So, you’re settling into your dream home in your picturesque neighborhood. It’s nearly perfect. But you don’t have a fence.
We’ve explored the pros and cons of fencing materials before. (Read Aluminum Fences vs. Other Materials: Pros and Cons to see how aluminum fencing stacks up against wood, steel, and vinyl.) Let’s focus on a head-to-head battle between two specific offerings: our tried and true aluminum fencing and our new privacy fencing. Which one is right for your home?
Right off the bat, they are both made from aluminum, so they share many strengths.
- Durability: Aluminum is resistant to moisture, decay, insect damage, and rust. Both can take a hit from a lawnmower and survive even harsh coastal conditions.
- Easy to install: Aluminum is lightweight, making it easy to handle. It’ll take some forethought to plan out your fence, but nothing some napkin drawings and basic math can’t handle.
- Easy maintenance: unlike wooden fences, these don’t need to be stained or repainted. They might need the occasional scrub-down to keep them looking pristine.
Long lifespan: With proper maintenance, aluminum fencing can last 30 to over 50 years! - Eco-friendly: Aluminum can be infinitely recycled without losing quality or purity. That’s only the tip of the environmental benefit iceberg. We’re Green Certified, meaning we’re recognized by Green America, an objective, third-party nonprofit, for following environmentally friendly practices.
So what’s the difference? Form vs. Function.
Clearly, the biggest difference is the privacy. Standard aluminum fences use vertical pickets to protect your yard. These panels come in various styles. However, there will always be vertical gaps.
Privacy fences use horizontal slats to provide privacy and deflect some sound. However, these designs come with less customization than standard aluminum fences.
Standard fencing can be customized for any home exterior— from the regal Castle design to the classic Manhattan. They can go with anything.
The clean lines of privacy fences create a sleek design that complements contemporary and modern architecture. I’ve even seen them around a renovated ranch-style home in Texas. However, it might look out of place against the rustic exterior of a colonial-style home.
Standard posts can be topped with solar light caps to illuminate your yard in a pleasant ambiance. However, these are not compatible with the privacy fence posts.
So, which one is better for you?
That depends on your priorities. I’ve lived in a neighborhood with pretty small yards. My back-facing neighbors and I were right up against each other. My back door was twenty paces away from their back door. So when they hosted get-togethers around their fire pit, I could hear every word of their conversations. Which meant they could hear every word of my conversations as well.
Nothing against those neighbors, of course. I just wanted a little privacy, and I’m sure they did, too. In that house, I would have loved a privacy fence.
However, I also have friends who live in an area where suburbia transitioned into rural landscapes. They enjoyed massive backyards. However, they needed something sturdy that would keep their pets and children in their yard. They did not really need more privacy, just a secure perimeter. So, a traditional aluminum fence made much more sense for them.
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