Did you know that 33 percent of millennial homebuyers reported that having a fenced-in yard influenced their decision about what home to buy? Whether you’re moving soon or just looking to add more value to your home, building a fence can be a great investment. And when you’re trying to pick a fence material, you may very soon discover that vinyl is the best.
There are a number of types of vinyl fencing you can choose from. Read on to answer the question, “What are my options for vinyl fencing near me, and which style should I choose?”
What Is Vinyl Fencing?
Before we dive into all the different types of vinyl fencing, let’s talk some about what it is. Vinyl fencing is a type of plastic fencing made of the same material PVC pipes are. As we’ll discuss more in a moment, vinyl fencing can have a lot of benefits compared to its wood and iron counterparts.
Vinyl fencing comes in a wide variety of styles, colors, finishes, and more. Because it’s moldable, you can get a lot of intricate patterns with vinyl fencing without adding much to your price tag. Vinyl fences also never have to be painted or stained, since the color is mixed into the material before it gets molded into fencing.
Benefits of Vinyl Fencing
One of the biggest benefits of a vinyl fence is how affordable it is – a vinyl fence can cost about half as much as iron fencing. Vinyl is also incredibly strong and can stand up well to wind, rain, and snow. It’s very flexible, meaning it’s less likely to break than wood fencing is when bad weather comes to town.
Because vinyl fencing is made of plastic, it’s all but impervious to water, temperature changes, and outdoor exposure. You might need to hose it off every few years to rinse off dirt and mildew, but you won’t need to worry about it breaking down or rotting. Vinyl is also resistant to bugs, including termites, and it can actually be better for the environment than some types of fencing.
Panel Privacy Fence
One of the most popular types of vinyl fencing is a panel privacy fence. Privacy fences tend to be between six and eight feet tall and are designed to completely block the view into the yard. Panel privacy fences come in sections eight feet long with a capped post separating each section.
Panel privacy fences have a three-rail setup with individual vinyl boards attached to the outside of the fence. These offer a clean, modern look that will be a stunning addition to every home. And they’re tall enough that you don’t have to worry about your neighbors or random passerby peering into your yard every day.
Tongue and Groove Privacy Fence
If you like the idea of a privacy fence, but you want a little cleaner look than the panel privacy fence, you might prefer to get a tongue and groove privacy fence. Like the panel privacy fences, these models come in eight-foot-long sections that are between six and eight feet tall. They also have capped posts between each section and they block all view into the yard.
However, instead of using three horizontal rails, tongue and groove privacy fences have a top and a bottom rail, each of which has a groove set along their length. The fence posts slide into this groove and sit very close together, creating a solid barrier. This can be a better choice for you if you want a design that’s going to be visually light and very clean.
Semi-Privacy Fence
If you want your yard to feel a little more open, you might consider getting a semi-privacy fence. These fences are also around six to eight feet high and use the same panel structure as the panel privacy fences. However, instead of using a solid wall of connected boards, semi-privacy fences leave a small gap between each board.
Semi-privacy fences can be a great option if you want some protection from peering eyes, but don’t want to feel like you’re living behind a wall. They may also be a little more affordable, since you’re using less material per linear foot than with a full privacy fence. If your fence costs are going a little over budget, switching to this style can keep you on track.
Universal Three-Rail Fence
If you have a great relationship with your neighbors or you want a very open look, you might like a universal three-rail fence. As you might guess from the name, these fences use three horizontal rails, the same as the panel privacy and semi-privacy fences. But there are a few key differences in the universal three-rail fence, beginning with the spacing between the boards.
Universal three-rail fences place their middle rail closer to the top of the fence, about a quarter of the way down from the top rail. They also have much thinner boards that are spaced much wider so you can see much more through them. This can be a good option if you have some beautiful views around your yard that you don’t want to block off completely.
Specialty Picket Top Fence
Specialty top fences bridge the gap between privacy fences and some of the more see-through types of vinyl fencing. These have the height and panel structure of the panel privacy fences, but their middle rail is positioned in the same place as the universal three-rail fence. However, the top and bottom sections of the fence use two different designs to give you the privacy you need and the design you love.
If you like the modern openness of the universal three-rail fence, you might want to opt for a specialty picket top fence. This style uses the same thin boards spaced far apart on the top quarter or so of the fence. The bottom three-quarters is a full privacy fence that protects you from all but the tallest prying eyes.
Specialty Lattice Top Fence
Specialty lattice top fences are constructed the same way as their picket top cousins. Their bottom section is a privacy fence, and these fences tend to be about six feet tall. However, the top portion uses an open lattice pattern of crossed boards that give you an open, elegant feel.
Specialty lattice top fences can be a great option for people who want the seclusion of a privacy fence with a little more elegance and charm. They can also be a fantastic option for people who want to grow vines, flowers, or plants through the top of their fence. Just be careful if you plan to do this, as some plants like wisteria can easily destroy your fence as they grow.
Lattice Fence
If you want a fully green fence or an elegant, open look for your fence, you might consider getting a lattice fence. Lattice fences use the same criss-crossed pattern we described on the top of specialty lattice top fences. However, this pattern extends all the way from the top to the bottom rail, creating a visually open fence.
Lattice fences can be a great foundation to grow morning glories, vines, and other leggy plants on. If you’re a vegetable gardener, you could even weave cucumbers, pea plants, and other such traveling species through its open spaces. Just keep an eye on your fence to make sure it’s not getting damaged by overenthusiastic plants.
Straight Picket Fence
Is there anything more American or charming than a clean, white picket fence? Picket fences are usually somewhat shorter, coming in around four feet tall or shorter, although you can get them in six-foot heights. These fences may come in eight-foot sections or may be about six feet long post to post.
Straight picket fences have a top and bottom rail and usually include more decorative post caps than their privacy fence cousins. The pickets of the fence are standard-width vinyl boards placed about a board-width apart from each other. This creates a charming open look that’s popular for front yards and for use on property lines between friendly neighbors.
Scalloped Picket Fence
Scalloped picket fences are the more elegant version of the charming down-home picket fence we just discussed. A scalloped picket fence is usually four feet tall as well and uses the same open picket structure as a straight picket fence. They have the more ornate post caps typical of picket fences, and they use only the top and bottom rails.
However, scalloped picket fences have a curve along their top edge. The pickets closest to each post will be the tallest, and the boards in the middle will slope down to the center and then back up to form a gentle u-shape. This can be a great option for homeowners who want to add a little more elegance to their all-American picket fence.
Post and Rail Fence
When you think of white fences running along rolling hills dotted with livestock, the fence you imagine is probably a post and rail fence. Like all of the fences we’ve discussed so far, these fences use vertical posts set six to eight feet apart and horizontal rails running between them. However, post and rail fences don’t use boards or pickets to add more cover to the fence.
Post and rail fences are generally on the shorter side and come in four different primary styles. Two-rail fences use only two rails, while three- and four-rail fences use their respective number of horizontal rails. Crossbuck rail fences have two horizontal top and bottom rails, as well as two additional rails that run diagonally from post to post, forming an X in the middle of the panel.
Horizontal Fence
A horizontal fence is a more modern take on the privacy fence that’s perfect for the homeowner looking to make a statement. Typically, privacy fences use only two horizontal rails and hang vertical boards off of those rails to create the fence. Horizontal fences skip the vertical boards entirely and create a whole privacy fence of horizontal rails.
Horizontal fences are generally six to eight feet tall, like all privacy fences, and have fairly understated post caps, if they have any at all. These provide an ultramodern feel that will be sure to catch passerby’s eyes. In fact, it’s probably a good idea to talk to your neighbors and check your local code restrictions to make sure you won’t have any problems with installing a horizontal fence.
Pool Fence
Unlike the rest of the fence styles we’ve talked about here, pool fences are not designed to go around your entire yard to provide privacy. Instead, they’re meant to go around a pool to keep kids and pets safe. These fences are usually smaller, more open, and less ornate than normal fences.
Picket fences can be a popular choice for pool fences, since they allow you to enjoy the view of the sparkling water while still keeping little ones out of trouble. However, there are some codes that govern the design of a pool fence, depending on where you live. Oftentimes, these fences must be at least four feet high and must have pickets no further than four inches apart.
Find Vinyl Fencing Near Me
Vinyl fencing can be a fantastic choice for your home thanks to its affordability, durability, and ease of maintenance. There are several styles of fence you can choose from for your new vinyl fence. From traditional privacy fences to charming picket fences to ultra-modern horizontal fences, vinyl can do it all.If you’d like to answer the question, “Where can I find the best vinyl fencing near me?” check out the rest of our site at Butte Fence. We go that extra yard to make sure you get the best quality fence possible. Contact us today and start building the perfect fence for your home.