Texas State Fence Co. BLOG

Frisco Fence Company owner Sean Eubanks, President of Texas State Fence Co., knows that many people enjoy building their own fences. Sean offers the following advice:

Here are Some Basic Considerations

The initial decisions that you will need to make are basically very simple.

• You will need to choose a fence style that fits your aesthetic desires.
• You will need to consider Zoning and HOA restrictions.
• You will need to establish a budget.
• You will need to consider your ability to handle the construction required.
• You will need to decide on materials for the project.

We can simplify the process and presume that you have decided on a traditional wood fence. In future articles we discuss other alternatives, including fences constructed with Chain Link, Poles, Rails, Iron, Concrete, Bricks, Cinder Blocks, Vinyl, Steel, and with Landscape Elements.

Considerations for selecting a Wood Fence style.

Wood fences fall into three primary styles:

• solid panel with no spaces for maximum privacy,
• shadow box with spaces for wind flow and minimal visibility through the fence, and,
• spaced pickets for visual separation without much privacy.

Solid Wood Fences offer the most privacy.  Solid Fences have little or no spacing between pickets. This prevents prying eyes from seeing into the enclosed space. Certain styles of solid fences may have overlapping boards that further reduce the potential for others to see through the fence into the enclosed space. These types of fences are frequently used as swimming pool enclosures, and to cordon off areas of the yard that may be less attractive. Solid picket privacy fences popularity has increased rapidly over the last 20-30 years as the proximity of homes in subdivisions has increased exponentially and as homeowners have come to seek increased privacy for homes placed to close together in subdivisions.  Solid fences have one particular failing. That is that one side of the fence usually is finished and the other side appears unfinished. This feature of a solid wood fence means that one side of the fence receives a less pleasant view.
Shadowbox Fences are ideal fences because they provide an alternative placement of boards on each side of the rail and have a space between each picket that allows air flow.  This means that both sides of the fence will have the same level of finished look. If you are not omidn that your neighbors will be able to see through the fence on a diagonal sight line then the shadowbox fence is a good choice. It offers very attractive styling and it also offers a reasonable level of privacy while still allowing air flow.

Spaced Picket Fences are perfect for establishing a visual separation between spaces.  This works especially well for spaces such as between a garden and the remainder of the yard, or between yards. Spaced Picket Fences are also suitable for front yards and gardens but do not offer much privacy. Spaced picket fences are frequently used along with landscape components such as trees, bushes and other plantings to increase the visual separation and privacy. There are not very many styles of fencing that are more attractive than a spaced picket fences, however popularity has decreased in recent years due to the demand for increased privacy and for security.

Future articles will focus on materials and tools needed to construct fences and site preparation and on construction design and planning.

1. 2nd Article in Series: Plano Fence Company - fence design and layout guideline advice

Frisco Fence Company owner Sean Eubanks, President of Texas State Fence Co., provides quality outdoor fencing and landscape hard structures to clients in North Texas. Texas State Fence Co. provides all types of fencing along with automatic sliding gates, swing gates, security fencing, outdoor kitchens and enclosures, patio covers, arbors, and gazebos. Sean also provides maintenance and repair of fences that have been damaged by weather and wind.  For more information please contact Sean Eubanks at 972-898-1307 for visit his website.

Frisco Fence Company owner Sean Eubanks, President of Texas State Fence Co., uses Cedar Fences to improve property values for home owners.

Cedar Stained Wood Privacy Fence

The pace of change is accelerating and in these modern times fences have become increasingly popular. Back in the 1950s and 1960s many of the homes in urban communities did not have a fence in their back yards. There was nothing to separate neighbors from each other. Since the 1960s the number of homes with back yard privacy fencing has increased to become well over 90 percent in urban cities such as Frisco Texas.

Texas State Fence Co. understands that the most popular styles of fence are the board-on-board and stockade styles.  These wood fences are most commonly either built with cedar wood or they have a cedar stain. Contemporary fences are recommended to be installed with steel posts due to the greater strength that steel posts have when combating termites and strong winds.  Steel posts are an option that many clients select compared to the more vulnerable and less permanent wood fence posts. Another option that has become extremely popular is extending the fence height to 8 or even 10 foot tall for added privacy.

An increasing number of our clients desire are also adding  privacy fences to screen pool areas, dog runs, and security fence.  And do not forget about automated gates. Automatic gates are available with either track roller or swing styles operation. Mechanical drive that are available include chain drives, gear drives, and screw drives.

When you are considering selling your home keep in mind that that majority of prospective home buyers desire want a home with a high quality fence.  Make sure that you realize that buyers desire high quality fences in good condition. They want fences that will stand up to the strong winds that we get in Frisco. A high quality cedar style wood fence will help sell your home more quickly and it is a valuable asset to offer to home buyers. A high quality cedar wood fence can make the difference between a fast sale and a sale that takes a long time.

Frisco Fence Company owner Sean Eubanks, President of Texas State Fence Co., installs new fencing, repairs and maintains existing fencing, and designs integrated fencing systems for both residential and commercial clients in the Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, Plano, Carrollton, Coppell areas of North Texas. As one of the largest and most established fence companies in Dallas, Texas State Fence Co. offers a full range of fence services, products and options. For more information please call 972-898-1307.

Frisco Fence Company owner Sean Eubanks, President of Texas State Fence Co., offers help in selecting the best wood  fence for your home.

A Cedar Stained Wood Privacy Fence

Form vs Function in a Wood Fence

Trying to select which of the many options available from which to choose when you select materials for a fence can be overwhelming. You will need to consider many alternative materials and styles then make a selection.  The choices that you make will affect the cost of the fence installation and it will also affect your property’s value for the long term. You basically have two decision that you must make, from which all other options will spring:

1. Form – style, etc.
2. Function – purpose, etc.

After research and careful consideration you can create a happy marriage of form and function, but that joyful union is not always easy to achieve. Consider chain link fences, and other types of metal fences. Chain link fences usually makes a high quality security fences, but their visual appeal is not a great as wood. Owners of residential properties must carefully consider selecting a chain link fence for the property because that can be an indication that security is a concern. Prospective buyers would of course to become concerned.   Imagine what signal you would be sending to a prospective buyer if you built a chain link fence with barbed wires on top.  Security fences are appropriate as barriers surrounding a commercial installation where valuable materials are stored but not for a residential setting. They are not generally appropriate for residential properties here in the U.S.

Wood Fence Types

Here is a general list of wood fence types which are generally appropriate for residential use:

• Split Rail – provides a very rural or ranch-like ambience to a property
• Picket Fences – appropriate for smaller properties, typically used in the front yard.
• Stockade Fences – whether rounded, squared, or pointed tops these are common in suburban areas.
• Board-on-Board Fences – generally are more sturdy that stockade fences and have a more luxurious look to them.

Functional Considerations for Wood Fences

Wood fences are very pleasing to the eye.  Wood fences may not always be the best choice depending on the property needs. If you want a fence for animal control, such as dogs, then a split rail or picket fence is not a good option.  There are fences that work well for animal control that can be used in conjunction with a more decorative split rail or picket fence type.  One modern solution is the wireless electronic dog fence which consists of buried cables that emit an electric shock to a special purpose dog collar. Electrified fences, which run alternating current through raw electric wires is useful for some types of animals such as deer.

1. Wood fences are a great choice for privacy fencing, whether needed as a noise barrier or, more frequently, as a visual barrier. Wood fences (and vinyl fences) provide the most attractive fence material options when your chief concern is creating a backyard sanctuary.
2. Stockade style fences are an example of a wood fence designed to offer a solid visual barrier between your yard and your neighbor’s yard.  Stockade fences result in almost total privacy. While it is true that masonry fences, such as those built out of brick can do the same, they cost a lot more than a wood fence.

Many people prefer a compromise between privacy and airiness.  These people often end up choosing wood fences with a certain amount of openness to them so that they can avoid fencing out the outside world completely. Tall picket fences can offer partial privacy, as can lattice fencing.

A popular alternative to the foregoing privacy fence selections is a hybrid fence design: such as a solid barrier for the bottom portion of the fence with a lattice on the top to add an element of openness and decor.

One factor to consider when choosing between the different styles of fences is their potential for integration with your landscape design. A solid wood fence can provide a compelling backdrop for landscaping, while the more open fence designs, such as split-rail and picket-style wood fences, may be used to serve as foregrounds or backgrounds for plantings.

Some examples of how wood fences can be made that work in harmony with other landscape elements to create a landscape design that is attractive and functional can be found in the photo gallery of fence pictures.

Frisco Fence Company owner Sean Eubanks, President of Texas State Fence Co., installs new fencing, repairs and maintains existing fencing, and designs integrated fencing systems for both residential and commercial clients in the Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, Plano, Carrollton, Coppell areas of North Texas. As one of the largest and most established fence companies in Dallas, Texas State Fence Co. offers a full range of fence services, products and options. For more information please call 972-898-1307.