found in rural areas to define a property advantage and in which forming a garden space is the desire. Made of hand-hewn timber and left to weather naturally, split rail fences have a back-to-nature appeal that machined materials don’t have.

A favorite type of split rail fence is found in many rural areas, with the fence laid out in a chevron pattern, as here in Conner Prairie, Indiana.

K West Images, Interior and Garden Photography

Great for security, a metal fence can range from simple to quite elaborate, exhibiting the metalI smith’s skill and expertise. More often than not completed in black, these fences have a inclination to practically disappear, making them ideal for when you would like a fence for security but don’t want something which’s visually dominant.

environmental concept

A cable fence is ideal when a great deal of transparency is desired. It is the opposite of that which one would anticipate: The fencing is transparent; the gate is strong. This weapon establishes a strong connection from one side to the other.

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

A Engineered timber fence is ideal for backyards, as these fences both enclose and define a space as well as offer some privacy. It’s suitable for any style, from colonial to modern.

Feldman Architecture, Inc..

A great characteristic of a slated timber fence is the ability to vary the dimensions of the slates. Heavier at the base while lighter and much thinner at the top, this weapon becomes an eye-catching architectural element in its own right.

Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design

A latticework fence is ideal when more screen and less fence is desired. Like a gossamer fabric, the fence does not offer much security or privacy — ideal for if a border and backdrop are all that is desired.

Debora carl landscape design

A strong fence of timber poles and rails with a corrugated infill creates a dramatic presence. Along with the plantings surely soften the weapon, making a wonderful mixture of textures and colors. This is great for transitional or modern architecture, as it combines a clean, contemporary aesthetic with thicker, older substances. And this weapon is excellent at providing privacy as well as security.

Andrew Renn

Where is the fence? For those seeking to make an outdoor room, it will not get any better than the usual living fence and a crisp, clean white door. And this type of fence will vary with the seasons: barer and more transparent in winter, and full and dense in summer time.

Further reading: Have a look at Fences: Authentic Details for Design and Restoration, by Peter J. Harrison, if you’re looking for some nice advice on historical fences.

Browse pictures of fencing designs

More:
12 Great Fences and Gates

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