“How much should we care about the exterior of our home?”

The answer is yes, it is something that requires high consideration. If we cannot find a location with good natural energy sources, the chances of having a residence with good feng shui will also decrease. The chances of finding a location according to ancient texts that require both “water” and “mountains” are getting smaller and smaller. Feng shui geographic texts on the “Black Tortoise” direction must be a direction with high mountains at the back of the house; the “Green Dragon” direction on the left and the “White Tiger” direction on the right must be a mountain range surrounding the house with decreasing heights; and finally, the “Red Swan” direction. The front should have a wide, open, lowland area, and it is best if there is a curved river in front of the house. In fact, the location according to ancient texts was invented from Chinese urban planning since 4,000 years ago for the convenience of living. Because the back or north, left or east of China must always receive cold winds from Siberia. The right or west side is always invaded by minority tribes. Therefore, only the front or south side can receive warmth from the sun all year round. If there is a lowland and a curved river, it will accumulate quality sediment suitable for agriculture and living. This means that Feng Shui is a science that always adheres to the principle of cause and effect. When applied to modern residential life, we must consider architecturally that the back and side fences must be able to retain energy flow. Therefore, they should be solid. If the fence is transparent, this can be solved by planting trees around the back and side fences to replace the solid wall. The most important point is the front of the house, which must be open to allow airflow through easily to the front door. If the fence is too solid, it will prevent airflow in this area. In principle, making the front fence transparent will allow us to live in the house without feeling cramped, especially for houses with small plots of land. There are many materials used to make transparent fences, including steel, stainless steel, real wood, artificial wood, and vinyl. The more transparent the fence, the more it can absorb energy flow. And if the energy flow into the house comes from a direction of good fortune, the house is more likely to have good feng shui. As for the buildings around the house, if we can choose a location that is open and airy in front of the house, and the sides and back that surround the house, this will help retain energy flow. This does not necessarily mean that the buildings on the sides and back of the house must be larger than our house. Neighboring houses of similar size can also be considered buildings that help to surround and contain the current. To remedy a house with a very closed front fence, consider whether your family currently enjoys good fortune, relationships, and health. If these factors are satisfactory, the front yard of your house is suitable for a calming energy flow, and no adjustments are necessary. However, if these factors are problematic, adjustments must be made to allow for a more active energy flow, such as installing a fountain, fish pond, hot water jar, or large fan in front of the house. This will help provide artificial energy to replace the natural wind that cannot blow through the solid fence. However, if your house faces east or west, renovations, additions, and repairs will require careful consideration of auspicious times.

Types of fences classified by material

material	strength	Disadvantages	Design
barb	Easy to install and cheap	It’s not beautiful, not soundproof, and doesn’t protect people and animals very well.	Suitable for fields, gardens, farms, vacant land, designed to be hidden in bushes.
Square wire braid	Better protection against people and animals than barbed wire. More beautiful and neat than barbed wire. Clear and open.	Not soundproof	Suitable for outdoor sports fields, golf courses, tennis courts, usually installed by welding to steel poles.
brick blocks	Inexpensive, low maintenance, long lifespan, resistant to weather and chemicals.	Not suitable for temporary fences because it is difficult to dismantle and reinstall.	It must be placed on a foundation, pillars, beams, and is most commonly used for making fences because it can be designed in many ways with other materials.
brick	Cheap, easy to build	Non-standard size	It is popular to plaster over it and then paint it, use finishing such as tiles, or polish it to show the color of the plaster, which gives a raw feeling.
N.P.K. bricks (production standard control bricks)	Standard size	More expensive than bricks	Suitable for building a show line
wood	Easy to find, there are many styles to choose from, such as processed wood, trees, carved wood, shrubs, and various vines at prices to suit your budget.	High maintenance shrubs or vines require time to water and decorate.	Sawn timber, tree timber, and carved timber must be varnished to prevent cracking and must be treated with termite repellent. The timber should be designed to float on the ground or used in conjunction with other materials.
iron	Strong, easy and quick to install, can be designed to be bent into many shapes.	Poor sound insulation, high price, not resistant to weather and chemicals	Apply rust protection 2 times before painting. Designed to be used with various types of concrete, brick, and plaster construction, semi-opaque, semi-transparent.
stainless steel	Weather resistant, easy to clean	Prices range from moderate to very high, depending on the model.	It has its own glossiness and is rust-proof. It can be designed with any pattern you want.
Precast concrete slabs	Quick installation	Machinery is required for installation.	Suitable for large project fences such as factories and housing estates.
laterite	Quick installation, good soundproofing	High price	It has a natural feel and doesn’t look old.