Schmidt - The Complete Guide to Garden Walls & Fences

Improve Backyard Environments

Enhance Privacy & Enjoyment

Define Space & Borders

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
www.creativepub.com

Copyright 2010, 2011
Creative Publishing International, Inc.
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
1-800-328-0590
www.creativepub.com
All rights reserved

Printed in China

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Digital edition: 978-1-61673-307-0
Softcover edition: 978-1-58923-519-9.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

The complete guide to garden walls & fences : improve backyard environments, enhance privacy & enjoyment, define space & borders.
p. cm.
Created by the editors of Creative Publishing International, Inc incooperation with Black & Decker.
Includes index.
ISBN-13: 978-1-58923-519-9 (soft cover)
ISBN-10: 1-58923-519-3 (soft cover)
1. Fences. 2. Garden structures. 3. Retaining walls. 4. Walls. I. Creative Publishing International. II. Black & Decker Corporation (Towson, Md.)
TH4965.C65 2010
690.89--dc22
2009048792

President/CEO: Ken Fund
VP for Sales & Marketing: Kevin Hamric

Home Improvement Group

Publisher: Bryan Trandem
Managing Editor: Tracy Stanley
Senior Editor: Mark Johanson
Editor: Jennifer Gehlhar

Creative Director: Michele Lanci-Altomare
Art Direction/Design: Jon Simpson, Brad Springer, James Kegley

Lead Photographer: Joel Schnell
Set Builder: James Parmeter
Production Managers: Laura Hokkanen, Linda Halls

Page Layout Artist: Danielle Smith
Shop Help: Charles Boldt

Edition Editor: Phillip Schmidt
Copy Editor: Betsy Matheson
Proofreader: Kristen Olson

The Complete Guide to Garden Walls & Fences
Created by: The Editors of Creative Publishing International, Inc., in cooperation with Black & Decker. Black & Decker is a trademark of The Black & Decker Corporation and is used under license.

NOTICE TO READERS

For safety, use caution, care, and good judgment when following the procedures described in this book. The Publisher and Black & Decker cannot assume responsibility for any damage to property or injury to persons as a result of misuse of the information provided.

The techniques shown in this book are general techniques for various applications. In some instances, additional techniques not shown in this book may be required. Always follow manufacturers instructions included with products, since deviating from the directions may void warranties. The projects in this book vary widely as to skill levels required: some may not be appropriate for all do-it-yourselfers, and some may require professional help.

Consult your local Building Department for information on building permits, codes and other laws as they apply to your project.

Stroll through any residential neighborhood and youre bound to see at least a dozen different styles of fencing and garden walls built with nearly as many different materials. If you pause to admire the look of a fence or wall, consider how it enhances (or detracts from) the house and grounds. What do the homeowners achieve by adding the fence or wall to the yard? Perhaps the fence adds privacy for a backyard patio or security for a swimming pool or play area. Or, maybe it creates a decorative boundary line, adding curb appeal.

As a passerby, what does the fence or wall do for you? Does it make you feel welcome or just the opposite? Does it direct visitors to a front entrance? Does it complement the house in the background or simply obscure it from view? These are the kinds of questions youll be asking yourself when its time to brainstorm about your new fence or wall project. In other words, theres more to the planning process than choosing a style and materials.

For starters, its helpful to think of walls and fences as more than just borders and barriers; indeed, they can be powerful design tools. To appreciate what a wall or fence can do for your outdoor spaces, think for a moment about the many uses of walls inside your home. Walls are the primary building blocks of every floor plan. They create rooms out of empty space. They make private areas private and turn wide-open spaces into more usable, comfortable zones. They direct traffic through the house and serve as backdrops for furniture and decorations. And finally, with the help of windows, walls shape and enhance your views of the outside world.

Outdoor walls and fences can have the same transformative effects. A tall, solid fence instantly provides privacy and a sense of security and enclosure, creating a private haven within its borders. An ornamental metal fence adds just as much security without a visual barrier. Both fences and low walls can direct trafficfrom the street to the front door, around the house to the backyard, or into and around a garden. Walls make wonderful backdrops for all kinds of ornamental plants, and theyre great for defining patio spaces and other seating or entertaining areas. And with just the right amount of open space, a wall, fence, or gate can offer tantalizing glimpses of what lies beyond, adding a sense of mystery to a colorful flower garden or a stunning view in the distance.

Whatever look and functions you have in mind, this book will help you choose the right materials and products and show you how to tackle the job from start to finish. Youll learn traditional building techniques, like bricklaying and dry-stacking wall stones, as well as installation steps for the newest prefab fencing products, including wood composite and ornamental metal fences. Your options are wide openkeep that in mind the next time youre out on an inspirational stroll through the neighborhood.

Gallery of Garden Walls & Fences

Getting just what you want in the finished product of your new fence or wall starts with the easiest step of all: exploring your options. With so many materials, sizes, and design features to choose from, its wise to spend some time discovering whats out there before you make any big decisions.

The beautiful fences and walls shown here are just a small sample of some things you might do with your own project. Other places to gather ideas include books and magazines on garden and landscape design, websites of fencing and wall materials manufacturers, and even stock photography websites (using search terms such as garden walls, fence, picket fence, etc.).

As mentioned before, the single best way to generate ideas for your project is by touring some neighborhoods in your area. There, youll find a living gallery of fences and walls of all descriptions. Be sure to examine not only the structures themselves, but also how each fits into the context of its host propertygood examples can inspire you with new ideas and insights, while bad examples might serve as a cautionary message about what not to do.