The Differences Between Traditional And Modern Fences

In the past, fences were typically made of freshly cut wood or wrought iron. There weren’t a whole lot of options available. The fences made of such materials were prone to damage from a number of different sources. The sun would cause wooden fences to expand and then shrink again when cold weather came. This weakened the structural integrity of the wood and it continues to do so for those who have wooden fences today. Rain and snow would cause wood to warp and twist and it would rust iron fences to the point where they were basically just piles of rust. To prevent this, fence owners had to take great care of their fences. Wooden fences would have to be fully repaired each year. This included replacing all the damaged boards, painting, and resealing the fence. Iron had to be protected frequently, too.

How Are Things Different Today?

Today, fence owners have a large number of options available to them. People still have wooden and wrought iron fences, but newer materials are taking the fencing world by storm. Different composite boards utilize plastic or a combination of plastic and wood to create more reliable and effective fences. Also, there are more exotic options, like glass, that prospective fence owners might want to look at. Some companies, like Trex fencing, have embraced the idea behind more modern materials entirely. Some companies have even gone as far as to build themselves up from the bottom around these new fencing options.

What Makes Newer Materials More Effective?

Fences made from newer materials have a number of benefits over the older forms of fencing technology. Price, upkeep, strength, and appearance are all potentially better with a newer fence.

• The price that something costs is often a major factor for consumers. That’s no different with fences. Luckily, a lot of newer fencing materials have a much lower upfront cost. They often use more common materials that are cheaper to produce, yet stronger. These savings are passed down to the customer. Now, the price isn’t always lower upfront with newer fences. Wood can get expensive, but it’s still cheaper than modern materials sometimes. However, modern materials can last decades without taking major damage. This makes it so even if the fence that a consumer is looking at is more expensive upfront, it’s still cheaper over the course of a few years.
• Upkeep is a part of the point made above. Newer fences don’t require nearly as much annual work to stay aesthetically pleasing and functional. Wooden fences have to be repaired, painted, and sealed every single year. This take a considerable amount of time to accomplish and it’s expensive. The same can be said about wrought iron options. While they don’t require as much upkeep as wood, they still have to be painted and sealed annually or they’ll be reduced to rust. A modern fence doesn’t need all of that. After the fence is installed, most modern fences don’t actually require much of anything. The color of the fence might fade a little bit, but they don’t succumb to the same fate as wood, iron, or even vinyl if the user neglects them.
• Strength is a major component of a fence. People usually want fences for privacy, but that’s not possible if a stray tree falls down and completely topples the fence. Modern fences aren’t impervious to destruction, but they can handle the weather and they can take quite a beating. If the previously mentioned scenario occurs with a modern fence, it’s unlikely that an entire fence wall is going to topple down and need replacing. That can save consumers a considerable amount of money.
• Everyone loves a good looking house. It provides a great impression for neighbors, visitors, or passersby. That can all be ruined by an ugly fence, though. Traditional fences can look great at first, but over time they manage to degrade and they can look horrible. This can drive down property value. Fences made with modern materials tend to keep a better appearance over the years. This can keep your house looking clean and your property value up.

It’s almost always better to go with a fence made of modern materials. It can save the consumer hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Modern fences keep their structural integrity and appearance for much longer than traditional fences. There’s just too much weighing in their favor. If you’d like to see a comparison of more fencing materials, this article can help.