Traditional fencing adds a personal touch to any home or property. If you decide to install a new fence, rest assured it will serve practical and aesthetic purposes. If you have an old fence that is not very attractive, there are ways to dress it up in order to make it a lovely focal point. Traditional fencing options are varied. White picket fencing is always a nice, classic choice. If you have a home built in an historical era, you may want to go with a wrought iron fence instead. Each type of traditional fence has its own advantages and disadvantages. Your final decision should be based on your personal preference, intended function and budget limit.
Traditional Wood Fences
Wooden traditional fencing ranges in size and shape. This type of fence can be altered with stains or paints in order to compliment the exterior of your home. They are also fairly simple to install and can be put on rather steep grades and other unfavorable ground conditions. One wood fence option is lattice. Lattice is a beautiful, classic choice that can also be used as a climbing structure for creeping plants. If you decide to install a wood fence, make sure the material has been pressure treated in order to extend its durability and lifespan.
Traditional Stone Fences
Stone is another popular choice for homeowners who want a traditional look for their fence. Stone traditional fencing can be made to form a great flower garden backdrop or a barrier to block the noise from nearby traffic. If you want the fence to appear provincial, dry-stack the stones without using mortar. When it comes to providing solid support, nothing compares to traditional fencing made of stone. However, stone is rather expensive in terms of labor, transportation and materials. On the flip side, stone fences require little maintenance.
Traditional Metal Fences
Aluminum, steel and wrought iron are three great choices if you want traditional fencing made out of metal. Wrought iron is the obvious choice; however, it is quite expensive. If you want a strong, secure fence that is also aesthetically pleasing, you can use steel. Aluminum is rather cheap but it is not as strong as the other two types of metals. When most people think about wrought iron, they think about the color black. Regardless, wrought iron can also be painted white or any other color of your choosing.
Altering Existing Traditional Fences
You can also alter the appearance of your existing traditional fencing. There are many ways to tackle this project. A fresh coat of paint can be used to breathe new life into an old fence or simply hide some flaws in the fencing. Or you can replace the posts on the existing traditional fencing, which reduces the amount of time spent on an entire install. If you do not want to go through the trouble of replacing the old posts, you can always purchase finials or caps to put on the posts. And of course, you can install a gate to add a finishing touch to your traditional fencing.