House barriers have proved to be very useful in deterring potential intruders. Depending on your budget and requirements, boundary lines can be protected with walls, fences, hedges etc. Strong property boundaries can stop criminals in their tracks and make them much less likely to choose you house as their next target.
Prior to installing any barriers, make sure you check if you need any planning permission and do your best not to cause any harm to anyone on your premises, regardless of whether they are legitimate visitors or not.
Brick or concrete walls are the most common type of house barriers. Though they are solid, they can provide intruders with a good hiding place once they are in. They also give them good footholds for easy climbing over.
Wooden fences are cheaper, but they require more maintenance than concrete walls. They can also be climbed over easily. Even an amateur burglar can manage to kick or cut a hole in the strongest wooden fence. Wire fences are more expensive and secure, especially if equipped with barb wire. However, any burglar with a pair of wire cutters will manage to get in.
Spiked metal railings are the most expensive of all fencing. It takes a lot of time and some heavy machinery to cut through the railings. Alarms and sensors can also be added for added protection.
Hedges can prevent only amateur and casual intruders. Though they can produce impenetrable barrier (especially if you opt for prickly plants), they can take years to reach this maturity. Furthermore, the maintenance cost is high while the protection level is relatively low. Any criminal equipped with pruning shears can cut a hole pretty quickly.
All barriers must be fitted with at least one gate, making them as secure as the gate itself. It stands to reason that the gate should be more secure than the barrier as well as simple and convenient for people with authorization to unlock them.
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