Security Threat Level
The first thing to do is consider exactly what you want from your security fencing. What types of threats are you concerned about? Are you looking at security fencing to stop theft, vandalism, trespassing, or something else? Think about how your property looks to a burglar and what potential risks there are in your area. The level of security needed in a private home in a gated community compared to a business premise on a busy main road are vastly different.
Reduce Hiding Places
Your choice of fence can actually make you a target, which is the exact opposite of what you want from your security fencing. High walls and privacy fencing create places to hide making these properties more vulnerable. When it comes to security you want to be able to see any suspicious people on the other side of your fence, and you want anyone breaking into your property to be visible to (and reported by) passers-by. Being seen means being caught, so reducing potential hiding places immediately makes your property less appealing to potential burglars.
No Way Over or Under
Security fencing should be hard to climb over and dig under. To prevent climbing the taller the fence the better. Not only is it more difficult they’re also more likely to be noticed scaling a tall fence. Ensure your fence doesn’t have many horizontal beams, these can make your fence more like a ladder and easier to get over. Having spikes or other anti-climb solutions on top is also key to increasing security. Some fence styles like palisade fencing have spikes incorporated into the design but you can also add a variety of climbing deterrents to most kinds of fencing.
Depending on your circumstances the threat of someone digging under your fence may be less of a concern. Having your fence built with large footings creates a solid foundation that will increase the strength and security of your fence overall.
Strong & Difficult To Bypass
If a fence is easy to cut through or knock down it doesn’t matter how tall or difficult to climb it is. Security fence posts should have an appropriately deep foundation for their height and be secured in concrete so they can’t easily be knocked over by vandals. Chain link fences, especially poorly made ones, can be surprisingly easy to breach with just a pair of wire cutters. It’s important to consider the design and materials for your security fencing to ensure it stays secure.