What Type Of Fence Is Best For Home Security?
Homeowners have many different reasons to have a fence installed around their home and property. Fencing can keep children safe, keep pets in your yard, and improve a home's resale value. One common reason is that it boosts the level of security of a home and yard. If you have a fence around your house, that adds one more layer of protection that a would-be intruder would need to get past. If you're looking for a fence primarily for home-security reasons, here's a list of considerations to keep in mind while making your choice.
Don't Provide a Hiding Place for Intruders
While many homeowners appreciate the seclusion that a privacy fence provides, those up to no good might also appreciate it. Once a burglar or thief scales your privacy fence, he or she will be able to do whatever they want without being detected by anyone on the outside. While a PVC or a wood fence can conceal what's in your yard from potential thieves, they can also conceal the thief! If you want a privacy fence for your backyard, that's fine, but avoid putting this type of fence in the front yard, where an intruder will have undetected access to your front door and windows.
Consider Making Your Fence Hard to Climb
Putting small spears or even barbs at the top of your fence will make it very unattractive to those wanting to climb it. Aluminum fencing and even chain-link fencing can have barbs or spears added to the top. A privacy fence, if that's what you've decided on, should have the horizontal supports on the inside of the yard to make the fence hard to scale from the outside. Thorny shrubs or vines are other good deterrents that will make the fence difficult to climb.
Also, consider whether it's easy for someone to go under your fence; anchoring it underground will make it nearly impossible for a casual thief to burrow underneath. This does raise the cost, however, so if your budget is an issue, consider only anchoring the front sections of the fence underground.
Lock the Gate
No matter what type of fence you have installed, it won't do you any good if you forget to lock the gate or gates. Be sure that the fence you buy can be locked with a padlock, and remember to use it. Talk to your fencing contractor about the strength of the gate; although a determined intruder will enter the yard at a different point, a strong gate with a solid lock will deter some opportunistic thieves. In some cases, the inability to enter a property easily will cause someone with nefarious intentions to simply go elsewhere.
Can the Fence Be Compromised Easily?
One of the biggest considerations you'll need to keep in mind is whether the fence can be easily knocked down, cut, or scaled. For example, chain-link fencing can often be cut with good wire-cutters. Again, an opportunistic thief will probably not be carrying wire-cutters, but if someone is intent on getting into your specific property and there's a chain-link fence, it provides little deterrent. A fence that is only four feet high will not deter most thieves; they'll simply climb over. Even a four- or five-foot fence with spears on top can be scaled if the intruder throws a heavy jacket over the top to protect him or her from the sharp edges.
Talk to your fencing professional about the best fence for your property. He or she will be able to make recommendations based on your budget, what your HOA allows, and what types of crimes are common in your neighborhood. Keep in mind that any fence is better than no fence when it comes to protecting your property; the trick is to choose the best one for the job you need it to do. For more information, contact companies like Harco Exteriors LLC.
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