The Advantages of Sustainability for Fencing
Whether you’re a fan of sustainability or not, it is fairly obvious that practicing it in every area of life actually saves costs and often time, as well as the earth’s resources. For instance, sustainable fencing not only keeps you secure, but saves a lot of time in maintaining the fence and also the costs of doing so.
Fencing contractors may offer picket fence options and they do look nice, especially with certain styles of houses, but this kind of fence is not particularly sustainable because it requires regular painting to protect the timber from the weather and ensure it lasts a long time. Some people would consider it unsustainable simply because it uses timber, but timber is a natural and renewable resource that is often grown especially for such applications.
It’s important to look at what kind of timber it is and where it was sourced from. Pine plantations are most often grown for use in the building industry, because pine trees mature more quickly that many other kinds, but pine is a softwood, so requires paint to protect it from the weather. Hardwood is better for external use since it lasts longer, but it can still rot out due to rain if it is not protected.
Steel and iron are more sustainable choices for a fence. For a start, they can be recycled and steel especially, does not weaken when it is melted down and used to make something else. Steel panels are popular in fences these days because they come with a choice of colours so you don’t have to spend a lot of time in maintenance.
In many cases the colour is baked onto the steel when it is being made, so it stays there for a very long time. Termites are not attracted to steel and it won’t rot. It may need to be kept above ground level or it might eventually rust out.
Steel post fences are long-lasting and require very little maintenance. They are sturdy and strong and the posts can be cemented in, important if the fence is needed for security. The posts are attached to horizontal steel rails at the top and bottom, giving intruder’s very little toehold to climb over. While the cost may be a little more, it is offset by the length of time it will last and the lack of maintenance, since it is not necessary to paint it all the time.
So even if you don’t bother to make other areas of your life sustainable, choosing a sustainable fence can certainly save you time and costs, making it preferable to the type of fence that is not sustainable. After all, who wants to spend time or money on painting the fence when there are so many more exciting things to do?