Updated 7/29/26
Picket fencing is a popular style choice for homeowners because it meets an abundance of needs in a charming way. More than 40 years of experience in the industry has taught us that wood and vinyl picket fencing makes great perimeter fencing, pet fencing, pool fencing, and garden fencing. If you are looking for a fence that’s effective and looks great, picket fencing may be for you!
This particular style choice is also great because it can be tailored down to the smallest detail. You may be surprised at just how many design options we have available! Everything from material, height, color, picket style and size, and post style are customizable. Feel free to choose from all the options we have to create a fence that will be the perfect solution for your home.
Wood or Vinyl?
Wood is a wonderful natural material that has suited the fencing needs of homeowners for hundreds of years. Wooden picket fencing is slightly more customizable than vinyl with more picket and post style options to choose from. Our wood material options include pressure treated pine and premium western red cedar. Our treated pine has a life span of about 10-15 years, which is pretty good for a fence! Our cedar, on the other hand, is trusted to last 20 or even 30 years!
Our vinyl picket fencing material is a different story in terms of lifespan. How would you like to buy a fence that will last for the rest of your life? That is pretty much the value that vinyl fencing gives you. Vinyl also gives you many lasting color options without needing to use any paint or stain.
Depending on your needs and price point, we will be able to guide your decision to the material that is right for you!
pictured here are very similar picket fence styles in wood vs. vinyl.
Wood Picket and Post Styles
Before we discuss posts and pickets, let’s differentiate between the two when it comes to this type of fencing. Posts are the 4″x4″ or 6″x6″ support structures that go into the ground. The posts bare the weight of the entire fence. Pickets are the smaller vertical pieces that are located in between each post. These make up the majority of the fence. Runners are attached horizontally between each post. The pickets are secured to the runners.
Wood pickets come in a variety of styles. You can change the whole look of your fence just by changing the shape of the picket top. The Williamsburg is basic with its straight smooth top. If you want something more decorative, consider the Fredericktown or Victorian picket. The Seneca is a great “in between” option with its subtle dog-ear shape.
There are also a variety of post options to choose from. Some of them match the shape of a picket style with the same name. Feel free to mix and match to fit your style. Your Frederick Fence sales representative can show you example photos, plus give you ideas and suggestions. The following diagram also shows a couple of different sizes, which serve different purposes for certain fence needs. Gates, along with extremely tall wood fences, require 6×6 posts for additional stability. Line posts are usually 4×4’s otherwise.
Vinyl Picket and Post Styles
Vinyl picket and post options are pictured below. Again, not as vast as our wood options. Picket tops and post caps are secured with vinyl glue, which uses chemicals to essential melt the materials and bind them two together. Remember, you will have this fence for a very long time, so be sure to pick something you will really like!
Space Board Picket
Our space board picket fences do not have any picket caps. Rather, each section is topped with one horizonal trim or cap board. Space board picket fences, specifically vinyl, are a popular pool code compliant fence option.
Classic or Contemporary Pickets
Contemporary pickets are wide and flat in design. Classic pickets are much smaller and square in shape. Both classic and contemporary picket options are available in wood and vinyl material. it is not possible to shape classic picket tops in all the style options previously mentioned, but you can choose to have wood pickets cut flat, pointed, or slanted. Classic pickets fences can also be straight, dip top, or arch top. See below for more on this. . .
Straight, Dipped, or Arched?
Picket fences can be straight along the top line of each section, dipped in the center, or arched in the center. Both wood and vinyl fences can have these characteristics. You can even customize the amount of dip or arch you would like! Some fences are dipped or arched more than others to create different looks.
Completely Customizable
Tell us how to build the vinyl or wood picket fence you want! Everything we mentioned and more can be customized to fit your specific needs and style. The sky is the limit . . . but not literally because most municipalities have a height restriction.
If you’re ready to get a free on-site estimate, call the office at 301-663-4000 and set up an appointment today! We look forward to hearing from you!
Written by Laura Braden, 7-year Frederick Fence Co. team member.
