If you want more privacy in your backyard, it may be time to have a privacy fence installed. You can talk to a fence contractor about your options, but two common choices are fences made of wood and vinyl. Here are some considerations about each type you might want to discuss with your fence contractor.
1. Which Fence Offers The Most Privacy?
When a vinyl fence is installed, the pickets are slid in next to each other and held in place with a rail. This allows the pickets to be pushed against each other for maximum privacy.
Wood fence panels often have a gap between the pickets that allows your neighbors to catch glimpses through the fence. However, when privacy is your main concern, talk to your fence contractor about how to get the most privacy from a wood fence. The contractor might build the fence by hand, rather than use panels, so the pickets are against each other.
2. What Material Is Best For Hanging Things?
If you want to grow a vertical garden, hang bird feeders, or attach artwork to your fence, then you may want a fence made of wood that you can easily nail things to. While it's possible to hang things from a vinyl fence, you may need to use hooks or hangers instead. If you think you'll hang something heavy, such as planters for a vertical garden, let the fence contractor know so they can add the support needed when they build the fence.
3. Which Type Of Fence Needs The Least Care?
If you want a fence that doesn't need much in the way of maintenance, then vinyl is probably the best choice. Wood is a natural material, so it slowly degrades over time. That means you'll need to keep up with repairs, or the fence may start to fall apart. A wood fence also changes color as it oxidizes. You can prevent this by staining the fence, but then you'll need to keep up with staining.
Vinyl only requires washing when you notice it is dirty or stained. You may need to maintain the gate hardware, just like you would with a wood fence, but overall, vinyl is easier to maintain than wood.
4. What's The Best Fence For Pets And Kids?
Both wood and vinyl privacy fences are good for keeping pets and kids in your yard. Vinyl might be a little better because wood can splinter. Also, if you don't keep up with a wood fence and it breaks down, your pet might be able to escape. However, as long as a wood fence is properly maintained, it's also an excellent choice for a pet fence.
Hiring a fencing contractor can be a bit challenging. You have to decide what type of fencing you want, consider several estimates, and then get on a sometimes-busy schedule to have your fence installed. If you're stuck at any point of this process, perhaps you could use some advice. Find it here! We have compiled all sorts of articles about fencing contractors and fencing in general. We are not in the fencing industry ourselves, but we are really passionate about these barriers and have done our research. We're confident the information we offer will help you pick a contractor, choose the right fence, and more forward with the project.