The Best Fences for Families with Children

This just in: Fences are a great idea for families with children.

Okay . . . so we know that’s not groundbreaking news. But if you’re ready to break some actual ground, why not invest in a new fence? It’s a great way to keep your little ones inside and keep trespassers and animals out. 

After all, you’ve already childproofed the interior of your home. Doesn’t it make sense to do the same for your backyard?

Of course, there are a lot of considerations when picking the best fence for your family—especially if your brood includes small children. Below, we’ve outlined what to look for in a family-friendly fence. Plus, we’ve named one fence type in particular as the overall winner!

Fences That Are Durable

Fences are outdoor structures, which means they’re built to take a beating. Weather elements like wind, rain, snow, and hail are just a few of the harsh conditions any given fence might face. 

But when a fence is meant to protect children, it needs to be extra durable. Not only are kids known to be hard on just about everything, but they’re also pretty great at spotting potential escape routes. A broken board or rotten post could jeopardize your family’s safety. So when you’re shopping for a child-friendly fence, durability is at the top of the list. 

Here are the most durable options in fencing today:

Cedar
Cedar is among the most durable fencing materials on the market. Because it is naturally resistant to rotting, moisture, and insects, it’s known to stand strong for 30-40 years. Plus, the boards are typically between 5 - 8” thick, which means even the rowdiest of children won’t be able to make a dent. 

Aluminum
Looking for a fence that is totally indifferent to rain, wind, pests, and whatever else your backyard can throw at it? Let us introduce you to aluminum fencing. Aluminum is durable and classic in appearance, just like wrought iron. But unlike iron, it’s not at all susceptible to rusting or corrosion. (Plus, it’s more affordable!)

Vinyl
Vinyl fences are also known to last a long time—for several decades, at a minimum. They won’t scratch or break easily, they won’t splinter or rot, and they require virtually no maintenance. We don’t want to say they are totally indestructible, but they’re about as close as it gets. 

Fences That Allow for a Secure Gate

Including a gate with your fence installation is generally a good idea. Gates make it easy to enter and leave the backyard without having to track through the house. (This is especially helpful if your yard is a hub for neighborhood children!)

However, if a gate is not secure, easy access can become a problem. That’s why you want to choose a material that allows for the addition of a secure gate. Here are your options: 

Cedar 
Carefully constructed cedar gates can deter intruders and keep children inside when closed. When you come to Mae Fence for a secure cedar gate, this is exactly what you get. To make your gate even stronger against break-ins or break-outs, consider a cedar gate with a steel frame. Keep in mind that the wider and taller your gate, the more secure. 
 
Aluminum
When most people picture a security gate, they imagine a metal structure. That’s because metal gates, such as aluminum, are sturdy and difficult to break into. Plus, aluminum gates are perfect for adding security features like video cameras or keypad entry systems.

Vinyl
We’ve talked about the overall durability of vinyl fencing. This principle holds true for vinyl gates as well. To make a vinyl fence even more secure, you can add a closed shackle padlock and/or self-closing hinges. You can also ask our technicians to add a cement barrier to the base of the gate to make it a more solid deterrent to pests and trespassers. 

Fences That Are Not Easy to Climb

We’ve talked about how fences help protect children and assets. But if a fence is easy to scale, how protective can it really be? With that in mind, here are the fence types that are not easy for children to climb.

Cedar
Often, cedar fences are built without any gaps between boards. They can also be made to reach 6’ in height or taller. In these conditions, it’s hard to imagine either a child or adult easily scaling the structure. To make your fence even more difficult to climb, consider adding lattices, caps, and/or trim to the top. 

Vinyl
If you’ve ever touched a vinyl fence, you know the surface of the material is smooth and slick. This makes it nearly impossible to get a good grip for climbing. Just be sure to shoot for at least 6’ in height for maximum protection.
 

Fences That Are Affordable

At the end of the day, there is one more detail that matters in family-friendly fencing: affordability. Most families with small children need a cost-effective solution for securing their backyards. As a family-owned and operated company, Mae Fence knows this better than most. We believe all of our products are affordable solutions, but here are the two we believe to be the easiest on a tight budget:

Cedar
Despite its gorgeous natural appearance and outstanding durability, cedar is surprisingly cost-effective. In fact, it’s cheaper than nearly every other fence material available today. And because Mae Fence prioritizes local production, we’re able to cut costs even further for our clients. 

Aluminum
Aluminum fencing is more expensive than cedar. But it’s still a cost-effective solution, especially compared to other metal options. If you like the look of a metal fence but want to preserve your budget, aluminum is usually a good choice. Plus, like cedar, aluminum fencing doesn’t require much (if any) maintenance.
 

And the Overall Winner Is . . . 

If you’ve been keeping track, then you know the clear winner here. Cedar fences stand out as the very best choice for families with children or pets. That said, vinyl and aluminum are both tied for a close second place. If your design vision is a better match for PVC or metal, you can’t go wrong with either of those options. But if you want a fence that checks all the boxes, choose cedar.