Tough and Durable Fences

A fence can add privacy, enhance property value, and improve curb appeal. It can also protect the health and safety of those on your property.

Local zoning regulations often determine the type of fence you can install on your property. These include regulations about height and materials.

Wood fences require regular maintenance, such as re-staining or painting. Some types of wood are more prone to moisture damage than others, like cedar, spruce, and pine.

Toughness

Toughness is a material property that indicates how much energy the material can absorb before fracture. It is a combination of strength and plasticity. The toughness of a material can be determined by calculating the area under the stress-strain curve. A tough material can withstand hard blows without rupturing and will deform rather than crack, making it useful in heavy-wear applications such as quarry loaders.

While toughness is often used interchangeably with ductility, the two properties are distinct from each other. Ductility measures how much the material can deform before it reaches its yield point, while toughness is the ability to withstand impact and other loads up to fracture.

Toughness is essential for materials that may experience sudden stresses or impact. The toughness of a material can prevent premature failure in structures such as buildings and bridges by absorbing the impact or strain before it can break. A good analogy would be a car in a demolition derby, which can take much damage and keep moving.

Durability

Durability refers to the ability of a material or product to resist damage and continue functioning for an extended period. This attribute is essential for products that experience high levels of usage or harsh environments, such as a Fence And Awning Installation. Durability allows these technologies to last longer and reduce maintenance and repair costs. It also supports sustainability efforts by minimizing waste and resource consumption.

For example, a padlock must be durable enough to withstand cutting from thieves but not so hard that ordinary tools can’t open it. In addition, a fence must be durable enough to withstand wind and snow without being damaged.

In design, durability refers to a structure’s ability to meet its intended function over an extended life expectancy with expected maintenance levels. However, this can be difficult to determine as what one person considers "normal maintenance" may differ from another’s expectations. In this regard, many builders work to educate their clients and stakeholders about reasonable expectations for the durability of their homes.