Choosing the Right Fence for Your Family
May 8, 2018
If you’re thinking of getting a fence, it’s important to make sure it’ll be a good fit for your family. Fences are a great way to keep your yard private, as well as providing a safe place for your children and pets to play. You’ll also need to consider which materials and styles of fence are going to be safe and secure choices.
Child Friendly Fences
A fence is an excellent way to give your kids a safe place to play. By picking the right kind of fence, you can help increase their safety. Children are naturally curious, so it’s best to avoid fences that have large gaps in between slats. Your child could get stuck or hurt if they were trying to climb through the gap. The lack of privacy could also be a concern for some families.
Metal fences, whether they’re chain link, aluminum, or wrought iron, should generally be avoided if you have children. There’s a higher chance of someone getting hurt if they were to bump into the metal while playing. A privacy fence with smooth, flat surfaces, such as vinyl or wood, would be the best option to keep your yard safe and private.
Keep in mind that some wood fences may cause splinters, so it’s important to make sure the wood is smooth and sanded down to prevent this.
Pet Friendly Fences
There are a few styles that should be avoided for families with pets. Fences that have footholds and are easily climbable could have your dog escaping from your yard. By picking a fence that has a flat surface you can prevent your dog from climbing up your fence. So, you should generally avoid chain link fences or fences with horizontal slats that your dog could use as a foothold.
Of course, a fence that’s short enough for your pet to jump over would also be an issue. Therefore it’s best to pick a fence that’s at least 6 feet tall if you have a larger dog. Shorter fences should be adequate for smaller dogs.
If there are large gaps between fence slats, there’s the potential for your pet to become stuck in between if they tried to slip through the gap, or escape if they’re small enough. It’s also important to make sure your fence is low enough and doesn’t have a gap underneath where your pet could potentially slip through or dig under to escape.
By keeping these tips in mind you’ll be able to make a more informed choice when picking a fence for your family. As a general guideline, privacy fences without large gaps are great for keeping your pets and children safe while they play in the yard. If you’re interested in learning more about privacy fence designs, you can read our post here.
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