Rural Fences: Livestock, Vermin, Repairs, Expenses and More

Choosing between metallic and wooden fences

19 November 2015 by Connor Peters

Metal and wood are the two major materials out of which fences are fabricated. To choose which material to make your fence out of can be a difficult decision and it is for this sole purpose that this article tries to lay out the facts that concern each of the materials.

Cost

Wooden fences are cheaper to buy due to the fact that the timber that is used to make them is readily available. It can also be fashioned into the different shapes and sizes needed for the fence design pretty quickly. According to Red Beacon, a typical wooden fence sets you back an amount between $518 and $1,907.

Metallic fences on the other hand are more expensive to acquire because it is more difficult to fashion the material into the desired shapes. Raw material for metallic fences is not as readily available as wood. It is for this reason, therefore, that Red Beacon prices the metallic fences at a range of $827 and $2,188.

Longevity on exposure to the elements

Compared to their metallic counterparts, wooden fences are more prone to deterioration from the elements of nature. Prolonged exposure to sunlight takes quite a toll on the wood as does rain or snow. The water soaks into the wood, thereby compromising its integrity whereas the intermittent heating causes the wood to become distorted. Living things like termites also weaken the structure of the wood to the extent that the fence can just crumble down.

This should not spell doom for your fence, however, because there are ways to keep the wooden fence in top shape. This includes periodic painting of the slats. Clear sealant can also be applied so that the moisture does not access the wood.

Metallic fences, on the other hand, brave the elements of nature pretty well. Steel is galvanised so that it does not rust in the moist atmosphere whereas the fences made out of aluminium are inherently resistant to rust.

It is, therefore, evident that in the long run, the wooden fence is more expensive due to all the maintenance that will have to go towards keeping it in tip top shape. The metallic fence, however, does not need any maintenance and thus is cheaper all together.

Efficiency in providing security

Metallic fences offer more security than the wooden fences. This is because it is much easier to break some wooden fences to access the premises and no one would be the wiser that it has taken place. This is more so if the fence is short and the wood used was of a thin type. With the metallic ones, one might have to use power tools – which are noisy – in a bid to get onto the property.

The metallic fence can also be easily tipped with spikes or electrified so that it is much harder to go climb and go over. It is therefore safe to say that the metallic fence proffers more security to your property.

Eco friendliness

In this day and age of eco-friendly awareness, the metallic fence would be considered an environmentally friendlier choice. This is mainly because the acquisition of the raw material used for making such kind of fences does involve massive clearance of the green cover of the earth.

The timber for the wooden fence, on the other hand, comes from clearing forests. These fences have to be replaced over time, meaning that more forests have to be cleared. This means that the environment is always being impacted in a bid to maintain your wooden fence.

Armed with this information, you are surely able to make an informed decision on which kind of fence you prefer to place around your home. Speak to a fencing contractor for more information.

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