Fences have a mixed reputation. At their worst, they are something that keeps us apart and impedes that community feeling so many folks speak highly of. But, fences don’t have to work this way. They can be funky, stylish conversation starters that potentially bind two neighbors with a bit of whimsy and fun.
Also, there are fences don’t just have to act as visual boundaries between properties. We can use fences to protect our vegetable patches or make an interesting patchwork of a piece of land. We can use fences to hide things or to showcase things. We can make fences a feature in the landscape.
What we don’t have to do is go the old route of chain-link metal or fence board “privacy” fences. We can make life a little more interesting. We can use unusual fencing materials so that that fencing is remarkable rather than something we try to ignore. All the while, we can do it with repurposed and found materials to make it eco-friendly.
Why not have some fun with…
1. Old Tin
For runs of fencing where creating a visual block is part of the goal, old tin roofing metal can be a great way of doing it beyond the box store solution. It’s easy to find old corrugated sheets online, and it’ll be quite a bit cheaper than treated fence boards. Just give the tin a bit of framing, and it’ll cover a lot of ground quickly and be strong at the same time.
2. Pallets
Pallet wood became all the rage during the repurposing movement, and it’s with good reason. They are usually easy to find and often free to acquire. The problem with pallets is they can be a lot of work to take apart. Pallet fences are awesome because the pallets don’t have to be dismantled. Just stand them up and link them together, and it’s a great three-to-four wooden fence, perfect for hiding compost piles or protecting garden beds.
3. Old Doors
Another unconventional way to make a privacy fence or hide something behind fencing is to use old doors as the fencing panels. Stood upright, most doors are about three feet wide by 6.5 feet tall. Put in a line, a series of old doors can provide an eclectic visual effect to be appreciated. It’s perfect partially enclosing a patio space.
4. Window Frames
Old window frames (and old windows for that matter) are loads of fun to play with. They can transform into all kinds of cool stuff, including fences. They can be puzzle-pieced together to create an obvious border without shutting the rest of the world out. Folks might go out of their way to look at a window frame fence.
5. Garden Tools
It may take a while to collect the amount of beaten-up garden tools to do it, but for those who love collecting stuff and thrift store shopping, garden tools can be stood upright to make a pretty kooky fence or gate. It’d be an appropriate feature side of fencing for a vegetable garden.
6. Firewood
Stacks of logs can be big, ugly space hogs, or they can be cool fencing that gets cycled year after year. They’ll be providing a steady supply of fuel for campfires or fireplaces, and they can be replenished regularly to keep the firewood fencing in place. This is perfect for keeping a simple barrier around something, like a fire pit.
7. Sticks
Sticks, limb pruning, and small downed trees can be pieced together to make cool, curvy fencing. It can be something more like a railing that brings focus to a spot, or it can be something more like an old-timey fort to keep animals from getting into a vegetable garden. This is great to keep in mind when cleaning up or clearing a property.
8. Hodge-Podge
Ultimately, many or all of these techniques can be hodge-podge together to make a funky and fun fence. It may be every HOA’s nightmare, but for those who can make unconventional fences out of repurposed and found materials, it’s a project that makes the whole thing fun and exciting.
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