The picket fence has come to metaphorically define comfort and stability for many homeowners, so no wonder it's still so continuously popular, and no wonder you're perusing this guide so you can build your own! Read on for some top sellers and tips, from expert Bob Vila himself!
Fence Parts
Sure they look cute, but a lot goes into even a simple fence.
* Boards: come in different widths and styles.
** The classic white picket fence is known for the Gothic style.
** Other styles are dog ear, flat top and French Gothic.
** Dog ear and flat top styles are common in modern picket fences, shadow box fences and tonguegroove fences.
* Posts: these have dual uses.
** Used for support.
** Used aesthetically for design.
** Can be as tall as the boards or taller, usually with caps to top them off.
** Posts come in these styles:
*** Rounded body, medium
*** Squares body, medium
*** Beveled body, medium
*** Rough-hewn body, medium
* Caps: attached to the tops of posts for aesthetic purposes. Kind of like why we wear hats.
** Styles include:
*** Modern body, medium
*** Victorian body, medium
*** Classical body, medium
*** Colonial body, medium
*** Gothic body, medium
Fence Care Tips
You don't want your fence to start chipping and falling apart: it would make your house seem more haunted than homey.
* Paint your fence whenever spring has sprung. Before you do, however, remove paint that's stripping off with a wire brush and then smooth your boards or posts with sandpaper.
** Use a latex primer and latex paint. Latex is the ideal paint to let moisture in to make your fence look natural.
* Replacing boards or pickets shouldn't be too hard.
** You can use a claw hammer or screwdriver to remove them, depending on what kind of fastener holds the boards to the railings.
** Simply replace it with a new board or picket.
