2 of 11

Write now Article Tools

Coming from England where the standard gardens and courtyards are very open and almost non-existent, I understand the frustration that being exposed to prying eyes can cause. It seems like a bit of a waste of space, no good for sunbathing or BBQs, not even good enough to sit in with a coffee and read a book. It's because of this that they are often used as a spot to store the bins and general junk, or just left to their own devices becoming over growing with weeds. But with the right fencing to help create that little bit of privacy, this seemingly useless bit of land can become like an additional room on your house. It can be used for entertaining, as a kid's play area, for relaxing, even an ideal spot to start the herb garden you always talk about. Whatever you use it for it will almost certainly add value to your property.

Bamboo

Bamboo is fast becoming known as one of the world's premium hard woods. It is stronger than steel in tension, stronger than concrete in compression and more stable than red oak. But it is a combination of the bamboo's natural colour, style and versatility that is winning over many customers. The simple bamboo fence consists of a number of bamboo poles tied together with wire, which is simply unrolled and attached to a simple frame or existing fence.

Brush Fencing

Brush fencing is another natural and effective method of beautifying your courtyard and creating privacy. It is made up of many sticks from the brushwood plant and as with bamboo it is the natural look and neutral colouring, which blends in well with garden beds and man-made structures that is making it so popular.

PVC

PVC's biggest selling point is its life time guarantee. Makers say that PVC will not flake, warp, splinter or discolour and contains UV protectants. It is this that is seeing it becoming the number one choice amongst new home builders. But PVC is also very versatile; it can be made in to any style any height and any colour, from the white picket to any modern design you can think of.

Schist Stone Walls

These walls are built using pieces of schist stone put together like a jigsaw puzzle. It is a method that is very popular in architectural designed home, but the resulting rugged natural looking wall will rejuvenate any garden. Unlike a standard brick wall a stone wall is not freestanding and needs to be worked onto a backing board or onto an existing block wall. The standard width of a schist stone wall is around 150mm but they can be made thinner to suit your particular garden and tastes.

Iron Fencing

The general view of iron fences has always been that they are outdated ugly masses of twisted metal, where the paint peels and then the metal rusts at the first sniff of rain. But all that is changing and the old fashioned iron fence is making a comeback. With more modern simplistic designs that are galvanized and powder coated offering durability strength and style. The powder coating can be done in the colour of your choice making it easy to match it to your house.

It is important to check with your local council for any possible building restrictions. Cutting through all the red tape may be a bit of a pain, but giving the kids their own play area and you some subsequent peace could be priceless.

Learn more about this author, Roy Skillen.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Home improvement: Adding a fence to your property?
We want to hear your view. Write now!