5 Popular Fence Styles

1. Vertical Fences

With vertical fences, the cross boards are longer along the vertical axis than the horizontal one. This fence style works well in areas where you want to add height because it draws the eye upward. You can add depth to the area by using a shadow-box effect for the boards.

For a shadow-box fence, alternate which side of the fence you nail the cross boards to, slightly overlapping the board on the other side of the fence. This has the added benefit of helping the fence look nice from both sides. You can also use a straight layout, in which you nail all the boards on the same side with no overlap.

You can alter the appearance of the vertical fence by selecting a specific style for the top of the fence boards. The picket fence is one of the most common vertical fence styles used in America. It features vertical boards with points at the center of each board.

2. Basket-Weave Fences

You can usually find basket-weave fence materials ready to go at your local home improvement store, like Home Depot. These premade fence kits have spacers with notches to help you line up where the horizontal cross boards should hit. To achieve the basket-weave affect, you will lace the fence boards through the spacers to arch the board. If you don't want to worry about building a fence, hire a local builder to custom make the fence for you.

3. Louver-Style Fences

If you want a unique look to your fence, consider a louver-style fence. For this fence style, you set the vertical fence boards at an angle. The space between the boards allows ventilation, and the angle of the boards determines how much privacy you can have with the fence.

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4. Horizontal Fences

Horizontal fences have long fences boards that run parallel to the ground. This type of fence can include split-rail fences and plywood panel fences. You can install a horizontal fence quickly if you use grooved posts to lock the boards into place. You can adjust the position for each board by using a rubber mallet to knock the board up or down, as needed. Use a horizontal fence in landscape designs where you want to lengthen a space visually.

5. Latticework Fences

With latticework fences, the design becomes part of your landscape. The type of latticework often determines the primary function for the fence. While you can use latticework to create the main body of the fence, you can also use it to increase height without completely blocking light and air from a space.

You have several options when you choose a lattice-style fence. You can create a square framework with vertical strips crossing horizontal strips at a 90-degree angle, or you can crisscross the strips to create diagonal latticework. The amount of space you leave between the strips, as well as the angle you use will affect the overall style for the fence.