1. Anchor the Posts
The most important thing you can do to make your fence resilient to wind is to anchor the posts deeply in the ground. In high wind areas this may mean burying a third or more of the post into the ground. You may also want to consider adding concrete footings to anchor the fence even more securely. Your installer can provide guidance on the best way to anchor posts in order to avoid wind damage.
2. Space Pickets
Solid fencing takes the full brunt of the wind, which makes it more likely to blow down. Open pickets, even if the opening is small, allow the wind to pass through. Another option is to choose chainlink or metal fencing, as these have widely spaced pickets that allow plenty of air through. If privacy is a concern, then consider a board-on-board fence that has the pickets alternating on each side of the rails. Wind can pass through, but the fence still provides privacy.
3. Add Mesh Features
Adding a bit of mesh or latticework to a solid fence may be sufficient to prevent wind damage while still maintaining a solid fence for the lower portion of the fence. This is a good solution in homes with pets or small children, since you may not want open pickets at ground level. You can build a low solid fence and then add decorative mesh or lattice panels to it to raise the top to the desired height.
4. Use the Right Hardware
Nails aren't a good option in windy areas, as they can easily pop out under wind stress. Screws will anchor the components together much more securely. If extremely high winds are a concern, you may even want to consider wind strapping hardware, which includes metal plates that wrap around the connection points so that the fence components can't be easily torn apart.
5. Plant With Care
It's not uncommon to plant along a new fence, but some plants may put the fence at risk when the wind begins to blow. Avoid putting in larger trees along the fence line, as blow downs of big branches can destroy your fence. Shrubs and smaller trees should also be planted at a short distance from the fence, as well, as they can be uprooted and blown into the fence in the event of a wind storm.
Contact a fencing company to learn more.
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