Glossary Category: Fence Types
Fence Types is about:
Explore every fence style Thrive Fencing installs across central Iowa — from solid privacy fences and shadow box designs to ornamental steel, chain link, horizontal fences, and code-compliant pool enclosures. Each term explains the design, best-use scenario, and how Thrive specifies it for Iowa’s terrain and climate.
A fence designed or specified to make scaling difficult or impossible — through solid panel construction, lack of horizontal footholds, tight picket spacing, or height — used for pool enclosures, security perimeters, and properties with children or pets.
A fence installed along a property line to demarcate the legal boundary between adjoining properties — subject to Iowa Code Chapter 359A for shared fence responsibilities and local municipal setback and permit requirements.
A woven wire fence made from interlocked galvanized or vinyl-coated steel — the most economical fencing option, widely used for residential dog containment, sports enclosures, and commercial perimeters.
A fence or barrier system certified under a formal crash-test standard (US Department of State K-rating or ASTM F2656) to stop a vehicle of specified weight traveling at a specified speed — used for vehicle anti-ram protection at commercial and government properties.
A modern fence style where boards run parallel to the ground (horizontally) instead of vertically — creating a contemporary aesthetic but significantly easier to climb than vertical privacy fencing.
A decorative fence style — typically steel or aluminum — featuring vertical pickets, horizontal rails, and shaped finials that replicate the aesthetic of traditional wrought iron at a fraction of the cost.
A continuous fence enclosing the full boundary of a commercial or institutional property — designed for access control, security, and legal demarcation, typically using heavier-gauge materials and commercial gate systems.
A fence enclosing a residential or commercial swimming pool that meets International Residential Code (IRC) Section R326 requirements — minimum 48-inch height, maximum 4-inch gaps, no climbable features, and compliant self-closing/auto-latching gate hardware.
A solid fence design with no gaps between boards or panels — blocking all sightlines from outside the property to provide visual privacy, noise reduction, and security.
An ornamental steel fence panel configuration with a second row of shorter pickets added in the lower section — halving the effective gap width to prevent small dogs and puppies from pushing through standard 3.5–4 inch ornamental picket spacing.
A fence system designed to deter or prevent unauthorized entry — combining height, solid panel design or anti-climb picket configuration, and secure gate hardware to protect residential or commercial property.
A wood fence design where boards alternate on opposite sides of the horizontal rails, giving both neighbors a finished-face appearance while leaving small gaps that allow airflow but reduce sightlines.
Free-standing chain link fence panels set in weighted bases — used to secure active construction sites, control pedestrian access, or define temporary work zones without post holes or permanent anchors.