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Seven Perimeter Security Mistakes We See Around Chattanooga, and How to Fix Them
The most common perimeter security mistakes are weak posts, gates that don't close, outside rails that act as ladders, rust and rot, blind-spot plantings, shallow posts, and ignoring local code. Action Fence Company of Chattanooga, in business since 1981, fixes each with repairs or upgrades.
Having a fence isn't the same as having a secure perimeter. These seven problems show up on homes and commercial lots alike, and each one has a straightforward fix.
1. Choosing the Look Over the Structure
A fence with thin posts, shallow footings, or no bracing can be pushed over or pried apart no matter how it looks. Fix: reinforced posts in concrete, braced corners, and professional-grade fasteners on anything meant to keep people out.
2. Leaving the Gate Open
A gate that's easy to climb, easy to lift off its hinges, or simply left unlocked undoes the whole fence. Fix: self-closing hinges and a latch that catches every time, or an automatic gate with a keypad or remote entry that stays closed by default.
3. Building Ladders
Horizontal rails on the outside, a trellis against the fence, a stacked woodpile, a utility box, a tree limb: each one is a step up. Fix: the good side faces out with the rails inside, anti-climb features like spear-top aluminum pickets or tight-mesh chain link, and climbable things kept away from the fence.
4. Letting Rust and Rot Do the Work
A rotten rail or a rusted hinge turns a fence into a suggestion. Fix: galvanized or stainless hardware, sealed wood, and a twice-a-year walk along the line. We handle repairs and maintenance, from a damaged commercial section to a leaning gate.
5. Planting Blind Spots
A tall privacy fence surrounded by overgrown shrubs creates a hidden alley where someone can work on a lock unseen. Fix: keep plantings low near entry points, light the gate, or choose aluminum or semi-privacy fencing that gives cameras a clear line of sight.
6. Posts That Wobble
Soil around Chattanooga runs from soft clay to solid rock. If a post can be wiggled by hand, it can be bypassed with a shoulder. Fix: posts at least 24 inches deep in clay, deeper for taller fences, set in concrete, with gate posts heavier than the rest.
7. Ignoring Code and Zoning
A fence that breaks a local rule can be ordered changed or removed. Corner lots are the usual trap: Signal Mountain limits corner-lot fences to 6 feet and keeps the 25 feet nearest an intersection clear of anything that blocks the view, and Ringgold has a similar 25-foot corner triangle. Fix: check the rules for your address before you build. We do that before we build.
If your fence has one of these problems, many are repairs rather than replacements. Tell us what you've got and we'll say which.
What is the most common perimeter security mistake?
A gate that doesn't close and latch on its own, so it gets left open. Self-closing hinges or an automatic gate set to stay closed fixes it.
How deep should security fence posts be?
At least 24 inches in the area's clay soil, deeper for taller fences, and set in concrete. Gate posts should be heavier than line posts.
Can a weak fence be repaired instead of replaced?
Often, yes. Leaning posts, a loose gate, or a damaged section are usually repairs. Tell us what you have and we'll say which.
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