Residential fences serve several purposes, and which of these is the most important is the biggest factor in deciding how tall your fence should be. The purpose of your fence will also play a part in determining its design. This is how you choose the correct fence height for your home, and we can help at Fence Outlet.
Mark Property Lines with the Correct Fence Height
Many people put fences up solely to provide a visual line of demarcation between their property and the lands outside of it. If this is your only reason for having a fence, it can be very short. Fences as low as two feet can do the job, though three-footers tend to look better.
Lower fences, such as one-foot decorative types, are prone to damage from lawnmowers, wayward cars, and even from being tripped over by distracted people who didn’t see them. Therefore, fences this short are better off used around gardens and other on-property features.
Fence Height to Keep Dogs at Your Home
The height of a dog fence depends on the capabilities of the dog(s). Sedate dogs who wouldn’t dream of jumping or climbing a fence can be kept in with just a four-foot fence. Energetic animals, on the other hand, can often easily jump that height. Larger dogs can also naturally jump higher than tiny ones. Therefore, you should go for a six-foot or even eight-foot fence for them.
It is important to know that some dogs can climb fences. Then, the size of the dog is not a predictor of how well a fence will work to keep him or her on the property. Instead, the key factor is how climbable the fence is. Chain-link fences are basically ladders in the eyes of a climbing dog. Go for one that has a completely smooth surface, such as a vinyl panel privacy fence. Of course, it still needs to be tall enough to stop attempts to jump it.
Privacy Fence Heights
A privacy fence needs to be taller than the eyes level of whoever is trying to look in at you. If you’re lucky, six feet will do the job. However, if your neighbors have high vantage points to look from – such as their decks – you’ll need to add footage. The same is true if they’re tall.
In some areas, fence height is limited to six feet. In that case, depending on local zoning and/or HOA restrictions, you can try adding a trellis to the top of the fence and growing thick vines up it to provide the needed additional screening.
Fence Security
For security, a fence should be as tall as you can make it. Eight feet is common, and some are higher. Sometimes, embellishments like latticework are used to add a couple more feet to the height, especially in areas where regulations limit the height of the actual fence.
Considerations for the Correct Fence Height for Your Home
While the purpose of a fence is the main determinant in how high you might like it to be, there are other factors that can come into play. Most of these will have the effect of requiring you to choose a shorter fence height.
Zoning and/or HOA Restrictions
While the most permissive areas will let you have a fence that’s any height you want, many people find very tall ones to be off-putting. Therefore, zoning regulations in many places set a maximum height for fencing. Six feet is a common limit, though eight feet may be allowed in some areas.
HOA limits, where present, may be much stricter. Some HOAs don’t allow fences at all, forcing you to use hedges or similar things as your property line marker.