Installing a fence for privacy or purely aesthetic reasons improves the peaceful enjoyment of a property. Privacy-seeking property owners often erect six-foot stockade-style fences in their backyards.
The classic white picket fence positioned in front yards sets the table for perennial gardens, flowering shrubs and provides eye-catching curb appeal. However, there are a few items many homeowners accidentally overlook. These rank among the sometimes overlooked items homeowners may want to consider.
1: Does the fence design meet severe weather needs?
Consider the severe weather implications of building a standard, six-foot stockade fence in your backyard. This design generally maximizes privacy because it offers a façade that's difficult to see through. However, those wide panels also act as "sail." One of the primary reasons fences topple is due to severe weather such as tropical storm systems and high winds.
If you're concerned about high winds, try fence designs with high wind speeds in mind. These may include chain links, tall pickets with spacing or jockeyed board designs. Fences that position alternating boards on both sides allow increased airflow and reduced sail. Accounting for strong winds could save property owners from replacing a fence prematurely.
2: Do you have the bandwidth to maintain a fence?
The type of fence a property owner selects will likely determine how much time they can spend on upkeep and repair. Pressure- and chemically-treated fences can last more than a decade without homeowners lifting a finger.
The downside is that these materials tend to turn gray and appear bland over time. By contrast, products such as cedar offer improved aesthetic value but usually require weather treatments once or twice each year.
The question may not be whether someone wants a fence they find lovely. It may come down to how much time someone can invest in maintenance. Consider consulting with a construction professional about upkeep before building.
3: Does your fence meet building code rules?
It may sound almost counterintuitive, but most municipalities require property owners to put the finished side of a fence facing an abutter. Other specifications property owners sometimes forget to follow include minimum distances from boundaries and heights.
It's not uncommon for communities to only allow six-foot privacy fences in backyards. Knowing the rules regarding fences before digging posts can help avoid a building code violation or having to tear it down once you start.
Building the right fence can improve the quality of life experiences of house members who want to relax at home. But to enjoy the long-term benefits of fences, it's essential to consider these and other items before moving forward with the project.
About the Author
Kyung Kim
Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.
I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.
As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.
I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.
