A Few Facts About Wood Fence Panels
If you are thinking about building or replacing a fence at your home you have probably looked at the many options for fencing materials that now exist. While not always the modern choice, there are a few facts about wooden fence panels that make them desirable.
Many people choose to build fences out of metal or plastic materials. The advantage to metal and plastic is that they can be very easy to maintain. Neither metal nor plastic is going to fall victim to insects or rot like wood can. Additionally, neither will require regular painting or staining. However, the appearance of metal or plastic fencing can be untraditional and less appealing.
Wooden fence panels can be purchased in untreated or chemically-treated sections. While chemical treatment will help protect against rot and insects, it will never be as hardy as metal or plastic options. Although wooden fence panels require regular maintenance to keep them presentable and sturdy, they can be much more attractive and natural in appearance than metal and plastic fencing. Wood fencing blends in with surroundings better and is more likely to match your house or outdoor landscape.
Wooden fence panels can be used to protect from the elements, block out bad neighbors, or to add decorative elements to your backyard. Panels can be purchased in many different types of wood, including cedar, pine, and spruce. Typically, cedar would not be chemically-treated, as it is resistant to insects and rot. Pine and spruce, however, do well with treatment. Wooden fence panels, which typically come in 8-foot long sections, provide many options for the consumer. The panels are often pre-styled, providing the choice between options such as dog-eared, lattice, split-rail, and many others.
Consumers of wooden fence panels also have options in the height of their fence. Typically, wooden fence panels are joined as privacy, picket fence, or post and rail fences. Privacy fences, which are at least 6-feet tall, are arranged adjacent to each other, while picket fences (about 4-feet tall), have their panels spaced apart. Post and rail fences are shorter, like picket fences, and have posts at regular intervals along the fencing.
Wooden fence panels are easy to install and the materials are available at most home improvement stores. Although the project may seem intimidating, you and your family could install your own wooden fence using common household tools over the course of a weekend. Compared to the installation of plastic or metal fencing, wooden fence panels are easy to trim for the appropriate height, and screwing decorations, flower boxes, or bird feeders into wooden fencing is much easier.
Wooden fences panels are also more versatile and provide many options. Wooden fence panels can be allowed to grey and reach their natural patina, or can be stained or painted. Staining in a natural tone can bring out the beautiful color or the wood, or darker colors can be used to blend with and/or enhance your landscape. If you are interested in changing the appearance of your fence, it is easy to stain a different shade, or add decorations, as mentioned above. Although painting may seem an attractive option, weather will wear on the paint surface, requiring frequent coats to maintain an attractive appearance. As such, staining is preferred on wooden fencing.
Wooden fence panels are easy to install and can be done by most do-it-yourselfers. The many options in materials and styles ensure that there is a fence for everyone’s tastes and, perhaps more importantly, everyone’s budget.