Like most home and property materials, when it comes to outdoor fences there are three ways to look at it – aesthetics, durability/maintenance and cost.  And how you feel about these three characteristics could very likely dictate which fencing option you choose*….

Believe it or not, we have four kinds of exterior fencing in our yard.  Two were already there when we bought our house in Weston, MA, and then we added two different types.  Let me explain the scenario.  There was a chain-link metal fence that was toward the back of the property, really “fencing in” the backyard, and this metal fence was attached to a stockade fence, which ran in the back and to the side of the house.  One of our first new home projects after buying the house was exterior fencing.  We decided to use post and rail fencing (pictured above) on the sides of the yard that weren’t fenced and a white picket fence in the front of the house that extended to the post and rail fence.  It may sound strange, but it actually looks great.  And the good news is that we have a completely fenced-in backyard, which is great for our dog and the kids.

Personally, I love the look of the traditional white picket fence, which we chose for our front fence.  And I think it looks great in close proximity to the house – it gives a home that picture-perfect, warm and fuzzy feel.  But beware of the wood and the white paint – they often need maintenance.  At least that has been my experience and is clearly illustrated here in this picture of my “white” picket fence. I also love the look of the natural post and rail fence, which is why we used this for the sides of our property.  The post and rail fence requires much less maintenance – again this has been my personal experience – and was less costly to install.  I am not as big of a fan of the stockade and chain link fencing that we inherited, but we decided to keep them because fencing is expensive plus they aren’t very noticeable because of where they are situated on the property.  Of course there are a multitude of other kinds of fences, including wrought-iron (which can be absolutely gorgeous), vinyl (think maintenance free), aluminum (also maintenance free) and many more….

What are your thoughts?  Which is your favorite kind of exterior fence?  Do you favor aesthetics over maintenance?  Or is having a fence that is durable and maintenance free more important that what it looks like?  And how important is the cost factor when it comes to fencing choices?  I can’t wait to hear….

* Keep in mind that before you install a fence, you will likely have to get your land surveyed so that you don’t position your new fence on your neighbor’s property.  If you don’t go through this surveying process, you could run into a situation that is both problematic and costly….