For some people, having a fence between neighbors' homes isn't very neighborly, and shows snobbishness or even antipathy.
A fence around the yard seems to say, "Don't intrude", "Keep off my life", or perhaps, "I don't want to socialize with you".
But thankfully 'some people' is not the majority, and most would say a home's perimeter fence -especially certain styles of fences- serves important purposes that overbalance the apparently negative indications.
Some of these positive functions of fencing are: Property demarcation - A fence establishes the definitive boundaries of a property so there are no disputes that might cause unneighborly conduct with any party.
This is doubly important should the property change hands and property limits need to be defined accurately.
And you can always tell when an intruder has entered your property even in the dead of the night.
Safety and protection - In some areas, alligators have been known to wander into garages when no fences are present.
In other areas, it could possibly be cougars, coyotes or hungry bears.
The most common problem is the neighbor's dog out to deposit some fertilizer in your lawn.
It is not very harmful, but annoying nonetheless.
If you have swimming pool, you will not want the neighbors' children wandering into it without permission or adult supervision, something difficult to keep without a fence.
Ditto if there are harmful plants in your property like fox-glove, oleander and others.
Or, if you propagate some precious and rare plants you naturally do not want them damaged, which is likely from intruding dogs or careless children.
With a fence, such things don't happen.
Preservation of privacy - It can be amusing--but only for a little while--that when you brush your teeth and look out the kitchen window you see your neighbor brushing his teeth and looking at you from out his window.
So you would not want other people seeing you doing your thing, innocent or not, when unnecessary.
The traditional Chinese erect high fences around their property for this very thing: privacy.
They want to live their own lives their way.
Value addition - A beautiful and sturdy fence can add aesthetic and financial value to a piece of property so that the fence becomes an investment.
Fences of steel, stone, concrete or natural materials can enhance the look of a particular property.
English mansions normally has concrete or stone fences; suburban homes have vinyl, polymer or wood panel fences, while the Japanese use bamboo or wood slats to set their gardens apart.
Although bamboo does not last relatively long, it adds much aesthetic value to the garden and therefore prized.
A fence is like a picture frame: it limits but improves the looks of a property.
A formal garden without a fence will appear like an aberration in a meadow, or, worse, a misplaced statement of a desired life.
A fence can limit a view, true, but it can also create a world in its confines.
It can be a limited world, but one that was created to your definitions and desires.
A fence around the yard seems to say, "Don't intrude", "Keep off my life", or perhaps, "I don't want to socialize with you".
But thankfully 'some people' is not the majority, and most would say a home's perimeter fence -especially certain styles of fences- serves important purposes that overbalance the apparently negative indications.
Some of these positive functions of fencing are: Property demarcation - A fence establishes the definitive boundaries of a property so there are no disputes that might cause unneighborly conduct with any party.
This is doubly important should the property change hands and property limits need to be defined accurately.
And you can always tell when an intruder has entered your property even in the dead of the night.
Safety and protection - In some areas, alligators have been known to wander into garages when no fences are present.
In other areas, it could possibly be cougars, coyotes or hungry bears.
The most common problem is the neighbor's dog out to deposit some fertilizer in your lawn.
It is not very harmful, but annoying nonetheless.
If you have swimming pool, you will not want the neighbors' children wandering into it without permission or adult supervision, something difficult to keep without a fence.
Ditto if there are harmful plants in your property like fox-glove, oleander and others.
Or, if you propagate some precious and rare plants you naturally do not want them damaged, which is likely from intruding dogs or careless children.
With a fence, such things don't happen.
Preservation of privacy - It can be amusing--but only for a little while--that when you brush your teeth and look out the kitchen window you see your neighbor brushing his teeth and looking at you from out his window.
So you would not want other people seeing you doing your thing, innocent or not, when unnecessary.
The traditional Chinese erect high fences around their property for this very thing: privacy.
They want to live their own lives their way.
Value addition - A beautiful and sturdy fence can add aesthetic and financial value to a piece of property so that the fence becomes an investment.
Fences of steel, stone, concrete or natural materials can enhance the look of a particular property.
English mansions normally has concrete or stone fences; suburban homes have vinyl, polymer or wood panel fences, while the Japanese use bamboo or wood slats to set their gardens apart.
Although bamboo does not last relatively long, it adds much aesthetic value to the garden and therefore prized.
A fence is like a picture frame: it limits but improves the looks of a property.
A formal garden without a fence will appear like an aberration in a meadow, or, worse, a misplaced statement of a desired life.
A fence can limit a view, true, but it can also create a world in its confines.
It can be a limited world, but one that was created to your definitions and desires.
SHARE
