The variety of fences and privacy elements is very wide. To make your garden fence you can choose between different materials and heights. Garden fences serve as a rather symbolic border. In the rear yard it is higher than 2m (6’-6”). In the front yard it is higher than 1.2m (4’-0”). In terms of material you can choose between:

• Wood
• WPC
• Plastic
• Metal
• Concrete

Below we will examine the concrete characteristics of the different types of fences.

In addition to the natural look, you also care about the ecological aspect of processing and recycling, you should opt for a wooden fence. In addition to the various wooden privacy panels, flat surface fences are especially popular to delimit the land and the garden towards the outside. The classic fence, the slightly more rustic pole fence and the lattice fence arranged in a cross, belong to the evergreens.

A fence connects several vertical boards with two or three transverse beams. In addition to the wooden picket fence, the boards of which are rectangular in cross section, there are also aluminum fences. In this case the slats in the cross section are often round. The fence is a subspecies of fence. The individual elements have a slightly irregular shape and ensure a natural atmosphere.

In the lattice fence the wooden slats are arranged in a cross and form a characteristic diamond pattern. The lattice fence is also mainly used as a garden fence to delimit the land and the garden.

Wooden fences

Additional features:

• Natural material.
• Natural and personalized effect.
• Ecologically recommended.
• High maintenance requirements: Wooden fences can turn gray due to weather and UV rays. It is therefore necessary to paint, impregnate or oil regularly.

WPC fences

Choose a fence made of WPC (Wood-Plastic-Composites) if the look of the wood is important to you, but you want to spend little time on storage and care. It is a composite material made up of different percentages of wood, plastic and additives.

Additional features:

• Wide choice of colours.
• Wood effect, like composite material, but more resistant than wood.
• Stable colours.
• Moisture resistant.
• Without splinters and knots.

Plastic fences

If you want a fence variant with a stable color and shape, we recommend a fence made of synthetic material.

Additional features:

• Stable colours.
• Non-deformable.
• Wide choice of colours.

Metal fences

A metal fence is the right fence in terms of longevity and stability. The material is available in various shapes and styles. The well-known wire mesh fence also belongs to metal fences , although it usually comes with the characteristic green plastic protection against corrosion. A low wire mesh fence is ideal as a boundary of the garden towards the road or paths. For example, if you live on the edge of a forest, you can use a higher wire fence to keep animals away.

Additional features:

• Stable colours.

Concrete fences

Concrete fences are extremely sturdy and durable and require little maintenance.

Additional features:

• Particularly resistant.
• Natural look.
• Noise reduction.
• Excellent screen.

Comparision

The right type of fence for every purpose

The first thing you need to do is figure out what the purpose of your fence is. Should it, for example, serve as a simple boundary from the adjacent property or protect you from prying eyes? If your fence has to perform several tasks at the same time, you must take these factors into account in the planning and selection phase. A fence that acts as a privacy screen has other needs to meet than a fence that keeps unwanted guests away from your property. If you want to build a gated fence , you should consider the additional cost in terms of time and money.

Fence measurements , especially height and length, also depend on the purpose of the fence. Furthermore, the legal provisions which we will discuss in the next paragraph must be respected.

Legal provisions for fencing

In the second phase of the design it is necessary to clarify what the construction directives are . Agree with your neighbors in advance to avoid conflicts.

The exact marking of the boundary of your land is also important: a key part of the so-called good neighbor law states that the fence must maintain a certain distance from the border of the neighboring property. Ask the competent authority which provisions are in force in your municipality or canton.

There are also limitations regarding the height of the fence. Depending on the purpose of the fence, different guidelines have been set by the canton and the municipality. The authorities speak of a “local fence” . Therefore, the specifications for a privacy fence are different from those for a fence used as a boundary sign

Location, general condition and foundation

Site factors such as subsoil, terrain profile and height differences are almost as important as the purpose of the fence. These determine how to secure the fence, for example whether a strong concrete foundation needs to be used .

If possible, create optimal general conditions for the fence. For example, eliminating annoying objects such as roots during the construction phase. If your property is exposed to particularly strong winds , you need to take this into account when designing your fence.

Fence posts

Whether you want to set up a wooden, plastic or metal fence, the posts provide all the necessary support and therefore must be placed with particular care. For this you have various options, such as laying in concrete , fixing with special screw foundations or using pegs or fixing sleeves . The most suitable method for realizing your projects depends above all on the fence model you have chosen.

In principle, when inserted into concrete, at least a third of the post should disappear into the ground to ensure the necessary hold. First of all, dig a sufficiently large hole with the spade and pour the concrete. Immediately after, add the post and pour in some gravel.

In other methods, you need to anchor supports such as pegs, sockets or screw foundations to the ground and fix the posts on top.