Guide to Fence Types, Uses and Costs
Disadvantages: Most homeowners agree that chain-link doesn’t add visual appeal to a landscape. Another issue? If you buy material without a protective coating, the metal can corrode.
10 Types of Fencing Materials All Homeowners Should Know
Whether you’re enclosing your property because you want to keep prying eyes out or animals in, there’s a fencing material to suit your style and budget.
By Glenda Taylor and Theresa Clement and Bob Vila | Updated Dec 14, 2022 3:23 PM
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From the zigzag post-and-rail of the Colonial era to the elaborate molded vinyl styles of today, fences are homeowners’ preferred means of ensuring privacy and deterring unwanted visitors. Whether the goal is to keep your pets safely in your yard or keep neighborhood children out of your pool, there are fencing materials for most every type and shape of property.
Before loading your truck with fencing supplies at the lumberyard, take a few minutes to call your local zoning office to find out what, if any, steps you need to take before erecting a border around your yard. If you’re putting the fence on a property line, you might need to do a lot survey. If you belong to a homeowners association or live in a development that is subject to covenants, you could be restricted to using specific materials and limited on fence height. Once you have a green light, the next step is choosing the right enclosure for your property. Ahead, learn about the most popular types of fencing materials, and the pros and cons of each.
1. Cedar
Cedar, which is perhaps the most sought-after material for backyard privacy fencing, is known for its long-lasting good looks—tight grain, fewer knots, and a desirable red hue—and the fact that it’s unlikely to ever warp or shrink. While cedar naturally resists decay and insects, it is not as impervious to soil as treated wood is and will likely rot after several years.
If you are considering building a cedar privacy fence, it’s a good idea to either secure the fence posts to a concrete base (thus keeping the wood away from soil), or secure cedar pickets to treated wood fence posts. The installation is fairly DIY-friendly, and you can customize the planks to create a variety of looks, including saddleback and lattice-topped.
Maintenance Tip: Cedar naturally weathers to a silvery gray, and a fence of this material will require maintenance, including occasional plank replacement. For long-lasting color and protection, apply a penetrating wood sealant to outdoor fencing immediately after installation and annually thereafter.
Best For: Wood lovers who want flexibility in terms of both style and fence finishes—and those who have a healthy budget.
2. Vinyl
Vinyl fencing has been around for a few decades, but it’s still a relatively new kid on the block. Early vinyl fencing products had a tendency to yellow, sag, or become brittle after a couple of years, but today’s fence manufacturers are putting out durable vinyl products in a variety of heights and styles.
When it comes to quality, thickness counts; thicker gauge, “virgin” vinyl will look best for the longest amount of time (some vinyl fencing products even have a lifetime guarantee). Consider hiring a professional to install this type of fencing, because vinyl fence installation must be precise. If it’s a little out-of-level here or slightly out-of-plumb there, you’ll notice it.
Maintenance Tip: Once it’s installed, vinyl fencing is virtually maintenance-free. Every now and again you may want to use a mild detergent to wash off accumulating dirt, which you can just rinse off with a garden hose. Stubborn mold and mildew stains usually yield after being treated with a bleach and water solution.
Best For: Quick curb appeal and those with large yards who want a bold, clean look.
3. Composite
Manufactured from wood fibers that are combined with plastic polymers, composite fencing provides a wood-like look but won’t degrade from insects and rot. This combination of style and substance will cost a bit more than either vinyl or cedar, for both materials and installation.
Like vinyl fencing, composite requires precise installation by professionals. Since the material varies in quality from manufacturer to manufacturer, it’s important to do your research carefully and buy composite fencing components from a reputable dealer.
Maintenance Tip: After professional installation, composite fencing requires only an occasional rinse with water to keep it looking clean.
Best For: Those who want the look of wood without the maintenance that wood requires.
4. Redwood and Teak
You’ll pay top dollar for a redwood or teak fence, but nothing compares to the natural softness and luster of a wood fence crafted from these materials. Because they’re expensive, redwood and teak fences are usually used for small enclosures, like around spas or pools. As is the case with cedar, redwood and teak both naturally resist insects, decay, shrinking, and warping from the elements.
Maintenance Tip: Both redwood and teak require the application of a penetrating sealer or oil once or twice a year to maintain their original color. A light sanding prior to application will remove surface weathering.
Best For: Wood lovers who have a large budget and/or a smaller area to fence, and don’t mind staining and sealing every few years.
5. Metal
Metal fencing options range from classic to contemporary, and you can find one to match virtually any home exterior. Wrought iron fences have survived centuries of style changes, and with good reason: They don’t just have a classic look, they’re extremely durable.
Consider hiring a specialized fencing contractor if you’re looking to incorporate a wrought iron fence into your property, as these enclosures tend to be custom made to fit the property and might even include intricate styling. Newer metal fencing options such as cast iron, aluminum, and steel package the strength of wrought iron with a more DIY-friendly panel installation. Some homeowners opt for fencing that incorporates both wood and metal elements.
Maintenance Tip: Wrought iron and some steel fences require treatment with a brush-on or spray-on rust-inhibiting paint when they start to show signs of corrosion.
Best For: Homeowners who have a healthy budget and want a fence that will last forever with little maintenance.
6. Treated Wood
Pressure-treated and chemically treated wood pickets or cedar-style planks are popular picks for outdoor structures as a whole: gazezbos, decks, pergolas, and more. When assembled as a backyard fence, they provide privacy at a reasonable cost. Though this economical type of fencing option is a good choice for fence posts (treated wood resists both insects and moisture), pickets made of treated wood have a tendency to warp or twist, sometimes as soon as one month after installation.
If you’re set on using treated wood planks for your new fence, you’ll have the best shot at a warp-free outcome if you handpick the planks one by one at your local lumberyard, rather than having them delivered in bulk. Look for the straightest planks and skip any that look “green,” or damp, which could mean they have been recently delivered from the manufacturer and are more likely to move as they dry.
Maintenance Tip: Seal or paint treated wood for a better look, and replace warped planks as needed.
Best For: Treated wood is an affordable way to customize the look of a fence or entry into the yard because the shape and size of the planks can be customized, and the color can be altered with paint or stain.
7. Masonry
Fences that are made of concrete, stucco, brick, block, and stone give your home a stately, regal vibe, but at a cost: These materials are all very pricey and require professional installation. Because they’re so heavy, masonry fences also need a structural footing poured below the frost line (the depth to which the groundwater in soil is expected to freeze in winter).
It’s not unusual for homeowners to build a fence that’s a combination of masonry and another type of fencing material, such as wrought iron or wood, for both design and budget reasons. Block and poured concrete require steel reinforcement; brick fences often feature a concrete or block inner fence with brick veneer only on the exterior.
Maintenance Tip: Over time, mortar joints in stone and brick fences can loosen and will need to be repointed.
Best For: Permanent property delineation and upscale curb appeal. Masonry is ideal for properties on busy roads where noise is an issue.
8. Chain Link
While their open links certainly don’t do much for privacy, chain link fences offer adequate security for pets and kids at a competitively low cost. The materials are among the least expensive fencing options available, making chain link fencing a common fence for yards on large rural properties where the amount of fencing needed makes other choices cost-prohibitive. In addition to economical materials, chain link fencing can be a DIY installation—one that involves setting posts, installing a top rail, and then stretching linked mesh between the rails and posts— that saves homeowners more money.
Maintenance Tip: Chain link can corrode, especially at the junctions where the mesh links meet, but it’s difficult to prevent. For a better look and a longer life, consider upgrading to vinyl-coated chain link.
Best For: Large homesteads, commercial properties, and rural land that require extensive linear foot coverage, and where curb appeal is not a priority.
9. Barbed Wire
This type of fence is strictly functional, usually set up to keep livestock in and natural predators out. Its standard design is simple and affordable enough for property owners looking to fence in a larger area: Five strands of barbed wire are strung taut between metal T-posts around the perimeter of the property, with heftier wood or steel posts installed at the corners to support the tension of the stretched wire.
Before you install it, know that barbed wire fencing is limited to rural use and prohibited in most residential communities.
Maintenance Tip: Barbed wire strands should be restretched from time to time. They tend to sag if livestock leans on them.
Best For: Rural properties where containing animals is a priority, and curb appeal is not a factor.
10. Woven Wire
Low-maintenance, inexpensive, and effective at deterring wildlife from getting easy access to a property, woven wire is an affordable fencing option. Sometimes called field fence, woven wire fence is an ideal complement to an open fence, like three rail or split rail, for properties where egress needs to be restricted. It’s also a good choice for pet owners who don’t want animals to get out and pool owners who don’t want people to get in.
Maintenance Tip: Adding wire tighteners to the fence and checking them a couple times a year will keep the wires taut.
Best For: An addition to another fence system, like split rail, to deter passage on to or from a property.
Guide to Fence Types, Uses and Costs
Remember when Tom Sawyer tricked his friends into painting Aunt Polly’s fence for him? Fencing has come a long way since then. You can now find fences in dozens of styles and colors, many of which don’t need painting. We’re here to help you navigate your new fence installation with this guide to types of fencing and their uses.
- What Do You Want out of Your Fence?
- 10 Types of Fences
- 1. Wood fence
- 2. Wrought iron fence
- 3. Aluminum fence
- 4. Vinyl fence
- 5. Composite fence
- 6. Chain-link fence
- 7. Bamboo fence
- 8. Masonry fence
- 9. Wire fence
- 10. Electric fence for dogs
What Do You Want out of Your Fence?
If you’re looking to fence your backyard, you probably want privacy. You may also need to protect a pet or little one from escaping while they play outside. Maybe you need a fence to keep unwanted guests out of the new swimming pool.
For front yard fencing, you’ll want something different altogether. The front of your house is all about curb appeal, so you’ll want to choose a decorative fence that complements your landscape. Some types of fences can give you the aesthetic look you want while adding an extra layer of security to your home.
Before you start your fencing project, make sure to check your city and county’s fencing ordinances. You may need a building permit. Your homeowners’ association may also have restrictions on the types of fencing allowed and where you can build it.
10 Types of Fences
1. Wood fence
Uses: Wood fences come in a diverse range of styles that can serve as privacy fences, security fencing, and landscape decoration. Ornamental picket fences are common for front yards. Board-on-board, stockade, dog-ear, and horizontal slats are all popular styles for backyard privacy.
Advantages: Wood is one of the cheapest materials, and it’s one of the easiest types of fences to build on your own. That allows you to save money on installation. With proper care, a wooden fence can last for the lifetime of your home.
Disadvantages: Wood is susceptible to rot, pests, water damage, and warping. You’ll have to power wash, repaint or restain your wood fence every two to three years to help avoid these problems.
Cost of wood fencing: $14-$31 per linear foot
2. Wrought iron fence
Uses: Wrought iron fences are primarily decorative, and they come in any design you can imagine. If you include spiked railheads or similar features, they can also provide security. These types of fences are best for front yards since they don’t provide much privacy in the back.
Advantages: The main draw of wrought iron fencing is its durability. With proper care, wrought iron will last many years. These types of fences are also customizable, and easy to match to your landscaping.
Disadvantages: Most wrought iron fences are custom-built, so they can get quite expensive. They’re also susceptible to rust and need a fresh coat of primer every five years.
Cost of wrought iron fencing: $26-$34 per linear foot
3. Aluminum fence
Uses: Aluminum fences are similar to wrought iron fences in that they come in many different colors and styles. Some are purely ornamental, while others provide security. These types of fences are good for front yards or backyards depending on the style, and they’re popular choices for pool fences.
Advantages: Like wrought iron, aluminum fencing is customizable. Unlike wrought iron, though, aluminum doesn’t rust, so it doesn’t require much maintenance. It’s also less expensive.
Disadvantages: Aluminum is weaker than wrought iron, so it’s more likely to be damaged in severe weather.
Cost of aluminum fencing: $19-$76 per linear foot, depending on size, height, style, and color of your fence.
4. Vinyl fence
Uses: Vinyl is excellent for privacy fences, picket fences, and split-rail fences. It can also be good for security, landscape decoration, pool fencing, and pet fencing. Vinyl fencing is perfect for the front or backyard.
Advantages: Vinyl fences are durable and long-lasting and often come with a lifetime warranty. While vinyl itself is more expensive than some fencing materials, it usually comes in easy-to-install panels, so you don’t have to hire a contractor. Vinyl is low-maintenance and stays in prime condition for years with only occasional washing.
Disadvantages: The only significant downside to installing a vinyl fence is the high price tag.
Cost of vinyl fencing: $17-$38 per linear foot
5. Composite fence
Uses: Solid panels provide privacy, security, and safe containment for pets and children. Because composite fencing is typically tall and blocks views, it’s better for backyards than front yards.
Advantages: The material consists of a durable mix of plastic, resin, and wood pieces. It comes in different colors and designs that look like natural wood, but without the vulnerability to pests and rot. Manufacturers also make composite fencing that looks like natural stone. These types of fences are low-maintenance and require only occasional spraying with water to look their best.
Disadvantages: Their high quality and durability make composite fences more expensive than some options. They’re also difficult to install, so you’ll likely have to hire a fencing contractor.
Approximate cost of materials: $15-$45 per linear foot
6. Chain-link fence
Uses: A chain-link fence adds an extra level of security to your front or backyard. This type of fence keeps wild animals off your property and mischievous pets or children inside. While the open design doesn’t provide much privacy, you can purchase attachable plastic privacy slats separately. You can also add a barbed wire top for extra security.
Advantages: Chain-link fences are affordable and easy to install as a DIY project. They’re also durable and maintenance-free.
Disadvantages: Most homeowners agree that chain-link doesn’t add visual appeal to a landscape. Another issue? If you buy material without a protective coating, the metal can corrode.
Cost of chain link fencing: $12-$33 per linear foot. Higher prices apply only to tall, thick-gauge high-security chain-link fencing.
7. Bamboo fence
Uses: You can build a bamboo fence one of two ways: by growing live bamboo in clumps or by purchasing rolled bamboo fence panels. People typically use either type of bamboo fencing for privacy in the backyard.
Advantages: Environmentally conscious homeowners will be happy to hear that bamboo is an especially eco-friendly fencing option. It’s also super cheap and easy to install, so this is another money-saving choice. Most bamboo fences cost $12 – $23 per linear foot.
Disadvantages: Bamboo is one of the most invasive plants on the planet. Live bamboo will take over your yard, and quickly spread into your neighbor’s property. And since bamboo is another type of wood, it’s susceptible to rot and pests (especially roaches). If you use rolled bamboo panels, you’ll have to apply a protective coating and install them a few inches above the ground to avoid rot.
Approximate cost of materials: $3-$6 per linear foot
8. Masonry fence
Uses: Stone, brick, stucco, or concrete fences boost curb appeal and increase a home’s security. If you build them high enough, they can also create private outdoor spaces. Low, decorative masonry fences are perfect for complementing your front yard landscaping, while taller versions are great for the backyard.
Advantages: If installed correctly, a masonry fence will stand the test of time and weather with little maintenance.
Disadvantages: A high-quality stone fence is by far the most expensive option. The materials themselves are pricey, and they require professional installation.
Approximate cost of materials: $10-$80 per square foot (price varies based on the quality of the stone and the thickness of the fence)
9. Wire fence
Uses: Hog wire works well as a garden fence. It keeps animals out of your vegetables, flowers, and other plants. You can also use wire fencing for small pets.
Advantages: Hog wire fencing is cheap and easy to install yourself. Aside from small repairs, your wire fence will be maintenance-free.
Disadvantages: Many homeowners find wire fencing unflattering visually. It’s definitely a practical fencing option rather than an aesthetic one.
Approximate cost of materials: $3-$5 per linear foot
10. Electric fence for dogs
Uses: An electric fence involves an underground boundary that activates a receiver in your dog’s collar. It’s good for keeping your pets in the yard without ruining your surrounding view. Electric fences can cover an area of any shape or size, so you can install one in the front yard, backyard, or both.
Advantages: Electric fencing is cheaper and easier to install than some fences and it won’t get it in your way or obstruct your view.
Disadvantages: Electric fencing will keep your pets in your yard, but it WON’T keep other animals out. Wild animals such as raccoons or coyotes can still get onto your property, leaving your pet with no way to escape them. And since they’re powered by electricity, invisible fences stop working if the power goes out. The static shock used to keep your dog from crossing the boundary can also have negative side effects.
Cost of electric fencing: $1.75 to $2.75 per linear foot (depending on the size of your yard and how many dogs or other outdoor pets you have.)
FAQ About Types of Fences and Their Uses
1. What is the cheapest type of fencing?
At $3-$5 per linear foot, hog wire is the cheapest fencing material. You can usually install it yourself, too, so you won’t have to spend money on a contractor.
2. What type of fence will last the longest?
Wrought iron and vinyl fences tend to last the longest.
In some places, yes. It all depends on the local laws and ordinances. You’ll need to research your county, city, and homeowners association’s fence height regulations.
When to Hire a Professional Fence Installer
If you don’t have construction experience, you’re better off hiring a fencing professional near you to install fencing on your property. With professional installation, your fence will be more likely to stand up to severe weather and last a lot longer. The job is also more likely to come with a warranty.
You’ll definitely want help from a professional if you’re installing a more complicated and expensive fence material such as composite, stone, or wrought iron.
Whether you’re looking for a new feature to tie your landscape together or you want to make your home more secure, there’s a type of fence to suit your needs. With so many style options, you won’t have to count on your mischievous nephew and a bucket of whitewash to get the fence of your dreams.
Main Photo Credit: Needpix
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Jordan Ardoin
Jordan Ardoin is a writer and editor with a passion for sustainable, earth-friendly gardening and lawn care practices. When she isn’t sharing her knowledge about lawn care and landscaping, you can find her curled up with a good book and a cat in her lap.
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