Fencing plays an important role in our everyday lives. It keeps the things we want to look after safely enclosed and helps to secure our property from unwanted visitors. But choosing the right fencing can be a difficult choice. We have spoken to the experts to find out the top three things you need to consider when choosing your fencing:

LONGEVITY

The first thing you need to consider is how long you want the fence to last for and how much maintenance you are prepared to do. Solid fences made from brick, stone, or vibacrete tend to stand the test of time and are incredibly durable. On the other hand if you want a fence that is easy to dismantle then wood would be the best choice. A wooden fence allows you the option of being flexible with weather and ground conditions, such as would be the case with livestock or crop farming. Wood, brick and mortar, and metal fences all require some level of regular maintenance, depending on the colour, finishing and treatment. Generally the best idea is to leave the material as much as possible in its natural state, just adding sealers or ensuring it is very well treated, if you want the least amount of maintenance in the future.

BUDGET

If you don’t want to deal with the difficulties of heavy foundations and building contractors, then constructing a wooden fence will not only be a better option but will also mean that you can save some money. As wooden fences are quicker to construct and easier to put together, your labour expense to construct your fence will be significantly cheaper. A slated fence, such as that made from wood or metal, also allows you the option to create a variety of beautiful designs without costing too much extra. If you want to beautify a brick and mortar fence there are plenty of stone and cladding options however these can get expensive relatively quickly.

CONDITIONS

The conditions of your land and rules imposed by external factors, such as body corporate or councils, may determine what type of fence is most suitable for you. Brick and mortar fences provide a solid fortress that is difficult to penetrate and create a sense of privacy but wooden fences have an aesthetic appeal. The ground and weather conditions may also determine what sort of fence you can construct as you want the fence to be secure in the ground and not to be effected by root growth or strong winds.

Whatever your choice of fencing, it’s important to keep the core of the fence strong so you have to choose the right uprights and ensure they are secured correctly. For instance, if you go with a wooden fence, the wooden poles need to be long enough to secure them 1-2 feet into the ground. “Installing wooden fence poles can be tricky but with the right knowledge and tools, you can get the job done correctly,” say the experts at R&B Group. You also need to ensure that you choose the correct poles for the job - they need to be as straight as possible, preferably out of a hard wood if opting for wood, and treated for use in the ground.