From rusted barbed wire to new white pickets, fences have long been used to mark boundaries and protect property. They can also add curb appeal to a home or business.
However, there are many other benefits to a fence that homeowners don’t always consider. Read on to learn more about these unexpected benefits of Fence! Click Here to learn more.
Fences are often built to serve as a physical barrier that separates one property from another. This may be to prevent access or to preserve a sense of privacy. There are many types of fencing materials available to achieve this purpose, including wood, stone and metal. Fences can also be used to protect livestock and other animals from predators.
There is a wealth of scholarship about surveillance, with scholars such as Simone Browne exploring its racial dimensions and Karen Levy and others examining how digital monitoring can discipline and disempower workers. But, for the most part, privacy is rarely the central preoccupation of such work; other concerns, such as justice and equality, take precedence. Pressly’s goal is to change that.
In a more traditional sense, fencing refers to the buying and selling of illegally obtained goods or services. Such transactions typically involve three distinct parties: the thief who stole the goods, the fence who acts as an intermediary, and the final purchaser. The internet has given rise to a new phenomenon known as “e-fencing” in which fraudulently obtained items are sold via online marketplaces. In these cases, the level of culpability on the part of the platform’s operators may vary from benign to active collaboration with the thief and fence.
Security
Security is the degree to which a person, community, or system is able to resist external forces. The term is most often used to refer to the protection of people, property, and other assets from harm or theft, but it also relates to resilience against change (e.g., secure foundations) and confidentiality (e.g., a secured telephone line). Security is a central concern for many domains, including national, corporate, and personal security.
In modern times, it is a common practice for businesses to employ security measures such as cameras and passwords to prevent unauthorized access to computer systems and other sensitive information. Individuals can also take steps to improve their own security by locking doors, using a passcode on computers, and installing anti-virus software.
Fences have long been used to deter animals and other unwanted intruders from a person’s property. Fences can be made of wood, steel wire, or stone. They can be decorative or plain and may include a gate or other entrance way. They can be built to be high enough to keep livestock out or low enough to allow a person to walk through easily. Fences can be used in agriculture as well, and it is legal to fence in cattle on private land in the United Kingdom, although large areas of common land with roaming livestock have been greatly reduced by 18th and 19th century Acts for enclosure of the New Forest.
Traditionally, fences sold stolen goods to buyers by acting as intermediaries between the original thieves and their final purchasers. They typically tried to disguise the stolen nature of the items by removing, altering, or replacing serial numbers, and they often waited some time before selling them in order to avoid detection by law enforcement. E-fencing, on the other hand, is an increasingly popular method of selling illegally obtained goods and services over the Internet.
Some fences also acted as brokers for other criminals, and they would sell valuable information about places to hide or individuals to be targeted by bandits or other criminals. Itinerant barbers specializing in this role were known as “thief-takers” in 1707, and Defoe depicts them as having considerable social cunning, even though they were involved in dishonest activities.
Durability
When it comes to fencing, durability is a top priority for many homeowners. Durability refers to the ability of a fence to withstand the elements and resist damage from storms or other environmental factors. This includes being resistant to rust, corrosion, warping, and other issues that can affect the structural integrity of your fence and compromise its appearance.
Steel is often considered the most durable fencing option available. Although many metal fences are prone to corrosion, premium steel systems use advanced coating technologies and engineering that significantly reduce the risk of rust. When properly maintained, a steel fence can last for decades and easily withstand even the most severe storms.
Wood is another durable fencing option, though its lifespan may be less than some other materials. While treated wooden fences are more durable than untreated versions, they can be vulnerable to moisture damage and the growth of mildew and mold that can rot the wood. It is recommended to treat and stain any wood fence every two years to protect it from weather-related damage.
Composite fencing is also a good choice for durability, combining the benefits of both wood and plastic to create a highly resistant fencing material. Composite fencing is a great option for those who want the look of traditional wood fencing, but are concerned about warping, splintering, and insect infestation. Additionally, this type of fencing offers greater resistance to fading from UV exposure than vinyl.
Aluminum is also a very durable material, and when coupled with a steel reinforcement system can offer a long-lasting, high-performance fence. While it isn’t as flexible as vinyl, its flexibility means that aluminum can flex under pressure from winds or soil movement and return to its original shape.
Durability is a big consideration for any homeowner planning to build or replace their fence, especially in Virginia where our unique climate presents many challenges to the longevity and durability of fencing materials. In addition to high wind speeds and the potential for debris from fallen trees or tree limbs, our region also experiences frequent rain and snowstorms that can cause fences to lean or bend.
Style
Fence is a barrier erected to confine or exclude people or animals or to define boundaries. It can be made from many materials, including timber, soil, stone, and metal. It can also be made from living plants, such as the hedges of Great Britain and continental Europe or cactus fences in Latin America.
Fences may be decorative in their design or they can simply serve a functional purpose. Gates are generally more decorative than fences, and they can be customized with latches and hardware in a wide range of styles. They are often shorter than fences, and they can be used in residential or commercial settings. Gates are usually located at the entrance to a property and can keep something closed or they can be designed to keep something inside, such as livestock, vehicles, or other items.
