Designing a fence for a historic property requires a little more thought than a modern home. Era-specific features don’t always mesh well with contemporary fencing. We have to find a balance that honors the history of the home and still utilizes the enhanced safety features of modern-day fencing. Let’s take a look at how we come up with fence designs for historic homes.
Pre-Design: Examine the Features on the Property
The first step in any fence design is to examine the existing features on the property. What colors and architectural details are present on the home? What colors, shapes and patterns would best compliment those features? Before you explore fence options, survey the property from all angles. This will give you a better idea of what will and will not work for your fence design.
Wrought Iron Fences for Historic Homes
Wrought iron is a popular choice for historic homes. It is classy enough to blend with many home designs, yet it is ornate enough to command a sense of elegance. Wrought iron does not offer much in terms of privacy, but it does make for beautiful barrier fencing. If you’re looking specifically for a privacy fence, you may opt for a different material in the back yard and only use wrought iron in the front.
If you already have wrought iron features on the property, make sure the fence design mimics those elements. There are many styles of wrought iron fencing to choose from, so you can find a great match for your home.
Wood Fences for Historic Homes
A classic wood fence may not fit the design of a historic home, but there are ways to use wood on historic properties. As we mentioned above, you could use a wood fence for privacy in the backyard. Then use a different fence material in the front for curb appeal. You could also add a decorative cap to the top of the fencing to make it look more elegant and better suited for a historic home. Some home designs, such as Cape Cod homes and plantation-style homes, look great with wood fences. We can help you decide if a wood fence is right for your property.
Vinyl Fencing for Historic Homes
Much like wood, vinyl is not a traditional fencing material for historic homes. However, it is a highly durable option that may work well in certain applications. Vinyl is five times stronger than wood and incredibly easy to maintain. A black or white vinyl fence may offer the same timelessness as a wrought iron fence, but it has the added privacy of a wood fence. It’s the best of both worlds! Vinyl comes in an array of colors and patterns, so the possibilities are endless.
Brick and Stone Fence Designs for Historic Homes
Brick and stone fences are great for historic properties, as long as the stone or brick matches the material on the home. Bricks are highly durable, but a brick fence is subject to cracking due to the ground shifting. For many historic properties, we recommend using brick columns with wrought iron or wood fencing in between. This carries the brick from the house down to the rest of the property, but it doesn’t require you to have a large brick wall surrounding the yard.
How to Find the Perfect Fence Design for Your Historic Property
Since fence designs for history homes are fairly tricky, we recommend working with a trusted fencing company near you. The design experts here at All Around Fence can come up with the perfect fencing for your home, your budget, and any other factors. If you have homeowners association or other regulatory body in the neighborhood, we can verify options with them before completing your fence installation. We’ll find the perfect balance for your property.
To schedule a no-obligation fence design quote, contact us at (443) 838-9374.
