Making an eco-friendly choice has become increasingly vital in today's world. For homeowners, fencing is no exception; more and more families are deciding to swap their plastic fencing for a more eco-friendly option available.
This article dives deep into eco-friendly fencing options, offering picks for every budget and home type. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or someone who needs a fence to handle the heat, this comprehensive guide will help you make informed decisions.
Why Choose an Eco-Friendly Fence?
Traditional fencing materials, especially those like wood, have a significant impact on the environment. They often require chemical treatments that can leach into the soil, and when replaced, they often end up in landfills. Additionally, the production of these materials can contribute to deforestation and habitat destruction.
Choosing an eco-friendly fence not only reduces the impact on the environment but offers benefits for homeowners too. Many sustainable fencing options, crafted from recycled materials or renewable resources, can be durable and long-lasting. This means fewer replacements and less waste over time. As a homeowner, you can also enjoy the aesthetic appeal of many eco-friendly fencing options without the environmental guilt.
The Best Eco-Friendly Fence Choices, Ranked By Category
There are myriad choices for those wanting to go green with their fence. We've scoured the options and have identified 11 standout eco-friendly fencing options.
Let's delve into these picks.
Criteria Used for Our Rankings:
In ranking these solutions, we graded the fencing using a range of important characteristics:
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DIY Ease
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Cost
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Suitability for Urban & Compact Homes
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Suitability for Suburban Residences
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Salt Resistance and Therefore Suitability for Beachfront/Coastal Homes
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Weather Resilience (Heat, Cold, and Wind)
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Privacy & Security
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Durability
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Aesthetic Appeal
It's essential not just to consider the type of fence you get but to understand its long-term impact both environmentally and financially. So before getting lost in all the options, take a minute to consider which characteristics are important to you, as that will make your decision a whole lot easier.
Best Overall: Composite Fences and Living Fences (Hedges)
Composite fencing and living fences (like hedges) rank as our top choices for several reasons. Composite fences boast a high amount of recycled content as this type of fencing is often comprised of recycled HDPE plastic and wood fibers. No fence requires no maintenance whatsoever, composite comes pretty close! These fences require very little upkeep and are designed to mimic traditional wood fences, ensuring your home maintains its aesthetic appeal.
Living fences, on the other hand, are fences made from organic materials. A living fence is made up of plants, providing not just a barrier but also promoting biodiversity. This type of fence is an excellent way for homeowners to build an eco-friendly fence while also adding greenery to their property. In terms of being eco-friendly, a living fence is about as environmentally sustainable as you can get as it absorbs carbon dioxide from the air.
Best for a DIY Project: Woven Hurdle, Reed, and Bamboo Fences
For the environmentally conscious DIY enthusiast, woven hurdle, reed, and bamboo fences are fantastic choices.
These materials are easy to source and easy to install. Bamboo, for instance, is one of the fastest-growing plants on the planet, growing up to 3 feet per day. As a member of the grass family, bamboo is actually a sustainable choice. Reed and hurdle fences also offer a rustic charm, and with some basic tools, you can have your fence up in no time.
Best Budget-Friendly Fencing Materials: Woven Hurdle, Reed and Hemp
Woven hurdle fencing, historically rooted in ancient British countryside tradition, has seen a resurgence among homeowners seeking a sustainable and budget-friendly fencing option. Crafted using intertwined wooden strips, woven hurdles exude a quaint, rustic charm, effortlessly blending into natural surroundings. Their design and materials make them not just eco-friendly but also relatively low-cost compared to many traditional fencing options.
Reed fencing, constructed using vertically aligned natural reeds bound together with wire, offers another affordable and eco-friendly alternative. With its lightweight design and ease of installation, reed fencing is especially favored by DIY enthusiasts. It serves as an excellent choice for those aiming for both privacy and a touch of nature-inspired aesthetics without a heavy dent in the pocket.
Hemp, a rapidly growing plant known for its versatility, is also finding its way into the world of eco-friendly fencing. Beyond its well-documented applications in textiles and paper, hemp as a fencing material provides strength, durability, and resistance against pests. Given its sustainability – it's one of the fastest-growing plants on the planet – and cost-effectiveness, hemp fencing is a budget-wise choice for environmentally conscious homeowners.
Top Picks for Urban & Compact Homes: Woven Hurdle and Bamboo
For urban residences with limited space, woven hurdle and bamboo fences are ideal. Woven hurdle offers a rustic appeal, while bamboo, a rapidly growing renewable resource, brings an exotic touch. Both fencing options are space-efficient, ensuring urban homeowners maximize their compact areas while retaining privacy.
Best Eco-Friendly Fencing Options for Suburban Residences: Composite and Living Fence
For suburban homes, the blend of modernity and nature is crucial. Composite fences provide a contemporary look with minimal upkeep. In contrast, living fences offer an evolving natural barrier. Both options seamlessly integrate into suburban aesthetics, offering versatility in design and function.
Prime Choices for Beachfront/Coastal Homes: Composite
Properties near the coast need fences that can withstand moisture and salt and this is one of the most testing environments for eco-friendly fences. Coastal areas present a challenging environment for fences, especially when it comes to eco-friendly options. The presence of moisture and high levels of salt in the air can cause significant damage to traditional fence materials like wood or metal. Therefore, it is crucial to find fences that can withstand these conditions while still maintaining sustainability.
Many homeowners living on the coast choose vinyl for their fencing, due to its durability. However, since we are focused on the most sustainable fencing options, composite would be the best recommendation here due to its salt corrosion resistance.
Read More: Why homeowners are choosing composite over vinyl fencing
Most Weather Resilient Sustainable Fencing Options: Composite and Rammed Earth
For homes located in areas with volatile weather conditions, fences will need to offer the resilience needed to withstand elements ranging from scorching sun to freezing cold and even withstand hurricane-force winds over 100mph.
Composite fences offer durability against varying climates, while rammed earth provides a robust, natural barrier resistant to extreme weather. Both choices ensure long-lasting, eco-friendly perimeter protection.
Note: Frame It All Composite Fencing is not designed to be a wind-resistant fence primarily, so feel free to get in touch with us if you'd like to learn more about its suitability for your area.
Most Durable Choices: Composite, Rammed Earth and Living Fence
Can we agree that replacing a fence is something we want to do as infrequently as possible?
While some durable fence options can be more expensive on the front end, the money and (let's face it) huge amount of hassle you'll save with a long-lasting fence is well worth it.
Composite, rammed Earth and living fences are great for durability because they are long-lasting and require minimal replacement or repairs.
Just note, if you go for a hedge, there will be some maintenance you'll need to do to keep it looking neat. But with that being said, none of these options will require you to continually paint or stain after fading like some of the other traditional fencing options.
Top for Privacy & Security to Make Your Home Secure: Rammed Earth and Recycled Metal Fences
If security is a top concern, rammed Earth and recycled metal fences offer a dense barrier ensuring a secure perimeter for your property.
While fencing can be a great way to protect and secure your home, these sustainable options also need to look good of course! This is what we'll dive into next.
Best Aesthetic Appeal: Composite and Living Fence
Composite fences have emerged as a popular eco-friendly fencing option for homeowners looking for a blend of durability and visual appeal. Mimicking the appearance of traditional wood fences, composite materials offer design versatility that can easily complement various architectural styles. The mix of recycled wood and plastic in composite fences not only reduces the impact on the environment but also offers a fence style that requires minimal upkeep while retaining its aesthetic charm for years.
Living fences, such as hedges or other plant-based barriers, present a wholly organic and dynamic aesthetic. A living fence is made from trees or shrubs that grow over time, providing a natural barrier that evolves with the seasons. This type of fence brings with it a sense of tranquility and can act as a sanctuary for local wildlife. Not only do living fences enhance biodiversity, but they also offer homeowners a unique and sustainable fencing option that harmonizes with the natural environment.
Conclusion and Full Scoresheet
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Eco-Friendly Fence Types |
DIY Ease |
Budget-Friendly |
Urban & Compact Homes |
Suburban Residences |
Beachfront /Coastal Homes |
Weather Resilience |
Privacy & Security |
Durability |
Aesthetic Appeal |
Total |
|
Composite |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
36 |
|
Living Fence |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
36 |
|
Woven Hurdle |
5 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
34 |
|
Reclaimed Wood |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
32 |
|
Cordwood |
4 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
32 |
|
Recycled Metal |
4 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
31 |
|
Bamboo |
5 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
32 |
|
Reed |
5 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
31 |
|
Rammed Earth |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
26 |
|
Hemp |
4 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
27 |
|
Straw Bale |
4 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
24 |
Making eco-conscious decisions, even in something as seemingly simple as fencing, can have a profound impact. It's a step towards a sustainable future while also providing aesthetic and functional benefits for homeowners.
If you love the sound of a composite fencing solution, please feel free to explore what we have to offer from pickets to pre-assembled boards.
Frame It All Cap Composite Fencing
Whatever type of fence you go for, we hope this guide has helped you out.