How to Design a Wood Picket Fence
To design the ideal wood picket fence for your home, you should carefully assess how you want it to function as well as how it will affect the overall appearance of your property.
Wood picket fences can function as boundaries. But they can also serve as decorative features.
Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Detailed property layout
- Paper or digital fence placement planner
- Measuring tools
- Variance approvals (where applicable)
Instructions
-
Steps for wood picket fence design
-
1
Make detailed plan of where the wood picket fence will be installed.
The view of the fence from interior windows will differ from the perspective from the street or yard.
A fence that's set a yard or so back from property lines will allow for screen or decorative plantings and discourage damage by passersby. -
2
Determine the correct height of the fence for your purposes.
Picket fences built too high can obscure or block sight lines, cast unwanted shadows on parts of the home or yard at certain times of the day, and diminish the street appeal of the areas they surround.
On the other hand, fences built too low can defeat the purpose of creating secure boundaries and privacy. Moreover, they can become overgrown by nearby plants. -
-
3
Choose between an "open" or a "closed" picket spacing alternative.
Open spacing affords better views from inside and outside of the fenced areas; this may be the best option for "show-off" gardeners.
Closed spacing affords more privacy and deters yard-to-yard spillover of vegetation. -
4
Decide whether "basic" or "decorative" pickets are most suitable for your property.
For ages, homeowners have favored simple white pickets because they symbolize stability and domestic bliss.
But some homes may be enhanced by fences painted or stained in colors that complement or contrast the house or other features of the property.
Traditional (Colonial, Victorian) homes look best with fences that match their period and/or details, while modern, angular homes benefit visually from fences with contemporary motifs. -
5
Make a careful calculation of weather conditions (wind, rain) that may affect the picket fence you're planning; also take into account how much shade it may cast over the landscape.
Pickets spaced closely can block breezes and sunlight. They could also bear the brunt of strong wind gusts. The climate can also affect the choice of building materials and sturdiness needed for the fence structure.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Keep in mind that wood picket fences may require regular upkeep. To look their best and endure over time, wood picket fences will need repainting, resealing, and occasional repair. For a more durable, low-maintenance approach, homeowners may want to consider fences made of synthetic or recycled materials.
Consult governing authorities before designing and installing your picket fence. Property lines must be scrupulously respected. Some communities may place additional restrictions on the appearance, dimensions, and overall propriety of picket fences, including which side the "finished" side of the fence must face. Also, you must locate any buried utility or sewer lines and design your fence around their placement. This may require contacting relevant utility companies and municipal authorities.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit flickr/creativemuse
