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So, you’re thinking about installing a fence. Those nosy neighbors finally did it this time. Or maybe their dog did it one too many times. Whatever the case, whether it’s to keep other people’s things out (noses, dogs, eyes) or to keep your stuff in (children, pets, sanity), choosing to build a fence leaves you with one big, resounding question. No, we’re not talking about choosing between a vinyl fence and an aluminum fence (though we will in a minute); we’re talking about how is the fence going to get up there?

Vinyl fencing is the most popular choice for fencing. It is not only beautiful to look at but also built to last. Available in different styles and colors as well as textures, you can choose from endless options in these designs. Moreover, it requires much less maintenance as it will not rust, chip off, blister or corrode. All you will need to do is clean it occasionally with the garden hose to keep it free of dust. It is no wonder to see its popularity on the rise. Easy to maintain, it will last you for many years to come and make your place attractive as well as safe.

Just about everyone you talk to on the street would tell you something similar. They all want some place to live that is not only comfortable, but safe and secure. Most people want that ultimate dream: the nice house, big yard, cat and/or dog, kids, AND a fence. Why the fence? It completes the dream. It marks your territory. It encloses what belongs to YOU. A good fence can be a source of pride.

A professional Long Island fence installation adds what’s called "curb appeal" to your home. Curb appeal is simply the appearance of your property. When you have a high quality fence installed on your property and you have it done professionally so that everything looks just right, the value of your curb appeal naturally goes up. But a professional fence installation can also raise the value of your property, making it an easy choice in home improvements.

A Long Island fence contractor is someone who can help you determine the right fence for your property and then professionally install your chosen fencing. Many people opt to build their own fences out of materials that they buy. If the person is experienced in choosing the materials and fence building, the fence can turn out to be an asset to the home, making it more attractive and adding curb appeal. But too often a homemade fence installation looks homemade, and can be very unattractive.

AS A GARDEN DESIGNER, I’m a fan of dark fences. Their color provides an emphatic backdrop for plants, but doesn’t compete for attention. Until recently, though, the only ways to achieve a fence in a sophisticated chocolate, gunmetal or charcoal shade were paint (fated to peel) or stain (likely to fade).

Henry Bente turned his back for just a moment — and then couldn’t find his 17-month-old son, Zackary, in his Bel Air home.

He searched the yard in and around the family’s above-ground swimming pool that Sunday morning last July, with no success. That’s when he looked under a raft floating in the pool — and saw Zackary, alive but unconscious, at the bottom.

Fences are normally built for two reasons: The first is to provide some level of containment, whether this is for the family dog or a herd of cattle grazing in the back 40. The second reason for fence construction is to provide a visual barrier. Over the years I have built a good deal of both. During my years in graduate school I worked at an equestrian center and maintained more fences than most would see in a lifetime. Containment there was accomplished using injury-free materials. PVC rails and strips of conveyor belt kept the barbed wire away and left the horses injury free.

Studying the history of the fence poses some ontological and epistemological problems. On the one hand, fences are tangible objects that have been put to use at all times for definite purposes. On the other, they are artifacts having meanings in the cultural systems they have been employed in. A functional analysis should involve studying both the virtual ramifications of a medium on people’s way of life and its symbolic usage in their societies. The fence only exemplifies the role of technologies in culture. As Marshall McLuhan showed, while technologies enable us to do things, i.e.

Picket fence designs do not vary too drastically from one another, but simple accents and changes between designs make big differences. The biggest determining factor as to how picket fence designs will look as a final product is the material from which the fence is made. Wood is the most popular material, but vinyl is becoming increasingly popular because of its low maintenance and aesthetic appeal. Once the materials for the fence have been determined, picket fence designs can range from a traditional, straight picket fence to a more ornate, concave picket fence with decorative posts.