Fencing Things In

• Electrified wooden pasture fenceTwo Horses Near Curved Fence image by steverts from Fotolia.com
  
  Pasture fencing and backyard fencing are the two primary types of fences used to keep something confined. It might be a toddler, a family pet, livestock or poultry. Backyard fencing of this type might be welded wire mesh, chicken wire, chain link, wooden shadow, or a solid plank fence. Pasture fencing might be post and rail, poly-wire, poly-tape, wire mesh, barbed wire, or a combination of two materials, such as poly-wire strung through insulators attached to the wooden posts.
  
  

Fencing Things Out

• Chain link fence topped with three strands of barbed wirefence image by Antonio Oquias from Fotolia.com
  
  Sometimes it is necessary to fence things out of a space, such as a vegetable garden, orchard or commercial property. Deer fencing is a primary example. Two-to-four strands of electrically charged poly-wire attached to fiberglass posts are often used to keep deer away from orchards. The fence delivers a non-lethal shock, but drives the deer somewhere else. Many deer fences are temporary and can be removed after the deer figure out they're not welcome. Commercial property owners often enclose their facilities with very tall chainlink fencing to deter break-ins and vandalism. Some are topped with strands of barbed wire.
  
  

Decorative Fencing

• Picket fencinghouse with picket fence image by Michael Shake from Fotolia.com
  
  Decorative fencing can enhance the value of property, giving it more "curb appeal". Decorative fences include picket fences which may be constructed of wood or vinyl. Another type of decorative fence is a wrought iron fence. Installed atop piers of concrete or stone, they give a look of permanence to a property. Some decorative fencing encloses nothing at all. As an example, think of the fencing installed near the entrance to a driveway. There may only be two short shots of three posts and rails on either side.
  
  

Privacy Fencing

• Roughsawn wood shadow-type privacy fencewooden fence panels image by Robert Ford from Fotolia.com
  
  To discourage the curiosity of nosy neighbors, many homeowners install wooden privacy fencing. It may be shadowbox fencing with alternating planks installed on opposite of the fence rails,or a solid cedar or roughsawn hemlock plank fence. Some are topped with decorative lattice work which encourages better air flow and enhances visual appeal. A wooden privacy fence might be stained or left untreated to weather naturally. Another privacy fence type is the stockade fence.
  
  

Safety/Security Fencing

• Swimming pool with safety fence installed behind a decorative hedgeswimming pool image by apeschi from Fotolia.com
  
  Safety fencing is installed to protect the unwary from hazards. Many are chain link. Examples include a fence around a swimming pool, or the extremely tall chain link fences utility companies install around transformers and electrical substations. It might also take the form of an invisible fence. Buried in the ground, it prevents pets, particularly the family dog, from wandering into traffic. In highly sensitive facilities such as arsenals, perimeter security fencing is provided through the installation of customized electric fencing.
  
  

Boundary Fencing

• Boundary fencing marrking a property linewooden fence image by Stepanov from Fotolia.com
  
  To delineate their property lines, many large landowners and ranchers install boundary fencing. It could be a wooden split rail or post and rail fence. It could also be constructed using barbed wire. A fence of this type could be serving two functions, as both a boundary marker and pasture fence. A boundary fence might also be constructed of chain link.
  
  

Environmental Control Fences

• A sand fence can control dune migrationfence image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
  
  To prevent drifting snow or sand from blowing where it is not desired, environmental control fences are installed to deter these occurrences. The two most common types are snow fences and sand fences. Constructed of closely spaced wooden pickets held together with five strands of woven wire, they prevent sand dune migration, while encouraging beach plants such as sea oats and beach plum trees to sprout. Snow fences are designed to force blowing snow to form drifts away from driveways, sidewalks, and entrances.