Whether you want to protect your family and valuables in your home or secure your business assets and equipment from being burglarized, installing an effective security fence can keep you, your family, and your property safer. There are so many reasons our North Richland Hills area customers choose a security fence from Lonnie Fencing, a top-rated Texas fence company, and this article will take a closer look at the best types of fencing materials to use to protect your home or business.
Strong Texas Security Fence Options
A security fence keeps your home and property safe by deterring or delaying intruders. For your home, a typical privacy fence may meet all your needs, particularly in residential areas where crime is typically low and opportunistic. In commercial and industrial applications, a security fence typically means a metal structure that both deters and makes the fence unscalable. These fences may include additional security features such as razor wire and spikes. In these applications, visibility and line of sight are sometimes necessary. Metal and chain link fences can provide adequate security and deterrence without reducing visibility.
However, be aware that no security fence can keep out all intruders – with enough time, patience, and the right tools, an intruder can bypass even the toughest fence, so the idea behind a security fence is to delay the intruder for as long as possible.
Here are three particularly important questions to ask when choosing a security fence for your property:
Is the Fence Easy to Climb?
An effective security fence should be hard to climb. The taller your fence, the better your security. If you are limited by height, fences that have spikes on the top will discourage potential intruders from climbing them. If you want horizontal rails as part of your fence design, make sure they are facing towards the inside of your property and the space between them doesn’t allow for easy climbing.
Is the Fence Hard to Breach?
Most break-ins are opportunistic based on how easily the property and home can be entered and exited quickly. A fence installed for security purposes will not be effective if a burglar can go over, around, or under it, quickly and easily. A good security perimeter fence, installed by an expert Texas fence company, is secured to the ground, is durable, cannot be easily cut, and surrounds the entire property. Additionally, you should include security gates and driveway gates so that no opening is left vulnerable and exposed.
Does the Fence Provide any Hiding Places?
When choosing security fencing styles and materials, you want to avoid a fence that blocks the view of the other side of the fence. It is important that you have the opportunity to see if anyone is prowling around thereby giving you the opportunity to call for help or investigate before they try to breach the fence. Solid, tall fences provide great hiding places for intruders and should be avoided.
Here are Lonnie & Co Fencing’s recommendations for effective security fences:
1. Aluminum Fencing
For many homeowners, neighborhood associations, and businesses, aluminum fencing takes the top spot for security fencing: tough and intruder-resistant yet attractive. In fact, aluminum fencing has long been used for security fencing at the White House. For decades, the height was 6 and a half feet, but in 2020, the height was doubled to 13 feet as a taller fence adds more security.
Resistance to Pests, Weather, and Wear
A well-made aluminum fence is your very best option for strength and longevity. Aluminum fences are known to have the strength of wrought iron fences despite being a lighter-weight fencing material. They’re more affordable than iron fencing, but they are built to last for life. Aluminum fencing isn’t bothered by weather, wind, or insects and won’t rot, rust, or deteriorate. Quality aluminum fencing is manufactured with a protective powder coating, making this metal fencing virtually indestructible.
Low Maintenance
The upkeep needed for aluminum security fencing is minimal. You only need to clean security fencing occasionally to ensure the specialized powder coating is still in good condition. Aluminum fencing won’t rust or rot, and it will stay in great shape for years with only a few cleanings.
2. Wrought Iron Fencing
The security needs for your North Richland Hills, TX property can be achieved very well with a wrought iron fence. You can choose the grade and size of your fence, which can impact the level of security you’ll have with solid construction. Talk to our Texas fence company experts to determine the best width of pickets and height of the fence for your unique needs and preferences.
Ultimate Strength and Durability
A wrought iron fence is coated with the best protective materials and can outlast many other types of fencing. Because it is a stronger material, it can support larger panels up to 8 feet long, needing fewer fence posts overall during installation.
Some Maintenance Required
Wrought iron fencing comes with some maintenance needs, though it can be more or less depending on the style you install. The lighter-weight ornamental steel is often less likely to rust over time or need cleaning, while the heavier style of wrought iron may need a little more care to keep it clean and free of corrosion. Both variations offer a strong, long-lasting fence and provide the ultimate security.
3. Chain Link Fence
Chain link fencing is moderately effective at delaying entry to your property by intruders on its own. Chain link’s diamond-shaped holes are nearly 3 inches wide, permitting an easy toe-hold for a trespasser to climb the fence. The 9- or 11-gauge steel wire can be cut with a hacksaw, bolt cutter, or even garden loppers. However, you can boost the effectiveness of your fence for business locations by adding barbed wire or electrical wire to the top of the fence, which will definitely discourage would-be intruders from scaling the fence.
You can also select the thickness and style of the galvanized steel wires, with thicker wires providing enhanced security and durability. Choosing a taller fence height enhances the security of your property, and chain link’s open visibility is also a plus. For many homeowners with a tight budget, chain link fencing may be the best option due to its low cost.
Durable and Long-Lasting
Made of galvanized steel, chain link fences cannot be destroyed by pests or rot. There is also protective PVC coating in several colors to add to the aesthetics of your fence as well as further protect your fence for longevity.
Low-Maintenance
Chain link does not attract dirt and debris, and it never needs painting or staining. Other than occasionally sweeping off leaves and cobwebs, there is little that you need to do to maintain a chain link fence. This makes chain link a particularly excellent choice for commercial applications and homeowners who are not interested in adding to their list of maintenance items.
Work With a Top-Rated Texas Fence Company!
If you are looking for a fence that provides security and long-lasting beauty, then let Lonnie & Co Fencing help you begin planning the details of your new fence for your home or business. Our courteous and knowledgeable staff would be happy to talk with you! You can call us at (817) 304-1574, or you can Contact Us here. We’re here to help with your security fence project and answer any questions you may have!
