| A classic piece of Americana, the picket fence | | | | --Cedar. Cedar has traditionally been the standard |
| represents what many people strive for: stability, | | | | material for a classic, natural-looking picket fence. Keep |
| comfort, family and peace of mind. It provides a safe | | | | in mind, however, that wood fences will eventually rot, |
| place for children and pets to play without obscuring | | | | you may need to replace pickets, and it's essential to |
| the view of your home. If you'd like to complement | | | | paint or seal your fence every few years. |
| your home with this iconic fence style, take a look at | | | | --Vinyl. Vinyl is the superior choice these days for |
| this checklist of things to keep in mind as you plan your | | | | building a classic white picket fence. Vinyl will remain |
| new fence. | | | | white while painted wood fences will peel, chip and |
| Planning Your Picket Fence | | | | eventually start to look shabby unless you repaint them |
| Picket fences are popular choices for front yards. | | | | regularly. As an added bonus, the posts and pickets |
| They add charm and curbside appeal to your home | | | | are easy to replace. |
| without blocking the view from the road. However, | | | | Designing Your Picket Fence |
| there are some common (and costly) pitfalls many | | | | Picket fences come with plenty of customization |
| homeowners face when building a front yard fence: | | | | options, such as: |
| --Public right-of-way. People often assume their | | | | --Height. Picket fences typically stand three or four |
| property lines reach all the way to the sidewalk or | | | | feet tall. |
| curb, but this isn't always the case. Double-check your | | | | --Fence style. You can choose pickets with a uniform |
| property line before you build to make sure you avoid | | | | height for a level top, or you can alternate picket |
| accidentally installing your fence on a public | | | | heights for a concave, scalloped or ornamental look. |
| right-of-way. | | | | The boards also come in different shapes, such as the |
| --Sight distance and fence height. Front yard fences | | | | classic pointed pickets or a dog-eared style. |
| have different height and placement restrictions than | | | | --Picket widths. Pickets can be as narrow as two |
| backyard fences because they have the potential to | | | | inches or as wide as five inches. Most pickets are |
| block line of sight for traffic. This is particularly true if | | | | three to four inches wide. |
| you live on a corner. Check your city's building code | | | | --Picket spacing. Many picket fences are self-spaced, |
| and neighborhood regulations for front yard fences. | | | | meaning the distance between pickets equals the |
| --Backyard access. If your fence will restrict access to | | | | width of the pickets. You can decrease the spacing to |
| your backyard, you may be required to build a gate. | | | | enclose small pets or increase it for an open, airy feel |
| A good rule of thumb whenever you embark on a | | | | that works well for garden fences. |
| fence-building project is to always check city and | | | | --Embellishments. Decorative post caps and other |
| neighborhood regulations, let the neighbors know your | | | | embellishments can make your fence unique and |
| plans, and check for underground utilities. | | | | customized to the style of your home. |
| Wood vs. Vinyl Picket Fences | | | | Keep all these details in mind when designing your new |
| Once you're ready to design your fence, you'll need to | | | | fence, and your home could become the envy of the |
| decide what type of fencing material you want. The | | | | neighborhood. |
| most common choices are cedar and vinyl. | | | | |