Commercial vs Residential Fence: The Differences And Why You Should Know Them

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Starting a construction project is always a bit challenging – not only do you have to come up with the overall concept, but you also need to ensure that the types of things you choose will work with the purpose of the facility that’s being improved upon. Some things are suitable both for commercial and residential purposes, but others need to be specifically made for one or the other if you want the feature to actually function well.

One such difference is in the realm of fencing – fences made for residential purposes simply aren’t suitable for commercial areas, and vice versa. If you’re planning to install a new fence, it’s important to know what the differences are so that you can make the right choice for your needs.

1. Material

Commercial fences are usually made out of metal, whereas residential fences are more likely to be made out of wood. This is because steel fencing is better suited for a high traffic area – it’s more durable and doesn’t need as much maintenance. Wood, on the other hand, is a good choice for a fence that will be seen by people but won’t be touched or used as often, such as in a residential area. Durability is important in both cases, however, even if you don’t choose the most durable material when fencing your yard – you’re probably looking at something that will last you for years, if not decades to come.

On the other hand, because commercial fences get used more, the material it’s made out of needs to be as durable as possible – you don’t want to find yourself having to invest in a new fence all the time – that would be neither time effective nor cost-effective.

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2. Height

Commercial fences are typically much taller than residential fences. This is because businesses need to be sure that their property is protected and that no one can simply walk onto the premises without permission. There are a few exceptions to this, of course, but in general, you’ll find that commercial fences are at least six feet tall, if not taller. Residential fences, on the other hand, are typically much shorter – usually around four feet.

While fence height is still one of the most important factors to consider even in residential areas, most homeowners want the fence to look less imposing and more welcoming. It still needs to provide added security, but a home is far less likely to be targeted than a business. In other words – you could use fencing designed with businesses in mind for your home, but you shouldn’t use those made for residential purposes when installing a new fence for your business.

3. Purpose

You may be thinking that the purpose of the fence is the same in both cases – they’re there to keep people off the property when you don’t want them there. And while that’s true, the reasons why you might want to keep people off the property vary greatly depending on whether you’re talking about a commercial or residential area. In a commercial setting, you want to keep people from coming onto the property and stealing anything or causing any damage – much as you’d want in a residential setting.

However, there are a lot of industries out there where any and all unauthorized entry needs to be prevented, such as in a nuclear power plant or a hospital. You may also want to keep people from seeing what’s going on inside. Whether you’re a factory, a doctor’s office, or any other type of business that’s not selling something to the general public, a commercial fence is what you need to keep unauthorized people out.

4. Maintenance

Of course, no one wants to spend too much time on maintenance. However, in a residential setting, you’re more likely to want to have the opportunity to switch things up every now and again. Whether that just means choosing a different color for your fence, or any other related DIY project – you’re less likely to mind having to put a bit more work into maintaining your fence if it means it will reflect your personal style and your home’s aesthetic perfectly.

On the other hand, commercial fencing needs to be as efficient as possible – and that means easy to maintain. You don’t want to have to spend hours on the weekends cleaning and maintaining your fence when you could be using that time to make money. With that in mind, it’s important to choose a material for your commercial fence that doesn’t need a lot of upkeep.

5. Cost

The cost of both a commercial and residential fence is a big factor to consider as well. Obviously, the cost of materials and installation is going to be different for each type of fence. However, you also need to consider the fact that a commercial fence is going to last much longer than a residential fence. This means that while a commercial fence may cost more money to install, you won’t have to replace it as often, which will in turn save you money in the long run.

When it comes to commercial fencing though, the upkeep and maintenance costs are often included in the price tag – as they’re likely to be done by the company that installed the fence in the first place. This is especially important if the fence includes any additional security features, or if it’s automated in any way. On the flip side, since residential fences are often far less complex, the cost of materials and installation is usually much lower.

6. Appearance

Last but not least, let’s talk about appearances. There’s no denying that a residential fence is going to look very different from a commercial fence. This is because the purpose of each type of fence dictates the overall look. A commercial fence is often designed to be as unobtrusive as possible so that it doesn’t take away from the appearance of the property it’s guarding – unless, of course, it’s made to completely hide the facilities.

A residential fence, on the other hand, is often designed to be as attractive as possible. Even residential privacy fences, which are meant to keep people from looking in, often have a decorative element to them. This is because homeowners want their fence to be an extension of their home and not just something that serves a functional purpose.

As you can see, there are some key differences between commercial and residential fencing. Keep these in mind when deciding which type of fence is right for you and your project. The most important thing to remember is that, while commercial fences can be used in home projects, more often than not, fences made with residential purposes in mind are not as suitable for commercial uses.