Which wall works best?

South Africans, unlike the Europeans and Americans, really value their privacy and for this reason, and for security of course, we are prone to build high walls around our properties.

However, although these walls offer privacy, are they really as secure as we think? Once inside the property, the privacy offered will often work in favour of the criminal.

Most South African homes are guarded by sturdy garden walls, some of which are even topped with razor wire or electric fencing. However, the privacy that these walls offer the home's residents can really work against them in the event of a break-in, as the privacy will also be enjoyed and leveraged by the burglar once he or she has gained access to the property in question. There is no doubt that a good garden wall can act as a deterrent to criminals, but there are a number of considerations to take into account when choosing a particular type of wall – there are many different types to choose from, each with their pros and cons:

Palisade fencing

If you can get over the lack of privacy, the security provided by palisade fencing is one of the most cost-effective ways of securing your property. The drawback of this type of fencing is that someone can dig beneath it and gain access to your property that way, as it does not go into the ground at all. To improve this situation, it is well worth your while to build a low wall beneath the fencing, this way the uprights can be installed into the wall and then the palisade can be erected above the bricks, giving you a relatively fool-proof system of security. If someone tries to climb over the wall, it will be obvious to neighbours and once they are in, they can easily be seen from the street.

Prefabricated concrete walling

This system is very good for homeowners looking to increase their privacy, as these walls can be erected in a very short time and for a relatively low cost. Once again, this system has its weaknesses – if you have an area of your wall covered by bush or you are in any way concealed from the neighbours or passersby, criminals can come by for a few days in a row and very cleverly bash out one or two panels near to the ground. Then they can wait for the right opportunity and crawl in underneath to gain access to your property. Once inside, the rest of the prefab wall will keep them covered. The best way to handle this problem with the least amount of expense, is to run a roll of razor wire along the bottom 70cm or so of the wall on the inside of your property. Install it and then plant a bed in front of it and allow an evergreen creeper of any sort to grow all over it to disguise it so that it won't be an eyesore.

Brick walls

If you are going to build a brick wall around your property, which is the most expensive route to go, then build a high wall. Get a qualified contractor to do the job, ensuring you have all the necessary plans drawn, as well as solid foundations and good damp-proofing. Nothing looks worse than a majestic garden wall with rising damp, destroying the paint work and plastering. At the driveway section, either build a lintel over the gate or opt for a tall gate to keep in style with the wall. Be sure to build the lintel high enough above the gate to allow delivery vehicles through, as building it too low can be a real inconvenience when you are moving or having items delivered to you. If the lintel is built too low, larger vans used for deliveries or moving will have to park outside, leaving the gate open during the process, allowing anyone to walk through during the loading/off-loading process.

Hedging

This kind of boundary "wall" takes a long time to grow and is usually grown over wire or palisade fencing. Before planting your hedge, make sure it is evergreen; otherwise your garden boundary will look ugly during the winter months. It is very good for privacy and just needs to be maintained regularly to be secure. If you buy a home with hedging on the boundary, before doing anything else, give it a good inspection for holes. Once you have secured it, keep it trimmed and well watered so it can become strong and healthy. It may seem to offer inferior security, but in reality, hedging is one of the most complicated kinds of walls to get over or through, especially if there is wire or palisade fencing at its core.

Tips

We all love trees and fully grown leafy trees on the pavement offers a wonderful leafy suburban ambience. However, if any of the trees' branches hang over the wall, it is very important to trim them back or to cut them down. This is one of the easiest ways to gain entry to a property over any wall. All shrubs that are large enough to conceal a person should also be removed. This will protect you from the possibility of being attacked in your driveway by criminals who have been hiding behind these bushes waiting for your return. Put a few lights around the entrance to your property so as not to get any surprises when arriving home late at night. For extra piece of mind, most boundary fencing and walls can be made more secure by installing electric fencing along the entire length of the wall. – Antonella Dési

Pictures

Images courtesy of:
- Creative Walling
- Ecospan Projects

For more information click here to visit the Creative Walling website.
For more information click here to visit the Ecospan Projects website.

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