Fences come in many shapes and sizes but before selecting one check zoning and homeowners association regulations about building on your property and in your neighborhood. They sometimes regulate style, size, and placement, or if enclosing a portion of the yard is even allowed in the area at all. Some towns require that a fence be set a couple of feet off the property line. Once you know all the regulations you will be on your way to selecting the style of fence for your house plans.
The purpose of the fence
As you consider the style of fence think about what you want the fence to do. Is the fence intended to keep pets and children in the yard, is it for privacy, or to secure a swimming pool, or is it simply to add style and texture to
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Semi-privacy fences usually have solid panels and maybe some lattice work at the top, or there is shadow box style where individual fence panels alternate on either side of the support boards. Decorative fences have pickets which help to keep children and pets safely inside the yard. The other option is to plant a natural, or living, fence. These can be created out of arborvitaes or some other tall hedge bush. They offer privacy as well as being good at absorbing sound.
The style of the fence should match, or complement, the style of the house plans architecture as well as the landscaping. Be sure to research how boards can be cut, the various cap options, lattice options, and if there will be gates in the fence.
The fence material
Once you know what the fence should do and what style of fence you'd like you can select the material that the fence is made of: wood, vinyl, aluminum, or steel. Wood fences have a traditional appeal however, they require more maintenance and need to be cleaned, stained, or painted, periodically to keep them looking nice. Vinyl fences only require an occasional rinsing. Vinyl doesn't fade or rot and comes in options similar to wood. Aluminum also requires very little maintenance. Steel requires paint every few years to keep it looking