A wooden fence is probably the most beloved fence in America. Who can forget the little cottages with the picket fence around them? Wooden fences symbolize our heritage of farmers and homesteaders having to live off the land using wood for houses, barns, and fences!
There are many advantages to a wooden fence! They are an excellent choice for establishing a natural environment for your home or garden. They can be used to establish a privacy setting, a farmhouse setting, or just a picket fence around your garden. I have seen them around swimming pools, private ponds, and patios. Depending on the configuration you want to set? They are definitely worth considering.
There are also many different styles of privacy, for pickets. I have seen many custom fences where a designer comes in and designs a fence for a contractor to build a fence that has no other fence quite like it. With wood there isn’t much of a limitation on what you can do. Table top, concave, arched, French Gothic, picket, shadow box, lattice top, and deck rail top are just a few of the popular options in wood fencing. There is also a wide range of caps that can be purchased for the post, from the standard wooden cap to a copper cap that has a solar light for the night.
Also, cost-wise, they are a better option than aluminum, steel, or PVC fencing, which is definitely a plus!
In many neighboring neighborhoods, an HOA will require a wood fence and only allow a light stain for that rustic look.
They last a long time, up to 20 or 30 years, if they are properly maintained. They may need a picket or post replaced here and there, but they should last a long time.
It is important to hire a professional to build your fence and not use pre-made panels from your local DIY stores. If a fence is not built correctly, it will not stand the test of time and weather. The post should be 18 to 24 inches deep, screws or ring-shank construction nails should be used to prevent nails from pulling out, and the fence should be stained annually or every two years depending on the area you live in.
Some disadvantages of wooden fences are that they can sometimes warp or rot. For the best fence, you should use pine posts and cedar rails and stakes. Cedar post tends to rot and pine railings and stakes will warp more than cedar.
Also a disadvantage is the maintenance that is required to maintain wooden fences as opposed to an aluminum fence which requires almost no maintenance. Always remember to do your research on the fence and the materials that are used and the person who installs it.