Wood fences enhance the warm beauty of a yard or outdoor space, creating a realm of privacy and protection for homeowners. Family and pets can freely run or hang out protected in a safe space away from the outside world.

A wood fence can also provide other benefits by blocking wind and sound while providing privacy for a relaxing dip in your swimming pool and the enjoyment of surroundings in a private space of tranquility away from the neighborhood activities.

POPULAR WOOD FENCE STYLES

Depending on the nature and location of a particular project, there are various fence styles available, including privacy fencing, picket fences, pool fencing, deer fencing, split rail fences, modern fences, front yard fencing, backyard fencing, and security fencing.

Wood is widely used for privacy fencing designs. There are 7 typical wood privacy fence styles, which you may find suitable and appealing:

• Picket fences - are probably the most common, distinguishable by evenly spaced vertical pickets, attached to horizontal rails. The components of the picket fence are the cap, rail, post, and picket. From the top, the cap protects the post and its grain from being damaged by the weather. Rail is the horizontal connection between posts and functions to support the pickets. Posts support the stability of the fence, and picket is the vertical element attached to the rails and often time has a pointy tip.

• Stockade fencing - where the arrangement and number of wood boards is denser than that of picket fence. What makes stockade fence an exceptionally secure choice is its rugged tops, which also adds to the overall aesthetic quality.

• Estate plank fencing - showcases a smooth, clean line of vertical flow wood planks.

• Dog-eared - another kind of uniform fence, traditional fence design and very economical, which has proven to be suitable for unconventional property shapes.

• Board-on-board fence, which looks pretty on both sides. This is due to the fact that the boards are arranged to alternate to both sides of the central rails. The boards are not tightly placed together so outsiders might be able to take a peek into one's property, but the gaps between the boards allow breeze to flow smoothly into one's yard.

ADVANTAGES OF A WOOD FENCE

• Compared to other materials, wood is significantly more affordable. For example, high-end cedar planks might be a fraction of what you would spend on vinyl or aluminum fencing.

• If you are a DIY enthusiast, you would be happy to know that wood is a fairly easy material to work on your own. Working with wood requires much simpler tools than those required for working with synthetic materials. Hence, erecting a wood fence sounds like a feasible project to do with your family, with team work and creativity.

• Wood is the most authentic, organic choice of all fencing materials, which is attractive to the environmentally conscious homeowners. Its classic beauty guarantees to add value to your home. Moreover, wood offers you an array of natural colors, which can be easily painted or stained depending on the architectural style.

• Wood is a versatile material for it can be tailored to your creative design ideas relatively easily.

DISADVANTAGES OF A WOOD FENCE

• Compared to other materials such as steel, a wood fence requires more maintenance to keep it in good shape. If caring is not done properly, the wood fence can fall victim to fungus or rot.

• Without proper installation, a wood fence might sink into the ground as time goes by, depending on the type of soil in which it is installed. It is advisable to build an underlying concrete supporting base for the fence in areas where this can likely be an issue.

• In worst cases, when you choose low quality wood and/or live in poor soil, your wood fences might be attacked by termites. Not only will these insects damage your fences, costing you time and money to repair, but can also spread to your home and other structures in vicinity on your property and even that of your neighbor.

FENCE ETIQUETTE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

As the first consideration, every homeowner should be familiar with zoning and property lines regulations. To avoid any violation of boundaries, it is advisable to place your fence a foot or two feet from within your property lines.

Additionally, there may be local regulations, which differ from place to place, which may place restrictions on the height of your fence, or the color of the paint you can use, or the of fence you may choose. In any event, double check your local regulations before purchasing any materials and making specific plans.

Next, as a matter of courtesy, let your neighbor know of your plans to build a fence. Despite the fact that it will be on your property, your fence may be a permanent element in their line of sight on a daily basis.

CHOOSING THE CORRECT WOOD FOR YOUR FENCE

The quality of your wood fence largely depends on the type of wood you choose. There is no one-size-fit-all option because every project is unique for its variables such as your budget, expected time being in your home, and the climate you are in. Some of the most celebrated types of wood used for fencing are teak, cedar, redwood, pine, and cypress.

• Teak: Teak is known as the noblest of exotic hardwood, which has excellent durability and resistance to rot and decay. In wet climates, teak is the top go-to choice for many woodworkers, for instance, teak is popularly used in boat building. Teak performs very well and is very stable for flooring as well. It's water resistant due to its natural oil content, which conveniently blocks out termites and insects as well.

• Cedar and cypress: cedar also has a high natural oil content, whereas cypress possesses this natural chemical called cypretine. Both of these characteristics prevent insect invasion, making both species a good choice for fences. Cedar is reported to be more expensive than other woods but it is low-maintenance, which saves you from spending on a large maintenance budget. Cypress is similar in price to cedar.

• Redwood: Redwood is super insect-resistant as well. It has a pinkish color and is well known for its resistance to twisting and warping. Redwood stays straighter compared to other kinds of wood, which makes it an ideal choice for fencing. However, if you plan to build a large or long fence, redwood is usually the most expensive type of fencing wood, so may not the best option for a tight budget. Then again, redwood's beauty and strong qualities add value to your home and worth the investment in the long term.

• Pine: pine is a popular choice, owing to its affordability. It is relatively easier to work with but can be susceptible to shrinkage. Pine is most suitable if used as pressure-treated wood.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR WOOD FENCE

• Type of wood: Caring for your wood fence should be tailored to the type of wood used for the fence. Using pressure-treated wood is beneficial because once the posts are installed below ground this treatment protects them against moisture and insect infestation. Plus, using pressure-treated woods means there will be no need for sealant application. Chemicals involved in pressure treating the wood in this fashion are not very harmful to your health so it can be a worry-free affordable choice.

• You should avoid setting up the sprinkler near the fence, even if the wood you choose for your fence is water resistant. Lowering the frequency of excessive water contact is recommended. This will prevent any rotting to take place faster than necessary, meaning a longer lifespan for your fence.

• Your wood fence should not directly touch the ground in order to avoid moisture related problems like rotting or splitting. (unless the wood is chemically treated for ground-contact use)

• An application of water sealant increases the wood's resistance to wind, rain, and sun, and prevents the wood from turning gray.