Building a fence isn't a simple process.

There are many reasons for installing a fence and many options to consider for each project.

Ed Wojcik, sales representative for North American Fence in Cranberry Township, said customers should research what type of fence fits their situation the best.

Chain link is the most popular, followed by wood and vinyl.

"Chain link is the most versatile and inexpensive option," Wojcik said. "We sell a lot of wood and vinyl fences, too. Vinyl is popular because they are good looking fences."

Tom Czwalga, sales manager for Penn Fencing in Penn Township, said the material chosen for each project should be dependent on the situation.

"It's all about marrying the right project to the right application," Czwalga said.

Once a material is chosen, retailers suggest hiring professional help to install the fence.

Czwalga recommended residents hire companies certified by the American Fencing Association.

"When driving around the area, it is very easy to tell when someone installed the fence themselves or had a professional install it," Czwalga said.

Businesses, along with homeowners, also need fencing.

Fencing companies recommend businesses that keep equipment outside use fences for protection. Propane tanks, cell phone towers and storage tanks need fences because they can be targets of theft.

"The FBI started telling people if it can be stolen or blown up, fence it in," said Paul Gajda, owner of Metal Fence Supply in Slippery Rock. "When people have that kind of expensive equipment, you want to make sure it's secure."

Businesses can put up four-foot vinyl picket fences, stockade privacy fences or chain-link fences to help keep people out.

Gajda pointed out owners of swimming pools should have a fence around their pools.

Gajda said the liability issues will be much greater than the cost of installing a fence around a pool.

"I talked to a few people who said that they don't allow the neighbors kids in their yard, so they won't fence their pools in," Gajda said. "But if a kid wanders over and drowns, you're looking at a $1 million lawsuit."

The regulation code for swimming pools is detailed in the BOCA National Building Code.

Businesses and homeowners both need to check on municipal ordinances before building a fence.

According code enforcement regulations, a survey of the property or a plot plan drawn to scale is required for a permit to be issued to Butler residents.

Height restrictions and a lack of a permit could derail any planned project.

"I have seen people that installed their fence, but did not check with the municipality," Czwalga said. "They had to tear the fence down."

Eagle news intern Adam Flango contributed to this report.