As a young landscaper, Todd Sternfeld felt frustrated fielding requests to repair dilapidated fences. He set out to find a better solution for the deteriorating fences that plagued his clients. Sternfeld's search for durable fence alternatives led to concrete.

Sternfeld and a partner began experimenting with various molds and mixtures, resulting in a two-sided precast concrete fence panel that was both attractive and strong. This creation sparked an industry providing fences that fit seamlessly into the environment while providing privacy and security.

"We work to ensure that our fence panels are designed to the precise height, finish and color to best meet the requirements of each project," said Sternfeld, chief executive officer and owner of Superior Concrete Products, founded in 1986. "We listen to the client's objectives, and provide a design that best complements their property."

Types of Concrete Fences
Since starting production, Sternfeld and his team continue to roll out an array of concrete products. Currently, a wide variety of finishes and styles are available.

Board-on-board has the appearance of a cedar fence without the maintenance issues caused by weather or insect damage. Cobblestone and ledgestone duplicate the old world charm of cobblestone or the stacked stone look of a fence with a natural appearance. Stucco gives the rich look and feel of traditional stucco that works well with Mediterranean or contemporary décor.

Brick captures the timeless charm of a conventional masonry fence. Rail is for property owners that like the look of a natural wood rail perimeter fence. A heavy-duty system, rail is rugged enough to safely contain horses, cattle and other livestock.

Concrete fences can be constructed using a post and panel system. The panels should be designed to flex, allowing them to withstand hurricane force winds and earthquakes. Concrete can also be used in the construction of retaining wall systems. According to Superior, gravity walls can be built up to 22' without reinforcement, or 36' with mesh geogrid reinforcement.




In addition to residential areas, ranches, and small businesses, concrete fences are becoming popular options for enclosures for schools, golf courses, retailers, manufacturers, and utility companies. Concrete fences can be equipped with security additions, including cameras, motion sensor lights, barbed wire, or razor ribbon.






Precast concrete panels can be textured and infused with pigment to match the look of brick, stucco, stone, wood, or an existing structure, allowing the fence to complement the existing color, style and finish of the project. A three-man crew can construct a concrete fence for a single-family residence within a day. A typical prefab panel should be about 5'x1'x2", and weigh approximately 80 pounds. The panels pictured can be stacked to make walls as high as 30 feet. The modular nature of the panels allows them to be economically shipped.

One of the latest innovations is the ballistics fence. A bulletproof membrane can be embedded into any solid fence panel, doubling the strength of the fence and only adding a fraction of an inch of thickness. The ballistics panels sustain damage when fired upon with a high-powered rifle at close range, but fail to be penetrated by bullets.

"We developed our proprietary ballistics fence in response to concerns from our clients," noted Sternfeld. "In view of recent attacks on several U.S. utility substations, we created a fence that adds a higher level of security. While most people won't need a bulletproof fence, a number of industrial organizations have equipment that must be protected."

As concerns rise over the need to safeguard the electrical grid and other critical equipment installations, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has provided guidelines mandating increased security, and the ballistics fence exceeds the current standards.

Benefits and Uses
Concrete fences are secure and attractive. The fence panels can be customized by height, color and finish to meet client requirements. The concrete can be infused with pigments to match an existing fence. Iron or aluminum can be incorporated to create a one-of-a-kind security fence, complete with cameras and gate systems.

Composed of a proprietary post and panel system, concrete fences should flex during adverse weather and ground movement – effectively withstanding hurricane-force winds and earthquakes. The design makes installation fast: a three-man crew can construct a fence for the average homeowner within one day. In addition to the residential, ranch and small business markets, concrete fences and security enclosures can be built for schools, golf courses, retailers, manufacturers and utility companies. "Our commercial clients appreciate the privacy and security that a perimeter fence provides for their business," Sternfeld said.

Stone columns are another option – concrete columns fabricated to look like a masonry column of stacked stones. These columns can be used with concrete fence panels or incorporated with other fencing materials. Security-minded clients can add security systems to any gate, wall or fence. Precast concrete products are suitable for other applications besides fences. Structurally sound buildings can be constructed at a fraction of the time and expense it would take with conventional construction materials. Concrete panels have been used to construct barns, warehouses, sheds, and even residential housing.

Concrete retaining walls are available via Superior's Recon retaining wall system. The tight fit between blocks and lack of gaps allow the wall to be built as a gravity wall. Recon walls can be constructed to a height of 22' without any reinforcement, and walls of 36' can be built with geogrid.

"With precast concrete, you get all the advantages of conventional fencing without the maintenance and replacement problems associated with conventional fencing materials," added Sternfeld. "The ability to duplicate the look and feel of a traditional fencing makes a concrete fence an affordable investment that is durable and enhances the value of any property where it is installed."

For more information on concrete fencing, visit www.concretefence.com.