The primary purpose of a fence is to increase the safety and security of your property. While they may not be enough to keep intruders out or keep your pets in at all times, keeping them in good shape will help minimize risks as much as possible.
That said, here are the signs that your fence is putting your safety and security at risk. Although these signs may not point toward the need for new fence installation services, there are certain fixes or upgrades that you can make to address these problems, which we will also highlight in this article.
1. Sagging, leaning, or warping
Fences of all types can experience varying levels of sagging, leaning, or warping over time with regular wear and tear. However, these kinds of damage can also be caused by something hitting the fence or someone placing excessive weight against it.
If you notice that parts of your fence are sagging or leaning, avoid trying to put it back into place since the added movement can further weaken the fence. Instead, call a professional repair company to address the problem. Don’t wait too long to have it repaired either since a leaning fence can fall over and injure someone or a pet, and in extremely unfortunate cases, you could be sued for personal injury because of it.
2. Flimsy gate lock
While a gate lock may not be able to stop a determined intruder, having a high-quality one installed can serve as a good deterrent. Hence, if the lock on your fence’s gate is already old, flimsy, or simply too easy to open, it’s high time to invest in a new one that is harder to open from the outside without a key.
3. Loose components or debris
If you have children or pets in the house, loose components or debris from the fence can be extremely dangerous. Your pet may eat a piece of the fence and injure their mouth, your child could touch a sharp piece and slice their little fingers, and the list goes on.
Even if you don’t have children or pets, loose pieces from the fence is a sign that it needs to be repaired, or in worst cases, replaced. If entire panels are loose, there is also a high risk of becoming hazardous projectiles when there are strong winds and storms. See if you can tighten up loose components on your own and try to find where the debris is coming from. If you can’t fix the problem yourself, call in a professional to do it for you.
4. Old, damaged appearance
When your fence is old, damaged, and looks particularly flimsy, it can make your house look like an easy target for criminals, especially when you are going away on vacation and leaving the house unoccupied.
If it’s just a cosmetic issue, you can make your fence look newer with a fresh layer of paint or varnish, an inexpensive project that you can do over the weekend. However, if the fence is damaged, you may need to have it repaired to make it appear less flimsy.
5. Climbing aids near your fence
Climbing aids are things that potential intruders can use to climb over your fence, such as garbage bins, furniture, large planters, and anything else strong enough that can support the weight of a person. If you have such things placed near your fence, remove them immediately, especially when you are going away for vacation.
Better yet, use anti-climbing measures to increase the security of your home, such as installing razor tape, planting thick hedges, or growing thorny climbers against your fence. However, keep in mind that these measures may harm domestic cats and wildlife. If you have a cat and like climbing over the fences, these measures may not be applicable unless you train them.
6. Rust
Metal fences are often protected with rust-resistant coatings. However, they are not always immune to rust spots. When you see rust starting to form on your metal fence, address the affected areas right away by applying a rust neutralizer, scrubbing away the rust, and recoating the spots with a rust-resistant material. If you ignore the problem for too long, the rust can spread and weaken your fence, making it more prone to falling over and potentially injuring someone.
A fence serves as a great deterrent against criminals and is a great way to maintain your privacy. But when they are damaged, weak, or simply too old, you may be inadvertently compromising your safety and security. That said, if you notice these signs, address the problem right away to avoid potential dangers.
