Selecting a Bamboo Fence

Security and boundary-defining fencing may have to meet local building code requirements. Security fences around ponds and pools normally have rigid local requirements as to height, resistance to climbing, and density. These vary tremendously from location to location throughout the U.S. In areas of New Hampshire a post and rail fence is satisfactory. Some places on Long Island require that a tennis ball not be able to pass through any opening. One Massachusetts community requires an absolutely smooth outer surface so that the security fence cannot be climbed (ergo chain link does not qualify there). Boundary fences often cannot be over six feet tall. Some communities allow nothing over four feet at the boundaries of front yards, and others allow no front yard boundary fences. All of these requirements can be met using bamboo. However, they must be designed with knowledge of the requirements. Find out the requirements for your location before your fence is manufactured.

Some important factors for you to determine are your fence's height, length, and number and location of corners and gates. When determining the height it is wise to have someone stand on the proposed fence line with a tape measure while the site is being observed by someone else from the most important viewing locations. This may reveal that the height that looks right when standing on the fence line does not produce the desired screening or atheistic line when viewed from the most important vantage point.

You should also consider the two sides of the fence. Is it necessary that the two sides be identical (or different)? Can one side show rails and support material? Single sided fences of some styles are often less expensive than double sided fences. Two other very important considerations are slope (grade) and ground condition. Some fence designs can slope to match the grade of a site. Others cannot and must be stepped down a slope. The amount of slope affects how the panels should be sized and in some cases actually manufactured.


When making a plot plan of the fence line, showing gates, and corners, include the slope. This can be done with an inexpensive string level available in hardware stores, a piece of string, two people and a tape measure. Have one person hold the string at ground level and pull the string out about ten feet. Have the level in the middle at five feet. Raise or lower the downhill end of the string until level. Measure the distance D (in inches) from the string to the ground on the downhill side. This measurement gives the slope as "D" inches per ten feet. This information gives the fencer all that is need to draw the fencing to scale and determine the need for changes in panel width or shape.

Whether the fence is going on granite slab, concrete, or earth makes a difference in the post design. Include on the sketch the ground condition and any interfaces such as boulders, trees, utilities, and underground piping or conduits (if known).

Fences can be very open or light-tight. In cases of security screening a totally dense fence is required. Often it is wise to allow some air to flow through the fence to allow plant material on one side or the other to dry. In some cases some light should pass through. Select a percent opacity and your fence selection can be designed and made to meet that requirement.

The remaining decisions are principally aesthetic. There may be architectural features at the site that you would like to incorporate, special textures that appeal to you, or desires to create a feeling of greater length, closure, or accent.

An inexpensive bamboo-looking fencing is reed fencing. It is not bamboo at all, but if you are not fussy (I'm fussy) you may think it looks like bamboo. It comes in rolls 15 and 25 feet long and is woven with fine galvanized wire every four inches. It lasts 6 to 8 years if not subject to mechanical abuse and it is installed properly. It should be battened in place as described below: (the installation approach described here applies to all the rolled fences except the Good Neighbor Fence)

Using these considerations as a check list may help you select the fence that will work for you. Answering the questions they raise will greatly assist our staff in helping you zero in on the best solution.