What is the actual purpose of a fence?

Freestanding structure preventing movement across a boundary

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This article is about the structure. For the sport, see Fencing . For other uses, see Fence (disambiguation)

A wooden fence During the Cold War, West German trains ran through East Germany. This view shows how East German authorities placed fences near the tracks to keep potential defectors at bay

A fence is a structure that encloses an area, typically outdoors, and is usually constructed from posts that are connected by boards, wire, rails or netting.[1] A fence differs from a wall in not having a solid foundation along its whole length.[2]

Alternatives to fencing include a ditch (sometimes filled with water, forming a moat).

Types

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Typical agricultural barbed wire fencing Sioux Mems Pro2 Split-rail fencing common in timber-rich areas A chain-link wire fence surrounding a field Portable metal fences around a construction site A snow-covered vaccary fence near Ramsbottom in Greater Manchester, UK Between fence and hedge: Acanthocereus tetragonus, laid out as a "living fence", rural area, Cuba

By function

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Security fence for schools in Korea

A balustrade or railing is a fence to prevent people from falling over an edge, most commonly found on a stairway, landing, or balcony. Railing systems and balustrades are also used along roofs, bridges, cliffs, pits, and bodies of water.

Another aim of using fence is to limit the intrusion attempt into a property by malicious intruders. In support of these barriers there are sophisticated technologies that can be applied on fence itself and strengthen the defence of territory reducing the risk.

The elements that reinforce the perimeter protection are:

• Detectors
• Peripheral alarm control unit
• Means of deterrence
• Means for communicating information remotely
• remote alarm receiving unit

By construction

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Legal issues

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A typical urban fence

In most developed areas the use of fencing is regulated, variously in commercial, residential, and agricultural areas. Height, material, setback, and aesthetic issues are among the considerations subject to regulation.

Required use

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Typical chain link perimeter fence with barbed wire on top

The following types of areas or facilities often are required by law to be fenced in, for safety and security reasons:

• Facilities with open high-voltage equipment (transformer stations, mast radiators). Transformer stations are usually surrounded with barbed-wire fences. Around mast radiators, wooden fences are used to avoid the problem of eddy currents.
• Railway lines (in the United Kingdom)
• fixed machinery with dangerous mobile parts (for example at merry go rounds on entertainment parks)
• Explosive factories and quarry stores
• Most industrial plants
• Airfields and airports
• Military areas
• Prisons
• Construction sites
• Zoos and wildlife parks
• Pastures containing male breeding animals, notably bulls and stallions.
• Open-air areas that charge an entry fee
• Amusement equipment which may pose danger for passers-by
• Swimming pools and spas

History

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Mass concrete fence in Russia

Servitudes[6] are legal arrangements of land use arising out of private agreements. Under the feudal system, most land in England was cultivated in common fields, where peasants were allocated strips of arable land that were used to support the needs of the local village or manor. By the sixteenth century the growth of population and prosperity provided incentives for landowners to use their land in more profitable ways, dispossessing the peasantry. Common fields were aggregated and enclosed by large and enterprising farmers&#;either through negotiation among one another or by lease from the landlord&#;to maximize the productivity of the available land and contain livestock. Fences redefined the means by which land is used, resulting in the modern law of servitudes.[7]

Buck-and-rail fencing such as this in West Virginia was ubiquitous in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as it was easily made as long as there was plenty of timber readily available. Soldiers from both sides of the war made use of wood from these fences for their camp fires. A wattle fence at Sanok-Skansen outdoor museum in Poland

In the United States, the earliest settlers claimed land by simply fencing it in. Later, as the American government formed, unsettled land became technically owned by the government and programs to register land ownership developed, usually making raw land available for low prices or for free, if the owner improved the property, including the construction of fences. However, the remaining vast tracts of unsettled land were often used as a commons, or, in the American West, "open range" as degradation of habitat developed due to overgrazing and a tragedy of the commons situation arose, common areas began to either be allocated to individual landowners via mechanisms such as the Homestead Act and Desert Land Act and fenced in, or, if kept in public hands, leased to individual users for limited purposes, with fences built to separate tracts of public and private land.

United Kingdom

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Generally

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Ownership of a fence on a boundary varies. The last relevant original title deed(s)[8] and a completed seller's property information form may document which side has to put up and has installed any fence respectively; the first using "T" marks/symbols (the side with the "T" denotes the owner); the latter by a ticked box to the best of the last owner's belief with no duty, as the conventionally agreed conveyancing process stresses, to make any detailed, protracted enquiry.[9] Commonly the mesh or panelling is in mid-position. Otherwise it tends to be on non-owner's side so the fence owner might access the posts when repairs are needed but this is not a legal requirement.[10] Where estate planners wish to entrench privacy a close-boarded fence or equivalent well-maintained hedge of a minimum height may be stipulated by deed. Beyond a standard height planning permission is necessary.

The hedge and ditch ownership presumption

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Where a rural fence or hedge has (or in some cases had) an adjacent ditch, the ditch is normally in the same ownership as the hedge or fence, with the ownership boundary being the edge of the ditch furthest from the fence or hedge.[11] The principle of this rule is that an owner digging a boundary ditch will normally dig it up to the very edge of their land, and must then pile the spoil on their own side of the ditch to avoid trespassing on their neighbour. They may then erect a fence or hedge on the spoil, leaving the ditch on its far side. Exceptions exist in law, for example where a plot of land derives from subdivision of a larger one along the centre line of a previously existing ditch or other feature, particularly where reinforced by historic parcel numbers with acreages beneath which were used to tally up a total for administrative units not to confirm the actual size of holdings, a rare instance where Ordnance Survey maps often provide more than circumstantial evidence namely as to which feature is to be considered the boundary.

Fencing of livestock

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On private land in the United Kingdom, it is the landowner's responsibility to fence their livestock in. Conversely, for common land, it is the surrounding landowners' duty to fence the common's livestock out such as in large parts of the New Forest. Large commons with livestock roaming have been greatly reduced by 18th and 19th century Acts for enclosure of commons covering most local units, with most remaining such land in the UK's National Parks.

Fencing of railways

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A 19th-century law requires railways to be fenced to keep people and livestock out.[12] It is also illegal to trespass on railways, incurring a fine of up to £.

United States

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Distinctly different land ownership and fencing patterns arose in the eastern and western United States. Original fence laws on the east coast were based on the British common law system, and rapidly increasing population quickly resulted in laws requiring livestock to be fenced in. In the west, land ownership patterns and policies reflected a strong influence of Spanish law and tradition, plus the vast land area involved made extensive fencing impractical until mandated by a growing population and conflicts between landowners. The "open range" tradition of requiring landowners to fence out unwanted livestock was dominant in most of the rural west until very late in the 20th century, and even today, a few isolated regions of the west still have open range statutes on the books. More recently, fences are generally constructed on the surveyed property line as precisely as possible. Today, across the nation, each state is free to develop its own laws regarding fences. In many cases for both rural and urban property owners, the laws were designed to require adjacent landowners to share the responsibility for maintaining a common boundary fenceline. Today, however, only 22 states have retained that provision.

Some U.S. states, including Texas, Illinois, Missouri, and North Carolina, have enacted laws establishing that purple paint markings on fences (or trees) are the legal equivalent of "No Trespassing" signs. The laws are meant to spare landowners, particularly in rural areas, from having to continually replace printed signs that often end up being stolen or obliterated by the elements.[13]

Cultural value of fences

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A fence in Thavakkara, India

The value of fences and the metaphorical significance of a fence, both positive and negative, has been extensively utilized throughout western culture. A few examples include:

See also

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References

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Notes

Bibliography

• Encyclopædia Britannica (). Vol IV, Fence.
• Elizabeth Agate: Fencing, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, ISBN 0--29-X

• fence at Wiktionary

Getting the right fence begins with you determining why you want to fence your property. Your purpose is the key to making the right choice. If you aren&#;t clear about this when you decide on your purchase, you could end up upset with yourself soon after your installation. And probably even more upset with the person who sold you the fence! 

I&#;ve been in the fencing industry for over twenty-five years, and I&#;ve supervised the installation of miles of fencing and gates. I can give you down-to-earth information to help you figure out what&#;s the right direction to go in choosing your fencing.

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Take the few minutes necessary to study this article and you&#;ll have key concepts in mind with which to begin your planning to fence your property. 

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Why fence and gate your property? 

It all comes down to one or more of the following reasons.  

Safety

Fencing and walls protect your family and your pets. Very young children aren&#;t at all aware of boundaries unless the boundaries are real and physical barriers. Older children might ordinarily know the boundaries, but can get so excited and caught up &#;in the moment&#; that they will forget about them unless &#;reminded&#; by the stopping power of an actual physical barrier. 

Often we read about older family members suffering from forgetfulness and absent-mindedness wandering off. Adding barriers to your property can help with that. 

Our cats will not pay much attention to our Fencing! We&#;ll just have to count on their speed and alertness to keep them out of trouble. 

But we can safeguard our pet dogs and horses with fencing.

There&#;re many concerns outside of our properties. In rural areas there are forests, lakes, rivers, cliffs, and wild animals. By fencing your property, you diminish the possibilities of an accident through misadventures. 

In urban areas, there is primarily the threat of criminals or traffic. fencing and walls make a barrier to both. 

Security

Fences keep strangers off your property. Top of the list of undesirables would-be criminals, but they also deter rowdy teenagers and Saturday night drunks from visiting. Rurally, they can keep deer and other wildlife from dining in your garden or a midnight munch from your trash receptacles. There are some cities that still have problems seasonally with people pushing magazine subscriptions and other products at your door.

With fencing, these problems go away.   

Fences Establish Boundaries

There may be many ways to look at fencing as a security measure. We see two primary reasons people secure their property. The first is psychological, and the second is physical. 

Psychologically, all of us have experienced since we were crawling around in diapers that a fence means &#;stop&#;. Come to think of it, the side of a crib and the look of a fence panel are nearly identical! 

It doesn&#;t stop there, does it? Everywhere you go in the city you see fencing and borders. And, pretty much always, people respect them.

There are many homes surrounded by picket fences that wouldn&#;t take much more than a little hop to cross. Yet, many homeowners remain safe on these properties, regardless. 

Many, but not all! It seems some people need more &#;psychology&#; than others! A five or six feet tall, robust fence is probably enough &#;psychology&#;  to stop just about anyone. 

There Are Two Main Environments Where Ordinary Fences And Gates Are Often Not Enough. 

These are at two ends of the financial spectrum: in the wealthiest neighborhoods, where an abundance of material goods excites envy, and in the poor neighborhoods where crime is nearby and pervasive.

Are you very concerned about your safety and your possessions? Do you live in a neighborhood where there have been break-ins or home invasions? Then you need more than a low-profile fence.

High-security fencing and gates work not only as a psychological deterrent but as very real physical obstacles difficult to surmount. They are generally taller, wider, and made from more robust materials. High-Security gates are fixed into the ground more thoroughly, with deeper and more substantial footers. 

Privacy

In my experience, the most frequent reason for installing fencing and gates to a property is for privacy. 

For many people, privacy is of the greatest importance. Their &#;business&#; is their own, and no one else&#;s. 

The privately-oriented person is often safeguarding something that is special. This becomes more &#;special&#; to the degree the person has the urge to hide it away.

But it all makes sense. If you had a well-maintained garden and pond, a &#;secret place&#;, wouldn&#;t that be even more exceptional if just you and the people closest to you knew about it?

Even if you are amongst the most sociable people, you probably want to have at least some time away from the crowds. And socializing can be more pleasant when you can provide privacy for a social event.

The right fencing can fully make your property private, and is an enormous step forward in changing your home to your castle, and your back or front yard to your kingdom. 

Curb Appeal and Increased Property Value

Although we primarily install most fences for reasons of security or privacy, once we plan for an installation, the appearance of your project becomes a primary concern. 

Just because your fences and gates have important jobs to do, that doesn&#;t mean the whole installation can&#;t be beautiful.

Some homeowners fence a home primarily to increase the property&#;s curb appeal. If you&#;ve always dreamt of having an elegant old-world fence or a simple white picket fence, you can make that dream come true!

Not every property needs a shield or barrier; some owners &#;frame&#; their properties with fencing to make it look even more lovely.

There can be an enormous variation in the amount of actual security and actual privacy that a fencing system brings about, but the fencing system must ALWAYS be beautiful in the eyes of the homeowner.

Adding beauty to one&#;s life is a grand purpose all by itself! 

There&#;s one thing that will always benefit a home, and a neighborhood &#; more beauty, and more order. 

As a side note, increased curb appeal is one of the prime factors in higher-valued home appraisals! Fencing your property typically increases the value of your home by as much as 300% of the cost of the fence installation!

Wandering Weeds

Is your neighbor&#;s yard is filled with weeds that are &#;illegally migrating&#; to your property? Choose a &#;privacy fence&#;; a fence that is built as a solid pane of wood, vinyl, or aluminum that reaches all the way to the ground. This will stop most weeds. 

Peace and Quiet

&#;Silence is a source of Great Strength.&#; &#; Lao Tzu

Noisy neighborhood? Fencing your property can do a lot towards obstructing sound waves emanating from a noisy street or loud neighbors. A fence made from any material is going to stop at least some noise. You can buy special material as well to put inside or alongside a fence for more noise dampening.

Fencing back &#;Ugly&#;

Not so pleased with the appearance of your neighborhood? Is the chaos of your next-door neighbor&#;s backyard forcing you to look down at the ground when you go to your yard? You can block out all that &#;ugly&#; with a privacy fence. 

Our homes are our castles, but what if it is your bad luck to be living next door to a real-life comic strip &#;Pig Pen&#; character? If pleas to the neighborhood councilman or other city officials go unnoticed, you can fence the offending neighbor out of your field of vision. 

We have helped many people build their own oases of privacy and beauty in &#;mean street&#; neighborhoods. If you are in that a predicament, you need to fence your property to preserve your sanity.  

 

So, there are the main basic &#;whys&#; to fence your property. You probably realized that most people have over one &#;why&#; and there are some who have all these reasons.

Your reasons will influence your planning and the fence you choose, so give it a lot of thought before you buy.  What is my purpose? Why do I need a fence? What do I most want from a fence? When you can answer these questions, you&#;re ready to get started.

Please continue to look through our education center to learn more about gates and fencing. All of our products come with a protective warranty and are built in mind to last a lifetime.  We are happy to help you plan a gate and fence project that completes your needs. 

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