Fencing options/suggestions please

[jeepgirl30]

We need to get a fence but have little idea on what type or costs involved. We have a small backyard but it runs up against a woods with a huge drop off. We want to keep the kids protected from chasing a ball down over the hill. We also just got a puppy so we'd like to let the puppy and kids be able to play in the yard together.

I do not want a picket fence as it would not keep anyone contained. I'd rather not go wood because of maintenance. I'm afraid chain link would look like an eye sore but vinyl may be way too expensive.

If we did a vinyl could we do a high privacy across the back and then a lower vinyl across the sides? Any one of examples of nice fencing?

What am i looking at cost wise?

 

[msmayor]

A good vinyl fence will run anywhere from $50-70 per 6' section. That's just for the fence panels...so on an average 1/4 acre lot you could need about 240' of fencing...so the panels alone would run anywhere from $2,000-$3,000. Then you need posts and anchoring material for at least the corners. Installed by someone else? Probably double the material cost.

Remember to check local ordinances to find out what, if any, restrictions there are on fencing. Many towns dictate what type you may install if you live on a corner, and what the maximum height can be on certain areas of your property (for example in my town, the maximum height from the front of my property to the rear corner of my house is 4'...from the rear corner of my house to the rear property line it can be 6'). You also may need a permit to install, as well as an accurate survey to ensure the fence is sitting on your property and not the neighbor's.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

I personally like the look of chain link if it's done professionally and using the green-coated chain link. It blends nicely with the surrounding trees/woods and keeps that "open" feeling. We had a 4' chain link around our yard until we ran into trouble with one of our dogs hopping over it so we had to put in a 6' privacy fence and we chose vinyl. The vinyl was significantly more expensive but I do like it.

One thing we did before installing the fence which I would highly recommend you do as well is stake out the line where you're going to put the fence with string and wooden stakes. It should probably be about 6-12 inches in from your property line - check with your zoning officer. Then tell your neighbors you're putting in a fence to keep your kids/dog safe and you'd like them to take a look at the line you've staked out. If anyone has any issues or complaints it's a heck of a lot easier to move a stake a few inches as opposed to an installed fence.

Plus most people would appreciate the courtesy and it makes for friendly relations with the neighbors.

 

[PinkRhombus]

Definitely check into the vinyl coated chain link. Not the rusty metal of prior years.

I like the look of the black coated chain link better than the green. I've seen both in our neighborhood and the black actually stands out less.

 

[mjkacmom]

We have a 4 foot picket fence, which has contained 5 children and a dog. I don't think any type of chain link fence looks good.

 

[PinkRhombus]

We have a 4 foot picket fence, which has contained 5 children and a dog. I don't think any type of chain link fence looks good.

Depending on the dog though. We do have a picket fence and there are quite a few of the smaller neighborhood dogs that come through our fence to visit us.

 

[Luvchefmic]

So funny the timing on this post, I have a company coming for an estimate in the morning, definitely check your local ordinances. I knew I lived outside of city limits here in Fl but I was surprised to find out I could go as high as 8 feet, which while I certainly don't want a prison look (certainly no barb-wire) we have 2 out of 8 dogs that could probably scale a 6 foot fence

Until I read this I had NO idea chain link didn't have to be the regular silver metal I will ask about the green to blend in as best as possible.

For your situation I would go with the chain link as your property sounds like ours with the woods.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

So funny the timing on this post, I have a company coming for an estimate in the morning, definitely check your local ordinances. I knew I lived outside of city limits here in Fl but I was surprised to find out I could go as high as 8 feet, which while I certainly don't want a prison look (certainly no barb-wire) we have 2 out of 8 dogs that could probably scale a 6 foot fence.

You may also want to get a quote on an angled extension which attaches to the top of they fence. My sister had to put one on to keep her Houdini of a Malamute from scrambling over their 6' chain link. It's an either 18" or 24" extension (I don't remember exactly) that angles into your yard and makes it really tough for pups to get over. Definitely increases the cost but worth getting a price on just to see.

ETA: I remembered she also had them put a horizontal pole along the bottom of the fence line as well as one of her dogs was a digger (she fostered a lot of rescues). A usual install only has the pole on the top and the chain link is stretched tight and attached to the vertical poles. Having the bottom pole made it harder for the dog to dig a small hole and squeeze under.

 

[JandJ]

Not sure your thoughts on wood, but we just got a board on board cypress fence installed in our backyard. It looks great and gives complete privacy.

 

[Luvchefmic]

You may also want to get a quote on an angled extension which attaches to the top of they fence. My sister had to put one on to keep her Houdini of a Malamute from scrambling over their 6' chain link. It's an either 18" or 24" extension (I don't remember exactly) that angles into your yard and makes it really tough for pups to get over. Definitely increases the cost but worth getting a price on just to see.

ETA: I remembered she also had them put a horizontal pole along the bottom of the fence line as well as one of her dogs was a digger (she fostered a lot of rescues). A usual install only has the pole on the top and the chain link is stretched tight and attached to the vertical poles. Having the bottom pole made it harder for the dog to dig a small hole and squeeze under.

Thanks, the 8 are rescues here too, but as hunting dogs (that are frustrated because we don't hunt) the 2 I mentioned are constantly looking to take off, I will let you all & the OP know what kind of quotes I get, hopefully nothing that will make me

 

[erin.w]

Unfortunately getting quotes from companies will probably make you make that face.

I got two quotes:

1. 177 feet of 6' privacy fencing and 95 feet of 5' chain link at the back of the yard. Quoted: $7,200

2. 140 feet of 6' privacy fencing and 150 feet of 5' welded wire fencing at the back. Quoted: $5,500 Increasing to $8,000 for 6' privacy fencing all around.

Hopefully you get better prices than I did.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Unfortunately getting quotes from companies will probably make you make that face.

I got two quotes:

1. 177 feet of 6' privacy fencing and 95 feet of 5' chain link at the back of the yard. Quoted: $7,200

2. 140 feet of 6' privacy fencing and 150 feet of 5' welded wire fencing at the back. Quoted: $5,500 Increasing to $8,000 for 6' privacy fencing all around.

Hopefully you get better prices than I did.

Everyone says it's cheaper to live in Florida, NOT true in a lot of ways, and to a certain extent that's true especially when it came to the fence (which is being installed next week) & since I feel your pain CT...I was a lifetime NY resident..I will try to entice you to move south.

The fence will be chain link silver (green or black would have been 20 % more expensive and that's a LOT of dog food & hay) 6 feet high 30 feet across by 55 feet long, includes a 5 ' wide gate, tax, labor, materials, everything.....$1,216. Yes fellow dissers you read that right of course it's smaller than what you have been quoted for but the price here is amazing!

As a leery NYer I almost fell on the floor, BUT it's a very reputable & professional company (I had seen their name on the fence around the local school and the town hall) and they have been in business since 1959. Needless to say I am....
and very much counting my blessings,

Ruthie

 

[DISdreamin']

ETA: I remembered she also had them put a horizontal pole along the bottom of the fence line as well as one of her dogs was a digger (she fostered a lot of rescues). A usual install only has the pole on the top and the chain link is stretched tight and attached to the vertical poles. Having the bottom pole made it harder for the dog to dig a small hole and squeeze under.

We have 1/2 acre fenced with 6' black vinyl coated chain link with bottom rail - it was about $6K installed. That includes an 8' gate and 2 4' gates. We really like the chain link in black, BTW.

As for the bottom rail and 6' height, the installer kept asking "do you really need it?" Uh, yeah! Two German Shepherds who can jump and dig...better safe than sorry!

 

[Vijoge]

We have a six foot high cedar fence. It's maintenance free and has weathered to a lovely silver color. We've had it for about 6 years and we've never had to do a thing to it.

I don't like chain link fencing but I agree with several other posters that black is the best looking of the chain link colors and is much less noticible than green. Won't even discuss silver. . .