Types of Wood Fences: How Does One Choose?

When it's time to select fencing for your property, you may be overwhelmed by how many types of wood fences and other options there are from which to choose. But the decision largely comes down to two considerations:

1. Form (i.e., stylistic considerations)
2. Function (i.e., what practical purpose the fencing will serve)

Fortunately, sometimes there is a happy marriage between form and function.

But such is not always the case. For instance, chain-link fencing and other metal products often make for superior security fences. Therefore, if the intended function of your fencing is security, you may have to choose between form and function: the style of your house may cry out for a wood fence, but security concerns may convince you to go with the metal.

Types of Wood Fences: When the Focus Is on Form

In choosing between types of wood fences, consider their potential for compatibility both with your house style and with your landscape-design style. For instance:

Types of Wood Fences: When the Focus Is on Function

Wood fences are an excellent choice for privacy fencing, whether it be in terms of noise barriers or, more commonly, visual barriers. Wood fences provide some of the most attractive fencing options available when your chief concern is creating a backyard sanctuary.

The stockade style offers an example of a wood fence design that can afford a solid visual barrier between your yard and your neighbor's, resulting in almost total privacy. While masonry work such as brick can do the same, it costs significantly more than does a wood fence.

Others prefer a compromise on privacy, choosing wood fences with a certain amount of airiness to them, to avoid fencing out the outer world altogether. Tall picket fencing, for example, can afford partial privacy, as can lattice fencing.

A popular alternative to these privacy fencing options is a lattice top cedar wood fence design: i.e., a solid barrier for the bottom three-quarters of the fencing, with lattice on top to inject an element of airiness and decoration.

Another very attractive to wood fencing is the bamboo fencing, bamboo will last as long as wood, but have the attractive elegant look of the natural bamboo form.