In this guide you’ll find the types of fences for windy areas including the different designs, materials, fence bracing tips, and the best fence for hurricanes.
When a fence needs to be installed in an area with frequent strong winds, choosing the best types of fences for windy areas is essential. Often, the location of a property affects the amount of wind speed.
Some examples include a yard that backs up against a large, open field, a fence along the coast, or land at the top of a hill. These areas all leave a fence open to exposure against powerful winds and wind gusts.
There’s more than one solution to installing a fence for windy areas, including material, design, and construction. A solid fence is like a wind sail, taking the full force of the wind without letting it pass through its planks.
Many people prefer privacy fences around their property, which are typically aesthetic and durable. However, they are usually designed in a way that catches wind, powerful winds.
Read this informative guide to learn about fences and wind-resistant, the best materials for fences in windy areas, how to reinforce fences against the wind, and the best fences if you live in an area prone to hurricanes. [toc]
Wind Resistant Fence Design
There are quite a few designs that make a fence wind resistant. Within these fence designs are factors such as the type of material used and how reinforced they are.
A fence may only be necessary for demarcation in situations such as marking off a field, dividing land, or protecting crops. Wire fencing, paddock fencing, and post and rail work well for these situations.
Fence styles determine the amount of wind resistance and if the fence can withstand a bad storm. Semi-solid and slatted fences allow air to pass through and include styles such as Venetian, Louvre, and ornamental iron fences.
Picket Fences
This type of fence is very popular in areas where privacy is not the top priority. Picket fence designs create a classic family-home look from days past and still make a cozy, welcome attraction. The wide gaps are typically the same width as the pickets and allow much of the wind to pass through.
Shadowbox Fences
Shadowbox fences are also called board-on-board fencing and are created by staggering pickets on both sides of the fence rails. This creates privacy but leaves gaps between all the slats letting air pass through. The airflow is limited compared to wide-spaced pickets or planks but still allows more wind resistance than solid fencing.
Trellis Fences
Trellis panels allow wind to easily pass through the fence and dissipate the force that strong winds produce. Trellis panels are also aesthetic and can be used to grow wines and climbing plants.
Slatted Fence
Slatted fence panels run horizontally instead of vertically and are placed on railings, with each plank alternating on the front and the back of the railing. This fence design allows privacy and reduces the pressure excreted on the fence by high winds.
Best Fence Materials for Wind
Here we share the best fence materials for wind.
Wood Fences
Most fences for private properties have been made of wood for many years. Wood makes a beautiful fence but does pose problems such as rotting at the bottom of the posts and boards.
Maintenance is also needed to keep the wood in good condition, and replacement of individual planks. The best wood for fences is a harder variant, such as cedar that adds sturdiness. However, cedar and other hardwoods are very expensive.
Metal Fences
Fences made with metal include steel, wrought iron, or aluminum, allowing wind to pass through the design. Metal fences come in ornate and decorative styles, including floral, abstract, and industrial straight-lined patterns. These fences don’t offer much privacy but provide security and wind-proof fencing.
Vinyl Fences
Vinyl fencing has almost outpaced wood, and many fences that are traditionally made from wood are now made from vinyl. Vinyl stands up to high winds very well and is cheaper than wood.
It is also beneficial because this material is low maintenance, it doesn’t rot or rust, and vinyl can be designed to look like natural wood. One drawback to vinyl fencing is warping. Although it may survive powerful winds, it can warp slightly.
Chain Link Fences
Chain link fencing is one of the best wind-resistant materials for a fence. The high winds of a storm pass through the chain-link pattern and typically do no harm to the fence.
Today different types of chain link fencing offer vinyl coatings to customize the color of the fence and soften any hard edges in the linkage.
Wire Mesh Fencing
Wire-mesh fencing is another metal fence that makes an excellent choice for wind-resistant fencing. Strong winds easily pass through the mesh design and are known for their unmovable strength with the ability to withstand hurricane-force winds without bending or leaning.
Mesh types of wire fences offer many designs and styles to enhance a yard and garden area. Wire-mesh fencing is recommended for areas with constant wind.
How To Brace A Fence Against Wind
There are several methods for bracing a fence against strong winds.
• Wood fences can be more wind-resistant if the posts are made from concrete using braces under the ground level.
• Use heavy-duty fence posts with slots that are longer than the panels and after sliding the boards into the slots, screw into place to secure
• Add hurricane straps to wood fences for extra support
• Be sure footings are at least 30 inches deep
• Don’t place posts more than 7 feet apart, with 5 to 6 feet being better
• Use post-saver sleeves to protect wooden posts from rotting
• Be sure to keep wooden fence panels and posts stained to restore oils and protect them from moisture
Best Fence For Hurricanes
Wooden fences typically don’t survive a hurricane with even 70 mph winds, but there are better fencing solutions for people living in a hurricane-prone areas. The amount of wind-load a fence can withstand is commonly found within area Building Code Compliance Offices and can guide a homeowner to the right fence purchase.
Most hurricane-prone areas use standard hurricane wind-load parameters of fencing that can hold up to 75 mph winds or 3 seconds of wind gusts of 115 mph, such as areas labeled High-Velocity Hurricane zones.
The best types of fences for windy areas are wire-mesh, metal, aluminum, and chain link. In fact, chin link fencing is known as hurricane fencing. If you live in an area with high winds that is also prone to hurricanes, look into the options above to install a fence that can hold its own against the battering winds of these powerful storms.
See more related content in our article about pros and cons of composite fencing on this page.
