Horizontal Fence Styles Design

There is a practically unending variety of wood fence styles on the market. If you are looking to upgrade your fencing, here is a listing of several styles that are available.

Dog Ear - this wood fence style is simple and traditional. It is less expensive than many other fencing options, especially if you go with the spaced version. The top of the picket is cut off at an angle, giving the picket a "dog-ear" look. With spaced dog-ear fencing, the posts have spaces in-between. This allows for the wind to flow through, while leaving space to see the view. If you want more privacy, the standard dog-ear fencing will close the gaps for a uniform solid fence.

French Gothic - this is a simple, yet elegant fencing option. The posts have an arrowhead shaped tip, which adds a design flare to a flower bed. This wood fence style can also be spaced or traditionally installed. There is an option of making the fence line concave. The concave style is shorter in the middle than on the ends.

Shadowbox - the shadowbox style looks good from both sides of the fence, which is not always true with other styles. This style is also referred to as board on board. The shadowbox fencing is like having a space fence on top of a spaced fence. It creates a uniform look for you and your neighbor.

Flex Fencing - flex fencing is made up of wooden slats, that are woven together with galvanized wire. These types of fences are most often used for privacy, or to retro an existing fence line. They are easy to install, and tend to be very durable.

Split Rail - this is a very easy to install type of fencing. It is not a privacy fence, but can be great in setting boundaries. The fence is low, with the fence piece running horizontally. The wood is cut to look as if it has been split, which is what gives it a rugged look.

Selecting which type of fence suits best homeowners' needs can often be tricky and decisions are delayed. Not a really dangerous thing until an intruder makes an easy entry and escape. Nor it is an annoying lack of privacy until the neighbor's dog makes his thing on your lawn and your children play there. If your problem is what fence is best for you then it is already solved. Almost any type of a fence is viewable on the Internet, so you can always see right away which fence looks best to you. Each type differs in purpose and sturdiness so it is advisable that you know them well.

For instance, a vinyl fence lasts long simply because vinyl is almost--but not the common--plastic. It is maintenance-free, available in various colors that do not fade out easily, does not rot or degrade for quite a long time, is neighbor-friendly, and probably the best choice fence all around. However, vinyl fences do not afford complete privacy since most styles have gaps between slats or are latticed.

On the other hand, a wood panel fence may grant complete privacy because no gaps exist between the slats, may be stained or painted to your taste, and generally looks great. You buy them in pre-made panels 4 feet to 6 feet high, best forms and height to keep off animals and keep in children. But being wood, they require periodic repainting, re-staining or individual panel or picket replacement.

Variations of wood fences include the rustic post and rail fence, which is very good for keeping large animals and gives that country look to a property. Big animal corrals are usually fenced of post-and-rail construction. Then there is the classic picket fence, vertical slats nailed to horizontal bars and supported by posts, more decorative than functional as they go. Sometimes the slats are nailed on both sides of the bars with one-slat gaps between to make them neighbor-friendly, though such offers not much on the privacy aspect.

Another semi-plastic fence is the polymer fence. It copies the appearance of a wrought iron fence but does not rust and therefore mostly maintenance-free but less strong than steel. It does not offer much privacy but great security.