- Swing
- Slide
- Boom
Security fencing for your home or business is both a practical solution and a visible deterrent. Choosing the right security fence for your home or your commercial property is vital to get the best protection and safety, and to stop your property from becoming an easy target for vandals and thieves.
There are many different styles of fences to choose from, but knowing where to start when choosing the right style can be overwhelming. The choice revolves around the type of property you want to protect, your budget, local council planning regulations and how much security you actually need.
No matter if you’re looking to protect a home, a commercial facility or an industrial yard, Gate Opening Systems are here to help. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know before making a decision and invest in the right security fencing with confidence.
Melbourne is a growing, dynamic city. The right security fencing is needed to protect your assets from growing urban risks. A security fence is a visible, physical and psychological deterrent that delays, if not prevents, intruders from entering your home or workplace, and causing havoc.
A quality, compliant fence from Gate Opening Systems, is tailored to Melbourne’s specific demands, offering several critical benefits:
There are a few options for security fencing in the suburbs. The main difference between commercial and residential fencing is you want the residential security fence to add kerbside appeal to your home. You don’t want to make it seem like your home is a prison, with wire fences and gates.
Visual appeal is not always the biggest concern when considering security fences for a commercial or industrial estate. Considering the value of what is on the property, protection sometimes outweighs aesthetics.
Consider an anti-climb design. Avoid horizontal rails or footholds that can assist someone trying to climb and get over your fence. Tight mesh or pointed toppers are a great climbing deterrent.
In Victoria, the standard boundary fence is capped at 1.8 meters in height, while front fences for homes are generally capped at 1.2 metres. Specific council approvals are needed for fences higher than these standard heights.
This is a budget-friendly fence which is ideal for marking boundaries. You’ll see this type of fencing around sporting grounds and general perimeter fencing of commercial compounds. You can upgrade this fencing quite easily for added protection.
PROS: Affordable, long lasting and does not require much maintenance. It allows a clear line of sight for security cameras and personnel.
CONS: That clear line of sight goes both ways. No visual privacy for what’s inside the fence. Heavy duty tools can cut the fence if it is left unattended.
You can find this style of fencing around homes, schools or commercial precincts that want a strong visual deterrent. Even with that bold appearance it can look aesthetically pleasing.
This style of fencing is made from vertical tubes which are extremely difficult to climb. The tops of the fence posts are crimped or sharpened to really deter climbing. Highly tamper resistant.
PROS: This style of fence nicely balances the need for physical security with sleek aesthetics. It can give you a powerful deterrence without bringing the street appeal of your property down.
CONS: More expensive than chain link fencing. If you space the vertical bars too far apart, they can be climbed.
This style of fencing is made from heavy-duty steel plates bolted or welded to horizontal rails. It is an imposing design and is rather visually deterring. This style of fence is extremely difficult to cut or climb.
PROS: Difficult to sabotage or climb over. It is an excellent psychological deterrent while still allowing for good visibility.
CONS: Aesthetically it could look too brutal or industrial, especially for a residence. Has a high upfront cost.
This fencing is named for the tight mesh which makes it, measuring approximately 3 inches by 0.5 inches using an 8-gauge wire. It is a welded mesh with holes too small for hands or feet to get a hold. It also resists bolt-cutters, making this style of fence the most effective anti-cut and anti-climb fence available.
PROS: Incredibly effective climb barrier and cutting barrier. Looks imposing and absolutely looks impossible to climb or get over. Perfect for places you want highly secured.
CONS: An expensive fence to install, and does not provide much visual privacy.
Solid, overlapping steel sheets that provide zero visibility through the fence. Easy to install and quite aesthetically pleasing, you see many Colorbond Fences across suburban Melbourne.
PROS: 100% privacy. Highly durable, is pest-resistant and requires minimal maintenance.
CONS: Can be easily climbed and can be disruptive during high winds and storms.
It might seem obvious that you need a gate somewhere in your security fence, however some people focus so much on the right fencing that they leave the gate to the last minute, an after thought. This can leave the gate as a point of weakness, compromising the security you’ve invested in.
When choosing a gate, you need to match the height and rigidity of the fence. If your gate is shorter than the fence it provides an easy way for intruders to gain leverage and hop over. The gate should also match the materials used in your security fence. If you have tubular fences with the sharp anti-climb spikes on top, then your gate should match this construction.
The gate needs heavy-duty anti-lift hinges, or secure bolting, so it cannot be easily removed and then intruded. You can beef up the security around gates with motion sensors and cameras. This is handy as gates are usually where people gain entry, so seeing who is coming through the gate can help identify unwanted persons.
The style of the gate will depend on the surroundings. If you have a narrow driveway or a pedestrian access point, then a swing gate would be ideal. While they do need the clearance space to swing, they are very reliable and easy to secure.
For wider openings and particularly traffic gates, a sliding gate would be a good idea. There is no need for clearance either side of the gate, just enough width along the fence line to accommodate.
The third option for a security gate would be a cantilever gate. These are popular as they don’t need clearance either side of the gate to swing, nor do they need length along the fence, and a ground track, to slide back. For secure sites that have narrow entrances, these are popular.
Choosing the right security fencing in Melbourne boils down to understanding your property, your risk and your budget. Then you match those factors with the right materials, the style for you, and a gate system. Working with the experts from Gate Opening Systems can help you bring all of these factors together and save you time and money to be the most secure you can be.
Gate Opening Systems have been designing and installing security fences and gates across Melbourne since 1985. It is an Australian-owned, family-run business with decades of hands-on experience. We will handle the initial consultation with you, a site-inspection to understand the best way to secure your property, all council compliance documentation and then finish with a perfect installation.
Get in touch with our team today and let’s discuss securing your home or workplace.
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