By Erin McClary
C & G Staff Writer

Whether for boundary or security purposes, pool privacy or just plain decoration, functional and fashionable fences will never go out of style.

And with spring making its debut this month, many residents will make sure to fit “fencing” into their seasonal chores.

Spring is the time to install fences, according to Mike Taylor of Taylor Made Fence, which has an office in Warren. It has been a family-owned business since 1954. “For the next six weeks, it will be crazy,” he said. “On a warm, sunny day, our phone rings off the wall.”

The reasons behind building or updating fences vary. While some homeowners prefer a privacy fence that will, perhaps, block the view of a busy road or a nosey neighbor, others are happy with a simple, three-foot wire job for the sole purpose of distinguishing property boundaries. Another neighborhood favorite, the picket fence, is often used for decorative purposes and sometimes assists in gardens with the growth of plants and flowers.

PVC fencing, which is a type of vinyl fencing, is the most popular these days, said Taylor.

“If you’ve got a house you’re going to stay in for a while, that’s the way to go,” he said. “It’s forever.”

Terry Gladstone of Action Fences of Michigan in Royal Oak said there are many kinds of PVC fences. “And it’s less expensive in a world were everything’s expensive.”

Aluminum and steel chain-link fences are also big sellers. Not only is chain-link the only type of fencing permitted in certain neighborhoods, but it is very low-maintenance, as well.

“The average chain-link fence will go about 20 years before rusting,” said Taylor. And if steel is the chosen material, the fence is likely to last even longer. While aluminum fences have the lowest maintenance, he said, steel fences are stronger and less expensive.

“These days, I think people are much more into security — for their children and their own privacy,” said Gladstone. Although six-foot cedar fences are his biggest sellers at Action Fence, Gladstone, who purchases all of the company’s wood from northern Michigan, said PVC makes for great privacy fences as well.

Action Fence has 18 types of wooden fences, most of which are on display in their showroom on Woodward Avenue. “We’re trying to keep business in Michigan,” he said. “We don’t outsource anything.”

For those who are looking more for decorative options, wood fences may be the way to go.

“We still have people who love the wooden fences,” said Taylor, who learned his professionalism and the art of fencing from his father. Wooden fences are popular for privacy, but other favorites include picket-type fencing. Concave and convex fences are more open and decorative, and shadowbox fences provide privacy while allowing a breeze to pass through.

But before anyone — professional and handyman alike — installs a fence on a residential property, certain zoning or neighborhood association requirements must be met. Many neighborhoods have height and material regulations, and in some cases, privacy fencing is not permitted at all.

“First, we have to call Miss Dig,” a utility company that detects underground wiring, Taylor said. “And then, we have to pull the permits from the city.” Permits, depending on the city, usually run from $25 to $35, and in some cities, there is no charge for a fencing permit. However, if something goes wrong during the installation or afterward, the city goes after the person who picked up the permit. Most professional fencing companies will get the permit for homeowners, which is one reason Taylor suggests that homeowners consider having their fences installed professionally.

“Every community has different laws,” said Tony Jablonowski, sales manager at Taylor Made Fence. “We pull permits in every city; we never take a chance.”

Regardless of its purpose or type, there are many things to consider when erecting, replacing or refurbishing a fence. Time, money and liability, to name a few, play a large role, especially when homeowners attempt to do it themselves.

“I’ve seen some homeowners do some really nice work,” said Taylor. But it takes a lot of time, money and handiness. Professionally, the average fence can take anywhere from 10 to 14 days to erect. Homeowners have to consider all of the factors when doing it themselves.

And it’s not uncommon for him to get calls from people who start installing a fence on their own and can’t finish it, he said. “It takes longer to fix their mistakes. Having it done professionally is just easier and inexpensive in comparison.”

“It’s always the wife who calls after her husband has spent five weeks setting up posts,” said Gladstone.

“There are a lot of things to consider. Renting machines is difficult, and tooling is so expensive these days,” he said.