Wooden Privacy Fence

The history of solid wooden fences can be traced back to Ancient Rome and Greece, when the armies of both the nations started building fortifications with the help of wooden designs. These were known as palisades. This concept led to the development of solid wooden fence that we see today. The modern privacy fence, which is a descendant of palisade, has undergone considerable change, and has evolved into many effective designs that we can use for privacy and to protect gardens. Incidentally, the first non-military use of palisade fencing was for gardens and orchards, where the nobility usually kept their deer that was hunted as sport.

Origins of Wooden Fence

There is no hardcore archaeological evidence that is found regarding the origin of the wooden fence that we use today. The oldest use of normal wooden fences that was used to protect farms during the Iron age, was found in Leksand, Sweden. This type of fence was built by erecting two vertical poles in the ground and by tying a series of wooden poles to them, horizontally. This kind of fence cannot be classified as a 'privacy' fence, as the inside view is not at all obstructed by such a fence. This fence was basically used to enclose farms and animals. The first proper model of the wooden fence, that we use today, was used for fortification during the Second Macedonian War, by the Romans. This fencing was made up of sturdy wood and was short but very sturdy, and resembled the design of a complete wall. The specialty of such fencing was that the thick wooden poles were directly driven into the ground and were secured with anchors. The advantage of these fences was that it was impossible to destroy them or pull them down.

Features of a Wooden Privacy Fence

Here are some characteristics that are typical of a privacy fence.

• Plan: A privacy fence must be built for protection and not for style. Thus, the fence should have a good thickness and at least 6 feet of height. The fence must also have enough anchoring and reinforcement.
• Columns: It is also necessary, to have strong and thick wooden columns, placed at equal intervals within the fence, in order to enforce the fence.
• Wood: The fence must be built with the help of extremely strong and sturdy wood variety. It is better to use any variety of white wood to build a wooden fence.
• Paint, Polish and Waterproofing: The wooden fence is bound to be weathered by many weathering agents, hence a sturdy and strong waterproofing formula and paint are required to safeguard the wood of the fence.
• Enforcing: The last feature, that is needed to make a really good fence is enforcing of wooden fence posts with the help of metal brackets.

To build a privacy fence, you can either appoint somebody for the task or you can use a 'do it yourself kit'. The total cost is calculated on the basis of length of the fence. Thus, the bigger the area you want to enclose, the more expensive would be the fence.

There are several different wooden privacy models and designs to select from. It is best to select the sturdiest and thickest, as it lasts longer. In spite of the longevity of the wood, you will need to take care of the fence by keeping it clean and free from moss and mold.