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What Type of Fence is Right for Your Home?
Choosing the right type of fence for your home is about more than just aesthetics. While looks and curb appeal are obviously a big factor, the different fence types also vary in terms of cost, durability, and longevity, and what may be right for one homeowner isn’t so ideal for another.
Whether you’re replacing an existing fence or starting from scratch, knowing what your options are is the first step in deciding what type of fence you should go with. And to help you do it, we’ve put together this quick guide to the eight most common types of residential fencing options, with plenty of useful information to help you make the smartest and most cost-effective decision for your home.
What are the different types of fences?
There are eight standard types of fences that homeowners usually choose between:
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- Wrought-iron fences
- Steel fences
- Aluminum fences
- Wood fences
- Vinyl fences
- PVC fences
- Chain link fences
- Stone fences
The first difference that you’ll probably notice is materials used. While some fence varieties look quite similar at first glance—for example, vinyl and PVC—the material used plays a big role in how long your fence will last and what type of maintenance you’ll need to do on it. It can also be a big determining factor when it comes to cost.
In some cases you’ll be limited on what type of fence you can use based on where you live. Many neighborhoods and residential developments, especially those with HOAs, have strict rules on which fence types are allowed and which aren’t. Beyond that though, you’ll need to do a bit of digging into both your personal preferences and the pros and cons of the types of available fences in order to decide what the optimal choice for your home is. Here’s what to know.
Pros and cons of each type of fence
How else do the different types of fences compare? Scroll through for a handy overview on the basics of each fence type.
Wrought-iron fences
Wrought-iron fences are a common choice for ornamental fencing, offering a safe and long-lasting enclosure for your yard that still lets in plenty of visibility.
Pros: Wrought-iron fencing has been a popular choice for more than 200 years, which proves it has a timeless quality. It’s also extremely durable, and tends to maintain its integrity for decades, versus the five or ten years you might get out of other, less high-quality types of fencing.
Cons: Durability doesn’t come cheap, and wrought-iron fences do tend to be quite expensive. They also require a good amount of upkeep to prevent and/or treat rust.
Average cost: The average cost for materials and installation of a wrought-iron fence is $2,700, though you can end up spending $10,000 or more if you include ornamental decorations and a matching gate.
Steel fences
Steel, an alloy of iron and carbon, is another fence material that has been in use for centuries, and is usually coated with zinc for increased durability. It offers a somewhat similar look to wrought-iron and is equally pricey, thanks in large part to its long-lasting nature and the expense that goes into welding it.
Pros: A steel fence is meant to last, and with the right conditions your steel fence could look good as new for a long time.
Cons: Like wrought-iron, you’ll need to stay on a regular treatment schedule with a steel fence in order to prevent rust.
Average cost: The average cost of a steel fence is $3,000 to $3,500 per 100 feet.
Aluminum fences
Last up among metal fences is aluminum, which is similar in appearance to steel and wrought-iron but a lot more lightweight and often more affordable. It’s also a recyclable material, which is good news if sustainability is top of mind. Look for a coated aluminum variety to minimize maintenance and ensure your fence looks good for years to come.
Pros: Aluminum is easy to install and offers many of the benefits of other types of metal fencing without the super high price tag. And with a proper coating it’s a pro at standing up to outdoor elements like rain and snow.
Cons: The lightweight structure of an aluminum fence might not be ideal if you’re looking for something super sturdy, as it makes this type of fence prone to bending.
Average cost: The average cost of an aluminum fence can run as low as $700 to as high as $4,000.
Wood fences
Wood is an incredibly popular option for fencing, and you have a ton of different options when it comes to style, from low-profile wood pickets to wood privacy fences that completely block off your yard from that of your neighbors.
Pros: Wood is a classic and beautiful fence option that offers a lot of privacy. There’s also a ton of versatility in design, plus the option to stain or paint your fence as you see fit.
Cons: If you’re maintenance averse, wood might not be your best option. Wood fences require a lot of upkeep and may warp, splinter, or swell. They also have a shorter lifespan than many other types of fences.
Average cost: The average cost of a wood fence is just above $2,800.
Vinyl fences
If you want the look of wood without all of the maintenance then you may want to consider vinyl. Vinyl fencing has come a long way, with today’s options being almost indistinguishable from wood (if you’re at a distance) and offering the same versatility in terms of design options.
Pros: Get your dream white picket fence without having to deal with real wood by opting for vinyl instead, which is easy to clean and maintain and can also hold up to paint.
Cons: Vinyl isn’t totally moisture resistant, and extreme weather can lead to mildew, mold, and algae—all of which can leave stains behind even after you clean them up.
Average cost: The average cost of a vinyl picket fence is between $2,848 and $5,696.
PVC fences
PVC fences look like vinyl fences, which in turn are designed to look like wood fences. Where they differ is in durability, with PVC being the least likely of the three options to hold up long term.
Pros: PVC fencing is great for privacy and security and requires very little maintenance.
Cons: Like vinyl, PVC fencing is prone to algae, mildew, and mold build-up, and when compared to wood it’s a lot less durable.
Average cost: The average cost for PVC fencing is the same as it is for vinyl fencing, since these materials are often offered interchangeably.
Chain link fences
Chain link fencing probably isn’t the way to go if looks are a big concern, but this inexpensive option could be just right if you’re simply looking to fence off some raw land or create a smaller enclosure within your yard, such as a dog run.
Pros: Chain link is durable and low-maintenance, and it also tends to be quite cheap to buy and install.
Cons: This type of fence isn’t considered to be very attractive (though you could grow vines or flowers on it as a simple solution).
Average cost: The average cost for a chain link fence is about $2,100.
Stone fences
If you want a fence that will last as long as, say, the Great Wall of China, then stone may be the way to go. And for the same look at a lower price point, check out eco-stone, which is made of up to 25% recycled materials.
Pros: It doesn’t get much more long lasting than this. Stone fences have a certain rustic appeal and take the cake in terms of durability, and they’re also available in a range of natural colors.
Cons: Stone is quite heavy, which makes installation difficult and costly. And depending on your climate conditions you could end up facing some cracks or mildew—though it shouldn’t affect the overall integrity of the fence.
Average cost: The average cost for a stone fence is between $1,410 and $2,127, plus another $2,000 or so in installation costs.
Which type of fence is best?
That depends! When choosing fencing for your home, there will be lots of factors to keep in mind, from cost and durability to the climate that you live in. We recommend narrowing down your options based on appearance and budget, and from there getting several quotes from builders as well as information on what tends to work best in your area. Make sure to look at local regulations or HOA guidelines too if applicable to see if you’re limited in the type of fence that you can have at your home.