If you’re one of the many homeowners who love making a statement with your property, you may be considering installing an ornamental fence and entrance gate. An ornamental fence is both a charming architectural feature that defines your style while enhancing the landscape and providing a protective barrier for your family, pets and garden.
Fence styles vary from the time-tested classic to sleekly modern, and can be customized to any of the unique land contours found here in eastern Georgia. Modern manufacturing technologies allow using new, low-maintenance materials to add to the aesthetic appeal of your home, while still being durable and versatile.
Before consulting your local fencing expert on which fencing is best for your home, here’s a short look at these popular materials and styles of ornamental fencing.
Steel Fencing
Steel is one of the strongest ornamental fencing materials available, able to withstand changes in weather and most man-made abuse. Steel fencing is also “rackable,” meaning each panel can be adjusted to fit the contour of any uneven or sloping property for a smoother appearance than “stair-stepping,” or graduating the panels.
While steel is obviously not an option for a privacy fence, maintenance is negligible and most companies offer a generous warranty. Steel fencing is available in a variety of paint colors and finishes.
Coated Aluminum Fencing
Like steel fencing, there is little to no maintenance with this option. At a relatively low cost, aluminum fence products are also rackable. Aluminum fencing will not rust and needs no repainting down the road. If you don’t require the virtual indestructibility of steel fencing, it’s a good choice for an ornamental fence that won’t receive severe punishment.
Fencing Styles
- The most basic fence is the two-rail style. The sections feature a top and bottom with evenly spaced pickets between them that do not extend above the top rail. This is a no-nonsense fence with a sleek look that also works well as a pool enclosure.
- Another popular two-rail fence style has pickets extending above the top rail. One design extends pickets above the top rail, while another features pickets that may be cut square, formed into arches, pinched into a point or topped with fancy finials or other accessories.
- A basic three-rail fence features two top rails spaced from several inches to a foot apart and a base rail. The pickets usually do not extend above the top rail; whether they do at the base is up to you. There are several choices in spacing the pickets on each section, which can be decided according to your needs or aesthetics.
- Most three-rail fences are also available in styles that include pinched pickets that extend partway up between the two top rails or spear-pointed pickets that extend above the top rail. Metal circles or squares fill the voids between the two top rails.
Arches and Scallops
More attractive fence and gate styles feature pickets forming a convex curve across the top of each section or a downward curve in a scallop pattern.
Finials
Many ornamental fences have end posts that are open on top, leaving room for you to select among a variety of accessories or finials designed to fit into the openings. You may have the choice of inserting solar-powered lights; fleur-de-lis or cannonball finials or even post extensions with plant hangers. Any of these finishing touches can dress up even the most basic fence.
For more expert help choosing ornamental fencing for your home, please contact Central Fence Co., Inc. or stop by one of our showrooms in Swainsboro, Statesboro, Vidalia or Sandersville. We’ve been a family owned and operated business since 1964.
