First, decide what matters
What do you need your fence to do?
More than one answer can apply. You might want privacy along a neighboring yard and an open fence facing a view. Ask installers whether different styles can meet cleanly at a corner or gate.
Create privacy
Start with solid wood or vinyl styles. Look at the fence from both sides and at an angle; gaps, lattice tops, and ground clearance all affect what you can see through it.
Ask: How will the fence follow the slope without leaving large openings?
Keep pets in the yard
Tell the installer about your pet’s size and any jumping, digging, or climbing habits. Check the openings between pickets, beneath panels, and around gates.
Ask: What gate latch and ground-gap options fit my pet?
Keep an open view
Compare aluminum, ornamental steel, picket, and chain-link styles. Stand where you use the yard most and decide which views you want to keep or screen.
Ask: Can I see a completed installation in this style?
Define the property
A decorative fence can mark a space without fully enclosing it. Confirm the boundary before settling on a location, including around driveways and sidewalks.
Ask: What information do you need to place the fence accurately?
Planning a fence around a pool?
A yard fence is not automatically a suitable pool barrier. Gate operation, openings, height, and the enclosure layout need specific attention. Confirm local requirements and review the CPSC’s pool barrier guidance with your installer.
Compare your options
Fence materials at a glance
Material is only part of the choice. The exact product, post system, installation, and gate hardware also affect how the finished fence works. Use this comparison to decide which options to request in your estimates.
Wood
Painted or stained finishes, traditional picket styles, and custom privacy layouts.
- Specify
- Wood species, board thickness, post material, spacing, and finish.
- Upkeep to discuss
- Cleaning, recoating, and replacing individual boards. Ask when the chosen wood can be finished.
- Before you choose
- Look at board spacing and both faces of the fence. Ask how the design allows for wood movement.
Vinyl
Privacy and picket styles in a consistent color, without a routine painting plan.
- Specify
- Manufacturer, product line, color, reinforcement, and gate construction.
- Upkeep to discuss
- Approved cleaning methods and the process for replacing damaged rails or panels.
- Before you choose
- Ask to see the actual product sample and how replacement parts and warranty claims are handled.
Aluminum & ornamental steel
An open boundary with narrow pickets and coordinated gate designs.
- Specify
- The actual metal, product grade, picket spacing, coating, and gate hardware.
- Upkeep to discuss
- Cleaning and manufacturer instructions for damaged coatings, corrosion, and replacement parts.
- Before you choose
- Ask how panels follow sloping ground and what openings will remain underneath.
Chain link
An open enclosure that keeps the yard visible through woven wire mesh.
- Specify
- Mesh size, wire gauge, coating, framework, height, and gate sizes.
- Upkeep to discuss
- Mesh tension, gate alignment, coating damage, and the bottom-edge detail.
- Before you choose
- If adding privacy screening, ask whether the system and posts are designed for it.
Composite and specialty fences are available too. Ask for specific product and installation details when comparing them.
The details you use every day
Plan the gates before the fence
Walk the proposed fence line and mark how you enter and leave the yard. A layout can look right on a sketch but make mowing, deliveries, or trash collection awkward.
Measure what needs to fit
Think about people, a mower, a wheelbarrow, and occasional equipment access. Ask for the clear opening between gate posts, not just the advertised gate size.
Check the swing
Decide which way each gate opens and where it rests. Review slopes, steps, landscaping, parked cars, and the latch position with the installer.
Account for changing ground
Ask whether panels will follow the slope or step down it. Have the installer show the expected bottom gaps on a drawing or a similar project.
Leave access for maintenance
Point out utility equipment, drainage routes, irrigation, and anything that may need servicing. Confirm access and clearance needs before setting posts.
Before you call
Give each installer the same project
Start with an approximate layout, preferred height and material, number of gates, and whether an old fence needs removal. Photos of the yard help explain access, slopes, and obstacles. Let the installer confirm final measurements.
What changes the price?
Fence length is one factor. Product specifications, post installation, gates, removal, ground conditions, access, and required approvals can change the total. Ask for these items in writing so you can see why estimates differ.
Request written estimates and ask contractors to explain differences in scope. The FTC’s contractor-hiring advice also recommends checking credentials and reviewing the agreement before committing.
Learn how to compare estimates →Common fence questions
Which fence should I choose for privacy?
Compare solid wood and vinyl designs first. Look at board or panel spacing, the top detail, and ground gaps. Height alone does not tell you how private a fence will feel from your patio or a neighboring window.
Can I use different fence types in the same yard?
Ask installers to draw the transitions and price the sections separately. A privacy section along one boundary and an open style elsewhere may fit your goals, subject to the rules for your property.
How many gates do I need?
List the routes you actually use and the largest equipment that needs access. Plan everyday entry separately from occasional wide access, then compare the cost and convenience of each layout.
What should I do before getting an estimate?
Collect a rough yard sketch, photos, preferred materials, gate needs, and any existing property documents. Use the installation checklist to identify questions about boundaries, approvals, and utilities.
Does an Owner verified badge mean the installer is vetted?
It means FenceSearch confirmed who can manage the listing. It does not certify licensing, insurance, or workmanship. Check those details directly before hiring. Read how owner verification works.