Hardwoods like Ipe and Mangaris are gorgeous when applied horizontally because the natural grain that runs the length of the planks creates a high-end look. Softwoods like pine, Douglas fir, redwood, and cedar are also great fencing choices.
Best Wood For Horizontal Fences
Because horizontal fence boards can sag over the long term, it helps to purchase high-quality hardwood fence boards. Ipe, tigerwood, and cumaru are a few of the hardwoods from Brazil or Indonesia that are often used for horizontal fences.
Price Most of the time, vertical fences are more affordable than horizontal ones for a few reasons. For example, vertical fences are usually made from cheaper wood and are sold in pre-made packs while horizontal fences are usually taller and must be installed on-site.
Put in back rails about eight inches from the top and bottom of the fence to stop it from warping. If your fence will be higher than 8 feet then you may want to put another rail in the middle. Once you finish building, apply a sealant to the wood. It will slow the drying process so that everything happens more evenly.
The key drawbacks are that horizontal fences can be relatively inflexible to install, and so aren't suitable for all properties. And if they're not installed perfectly, they have a habit of sagging noticeably... which undermines the clean, modern geometric orderliness of the style.
A horizontal fence has the end of each fence board running side to side. The high-quality, durable lumber necessary to keep a horizontal fence from sagging also helps the fence last longer. The stringers at the top and bottom of the panels provide additional support as well.
Gap: Small gaps between horizontal boards are standard for horizontal fences and impact the final appearance of the fence. Generally, we will use gaps between ¼” and 1”. If you want no gaps between boards, we would recommend using a tongue and groove board.
Fence rails are generally two-by-fours that are installed between or across posts and are often what the fence boards are affixed to. All vertical fences will have a top and bottom rail. Rails for horizontal fencing help add extra durability for the panels in-between the fence posts.
Available in a variety of colors and two widths, the Horizontal Solid Privacy Vinyl Fencing also provides a safe enclosure around pools.
A vinyl fence or an aluminum fence can add to the resale value of a home, while a chain-link fence adds little to no value. Overall, the best way to increase property value with a fence is to choose a design that is both functional and attractive.
While building a horizontal fence isn't more difficult than building a traditional fence, they do present more structural issues. Wood boards are weaker when running horizontally instead of vertically, making them more susceptible to sagging as gravity pushes down on them.
A horizontal slat fence is a fence that uses horizontal boards or planks that are usually spaced to provide some visibility through the fence. Slatted fences can use wood planks or pickets of the same width or varying widths.
We would use deck boards instead of fence boards: The difference in thickness is quite substantial, and this will prevent them from warping as much as standard fence boards will.
A tall, horizontal wood fence creates a safe and secure area around your home. If you have children, you don't have to worry about them wandering away from the confines of your backyard. A horizontal fence can also keep unwanted visitors off your property.
On average, homeowners pay around $5 to $12 per linear foot for a horizontal wood fence for the material. The cost for this fence installed averages $15 to $22 a linear foot.
First, the fence itself is likely to be weaker if it's not built on level ground. Second, an uneven fence is more likely to fall over, which could cause serious injury to anyone who happens to be nearby.
The 'quick' answer is that the finished, or good side of the fence faces the outside of your property, visible to neighbors and the outside world. That being said, the fence posts (or poles), rails, and other hardware are installed on the inside of the fence line and face you.
Rails. Rails are used as additional support for a fence. They are typically 2x4" thick strips of wood that run horizontally along the fence.
Most fence posts require anywhere from one to 10 bags of concrete. Actual concrete amounts vary depending on post hole diameter and depth. Account for frost lines and gravel when doing calculations.
Board on board fences have overlapping pickets while a side by side fence will have pickets installed edge to edge. A stockade fence is an example of a side by side fence. As discussed above, a board on board fence will never have a gap while pickets installed side by side may shrink over time.
So, how far apart should fence posts be? The standard spacing for fence posts is 8 to 25 feet apart, depending on the type of fence. A standard wood fence would require posts 8 feet apart, while a high-tensile wire could span 25 feet.
Even a high-quality, well-maintained wood fence will likely not outlive a vinyl fence. Vinyl fences can last decades with proper care. Without maintenance, a wood fence may last only five years. With excellent upkeep, wood fences will last about 15 to 20 years.
Wrought Iron or Metal Fences
Metal fencing is the longest-lasting type of fence. It often requires the most upfront investment but rarely needs to be replaced.
Wrought Iron Fencing
The wrought iron fence is the strongest and most long-lasting fencing option available.