Home-improvement is on every home owner’s mind. There’s always something that needs to be done, and it always seems there’s no time to do it. Most Americans spend 90 minutes, every day, on some home upkeep — that’s nearly 6 full days annually!
If that’s not one thing to worry about, there’s another. And right now, your lawn needs fencing.
Before you do any more searching and get inundated by a vast wave of information, read this guide on aluminum fencing. It may help you decide what’s best for you.
Pro: Easily Maintained
Why not start on a good foot, right? Aluminum fencing is very easy to maintain.
Most residential fencing options need a lot of upkeep.
Wooden fencing needs the most. It’s easily stained and should be power washed frequently. At its worst, it needs a coat of paint.
Plastic is a little more forgiving, but it doesn’t hold up as well as you might think. Most plastics tend to attract just about any molecule through static. Because of this property, they have a certain knack for collecting dirt, dust, and other unsightly grime.
Iron fences have the resilience of metal and the cleanliness of aluminum. Iron, being one of the more affordable metals, is a typical material for fencing. However, it oxidizes and rusts quickly.
Aluminum has the best traits of each option: it’s clean and it doesn’t rust. There’s little upkeep with an aluminum fence because of this. So, you set it up and practically forget it.
Con: The Neighbors Are Watching
Unfortunately, aluminum fencing does have its downsides. One of them being privacy.
While it’s a good option for those that don’t want to wash their fence periodically or do maintenance on repairs, it’s not good for privacy.
This fencing style is typically done with pickets. A sheet of aluminum would be laughably flimsy and prone to flying away (a flying sheeting of metal is a terrible idea). Thus, most of your yard and house will be visible.
If you had planned to keep your neighbors’ prying eyes off of you, then it’s likely not the best choice. To circumvent this inconvenience, you might want to add hedges or some sort of gardening. A nice vine will also do the trick; it’ll wrap around the poles and obfuscate some or all of the view.
Pro: Aluminum Fencing Is Very Inexpensive
Who couldn’t stand to save a few bucks? One of the things most homeowners consider when purchasing fencing is the price.
Metal is priced per pound. The density of aluminum is extraordinarily light, but it still offers exceptional durability compared to other weaker materials.
So, this fencing is much cheaper than the more dense iron and steel. But it keeps the quality endurance and durability that the others offer.
However, it may be a tad more expensive than plastics and wooden fencing. But the maintenance needed to upkeep either would likely offset the principal costs. New paint and additional pickets get expensive, particularly when they’re compounded over the lifetime of a fence.
Con: It’s Not the Strongest Material
Although it’s stronger than most materials found in typical fences, it doesn’t compare to others. Stone, iron, and steel are considerably more durable than aluminum.
If you’re in an unsafe area or one that’s prone to intrusion, you should consider a more proofed fence.
Aluminum has the quality of being very lightweight, which reduces its cost considerably. But that also reduces its ability to withstand certain aspects that are thrown at it.
Aluminum is easily cut with high-tensile equipment, like bolt cutters. They’ll chew right through any piece of aluminum with considerable ease and swiftness.
The material is also not recommended in areas that are prone to natural disasters. Tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes make short work of aluminum fencing. Whereas, iron or steel wouldn’t be fazed by either intruder or Mother Earth.
Pro: Easily Installed
Aluminum fencing, while not good for natural disasters or thwarting would-be thieves, is lightweight and easily moved. This does come with some added benefit.
If you’re in a safe neighborhood or don’t get much more than rain, consider installing fencing made from aluminum. More impressively, you can probably do it yourself.
This material is considerably lighter than most other materials, even wooden fencing. If you have the willpower — and a pickup truck — you can fence in your own yard within an afternoon. The biggest hurdle most people face when fencing their own yards is the overbearing accumulative weight they’ll have to move around.
Pro: It’s a Lifelong Fence
Although it might not withstand everything as well as its stronger siblings, it will last you a lifetime.
Aluminum won’t degrade or get old over time. It won’t lose its ability to act as a fence. There’s nothing that can stop it, other than outside variables like people or disaster.
The biggest benefit of aluminum fencing is that it’s a one-off type thing. You install it and that’s it. It’s one less thing a homeowner has to worry about!
On Guard!
Owning a home comes with a flurry of worry. There’s constantly something that needs to be done, and it usually can’t wait until you’re done watching your favorite show. And if it could, it’s all you’re going to be thinking about anyway!
Buying aluminum fencing alleviates one thing (of many) on your checklist. But it has its pros and cons.
It’s very easily maintained, cheap, easy to install, and it’s good for a lifetime. But it doesn’t offer the best privacy or security.
Are you looking to fence in your yard? Check out our other articles on keeping your home tip-top!
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