Fencing: Cost vs. intended use

When considering which type of fence to erect, the first job is knowing exactly what you need your fence to do - naturally, you'll want to avoid paying for something you don't need. Styles, materials and the labour involved will impact on the cost of the fence so try to keep it realistic when choosing fencing for your property.

Things to consider when choosing a fence

Depending on your situation, you will no doubt have certain expectations of the type of fencing you want for your property so you would naturally consider these and choose fencing options that best meet those expectations. The most common issues are:

• Privacy
• Appearance
• Protection from the elements
• Security

Fences define your boundaries and protect you and your property. Your immediate environment should give you a good indication of what you need in a fence, so weigh this up when deciding on what you want and how much money you want to spend.

Fencing cost considerations

If you need good security for your business premises, paying more for a high end product will be a good investment and will actually save you money in the long run. You'll want to know that your premises and whatever it contains is well protected from vandals and burglars and the best way to deter them is to have a fence that is very difficult to breach. Those up to no good will bypass a fence that gives them too much trouble and look for an easier target.

In rural situations, it is also cost effective to spend more to get high quality fencing around the property. Good fences will keep your livestock contained and go a long way towards preventing feral animals from entering your paddocks. Electric fencing is an excellent option for rural properties.

If privacy is the issue, source different options as some will be a more expensive than others and if you can find a less expensive fence that will still deliver what you want, it would make sense to go with the cheaper one. There are some very attractive privacy fences in the middle dollar range.

Choosing fencing for your home can be daunting too. Do you need security fencing? How close are the neighbours and can they see into your property easily? Are your children climbers and your dog a jumper? These are all things you should think about when shopping for fencing for the family home. But your fence is part of your decor too and should compliment your home as well.

Once again, domestic fencing can range from very expensive to very cheap so if you don't need a high end fence, look to choices in the middle price ranges. You will still have a good quality fence without having paid for features you didn't need.