Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
A lot depends on the age of the neighborhood and what community standards are. In the suburbs of Baltimore I grew up in and knew back in the late 50s and early 60s chainlink was common in parts of town where there were row houses and duplexes. there were no HOAs. In the newer suburbs with single family homes there were HOAs and most specified 'no fence in front of the building line' Later they started specifying the type of fence.
Some of those chainlink fences have survived several generations of home owners. That was when the fence was heavy gauge steel and the posts were heavier gauge and set solidly in concrete. With one of the largest steel mills in the world providing jobs for a large portion of the population, the consumers knew what they were buying and would not accept second rate product.
But 'upwardly mobile' people started thinking chain link reminded them of the 'working class' neighborhoods many grew up in and happily accepted the new subdivisions rules about no frontyard fences and no chainlink in spite of the fact it kept kids, dogs, and toys (especially soccer balls) in and required little if any maintenance.
Property sizes are the same. Some parts of town, there are zero chain link fences in any front yards.
Other parts of town, half of homes have enclosed chain link fences.
What is the pattern here?
So What! If I had a house I would want a six ft chain link to keep the deer, and stray dogs away.
Personally I prefer hedges. I live in the country, no neighbors. If I lived in town I would not be happy with people letting their dogs pee on my grass. I've seen people with those retractable leashes letting their dogs way up in yards. I like dogs, but if I had nice grass I wouldn't want them peeing on it, or dealing with the poop if the owners left without picking up. I wouldn't want kids cutting across a corner lot, either.
A hedge would be my first choice, then wrought iron, then chain link, then wood. I would be open to a brick wall if it was permitted.
Then of course it could also be due to less nefarious things. One homeowner decided to install a chain link fence for his own reasons (didn't want to mess with ongoing maintenance of a board fence, wanted to maintain some view of the sidewalk or street, happened to like chain link and hated corny white pickets, happened to work for a chain link fence company and got a deal). A neighbor decided they liked the first's chain link, got a referral to that fencing company and did the same. Maybe a bunch of people banded together and got a bulk rate. The effect ended up spreading through the neighborhood like dandelions.
I liked your post, very sensible, and open minded. With a chain link you can train a variety of vines to grow on them, and in time they can look very pretty covering the fence almost completely. Except maybe in winter. And/or plant evergreens along them to add to your privacy, and a nice windbreak. If I had the resources a walled garden would be preferred by me because it looks more classic, and you could make it into a secret garden. But with good planning, and time you could do the same with the chain link.
I very much dislike elitism, and people looking down on someone's choices because they have money, and someone else doesn't. That's really what it boils down to. And meddling.
Chain link is ugly and a sign of one with no taste.
This does not explain why one part of town has homes all with the same "bad" taste, while other parts of town have no fences whatsoever. So, no, it's not about taste. It may be zoning.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MidValleyDad
But 'upwardly mobile' people started thinking chain link reminded them of the 'working class' neighborhoods .
Ok, so there is historical context that metal fences indicate working class economics? Are metal fences cheaper than wooden fences? I would think metal fences are a lot more money than a few planks of wood.
Quote:
Originally Posted by E-Twist
If I lived in town I would not be happy with people letting their dogs pee on my grass. .
A fence will not prevent dogs from peeing on your lawn. It it set back several feet from the curb.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mlulu23
I very much dislike elitism, and people looking down on someone's choices because they have money, and someone else doesn't. That's really what it boils down to. And meddling.
Another reply that indicates economics. This makes no sense to me. The fences part of my town has literally identical houses (and prices) as the zero fences section. It is not economics, it can only be some kind of zoning or herd behavior at play.
Costs are not significantly different. Some wooden fences are cheaper than metal fences.
Chain link fencing costs between $5 and $20 per foot for materials and $10 to $20 per linear foot for installation. Homeowners typically pay $2,118 on average.
Homeowners pay an average of $2,866 to install a wood fence, or a range between $1,674 and $4,078. Lumber averages from $7 to $15 per foot while labor ranges from $10 to $30 per foot.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
