Considering building a fence for your yard means evaluating what type of fence you should build and with what material. Among the most popular fencing materials in the Twin Cities is wood. Lets look at the pros and cons of a wood fence.
Selecting wood for a fence means choosing one of the oldest materials used for fencing. Wood allows for a wide variety of styles of fencing for a project, and is also traditionally the material used by do-it-yourselfers.
Similar to any material considered for a building project, wood has pros and cons when used for fencing. We will examine those advantages and disadvantages in this blog post, just as we reviewed the pros and cons of vinyl fencing as well as the advantages and disadvantages of chain link fencing.
Using pre-made wood fence panels that fit nicely between accurately placed fence posts is an option, an advantage of wood is that it can be installed board-by-board, allowing customized heights, slope, appearance and length.Shaping the fence to fit the contour of a property is another advantage of wood, made possible by the ability to customly install posts, rails and board. Gates and entry points can also be custom installed.
Lastly, wood fencing can be stained or painted, an advantage over other fence materials such as vinyl fencing, which typically cannot take a paint or stain.
Installing a wood fence is generally the most affordable fence type other than chain link. The cost of wood varies by type, obviously, but treated cedar is the wood of choice in most cases and the cost per foot is less than PVC, wrought iron or composite fencing.
Holding the fence cost down is also possible by installing the fence yourself, another advantage. While installing the fence may seem straightforward, having the fence installed by a professional may create a sturdier, longer-lasting fence.
Wood Fence Requires Ongoing Maintenance
While wood fencing has those advantages, there are disadvantages. Chief among them for most is likely that wood fencing requires ongoing maintenance such as staining or painting. This is needed as the wood become weathered.
Weathering of a wood fence also may lead to ongoing maintenance needs, including broken boards as wood is the weakest of the main fence materials.
Depending on the soil conditions where a fence is installed, wood posts may settle leading to warping and splitting.
Considering installing a fence? Contact Midwest Fence, with nearly 60 years of experience as a Twin Cities fence contractor. Our trained professionals are happy to meet and discuss your fencing needs. Call 651-451-2222 for a free consultation and estimate.