Knowledge Builders

how tall is a white picket fence

by Thora Gutkowski PhD Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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A picket fence is generally 36 to 48 inches (91 to 122 cm) tall. A horizontal top rail and bottom rail are attached to fence posts, which are installed upright into the ground. Evenly spaced boards are affixed vertically to the rails.

How high is a typical backyard fence?

However, the purpose or location of the fence will determine how high a fence you install. Front yard fences are usually 3-feet high while backyard fences are much higher at 6-feet. You can use these commonly accepted fence heights to install your chain-link fence.

How much does picket fence cost?

Costs for this project will depend on the type of picket fence chosen, the size of the fence, and the amount of prep work needed. The cost to install a picket fence ranges between $1,600 and $2,200, with the average customer paying $1,981 to install a 100 linear foot Southern pine picket fence, including the installation of one gate.

What is the minimum height for a fence?

There is no set standard for residential fence height. However, each city has its own fence height regulations that you must adhere to. Common heights for front yard fences are around 3 feet, while common heights for backyard fences are between 6 and 8 feet. The height of your fence will be largely dependent on the purpose for the fence.

How tall should my fence be?

Common Fence Heights:

  • Front yard - 3 feet
  • Backyard - 6 feet
  • Pool fence - 4 feet
  • Deer fence - 8 feet

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How tall is a wood picket fence?

three to four feet tallMost picket fences are only three to four feet tall and sections are about eight feet wide.

What sizes do picket fences come in?

Common Height (Feet)3.5-ft(2)4-ft(10)5-ft(14)5.75-ft(14)6-ft(81)8-ft(21)12-ft(1)16-ft(1)

Is an 8 foot privacy fence too high?

If privacy is your main goal, you'll want a fence that is at least 6-feet high to prevent nosy neighbors or curious passers-by from peeking in. To be extra safe, choose a 7- or 8-foot high fence. Before you start building, however, double-check that local regulations allow you to build a fence to this height.

Is a 6 foot fence too high?

Fence Height and Permits Check any local laws, or if there are restrictions made by your homeowner's association before getting your fence installed. Typically, fences can't be taller than 4 ft. for your front yard, and can't be taller than 6 ft.

How high is a standard picket fence?

A picket fence is generally 36 to 48 inches (91 to 122 cm) tall. A horizontal top rail and bottom rail are attached to fence posts, which are installed upright into the ground. Evenly spaced boards are affixed vertically to the rails.

What is the best height for a picket fence?

How tall should they be? A fence 3 to 4 feet tall makes for a nice barrier from the street. For fences enclosing a pool, code requires a minimum height of 4 feet.

What is the legal height of a fence between Neighbours?

The laws actually state that a fence can be as high as 100 meters. However, this is only allowed if proper planning permits have been obtained. This means that any fence under 2 meters in height does not require a permit.

Who owns the fence between two houses?

When looking at the plans, the ownership is indicated by a “T” marked on the plans on one side of a boundary. If the “T” is written on your side of the boundary, you're responsible for maintaining it. If there's an H (although actually it's two joined Ts) the boundary is the joint responsibility of both parties.

How can I make my fence taller for privacy?

3:0010:11How To Make A Fence Taller For Privacy ? Fence Extension IdeasYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse a metal fence post extender. This is essentially a sleeve that wraps around your fence post. AndMoreUse a metal fence post extender. This is essentially a sleeve that wraps around your fence post. And addition for easy height extension. This isn't the cheapest. Solution.

What is a good neighbor style fence?

A neighbor-friendly fence, sometimes called a good neighbor fence, describes a fence style that looks the same on both sides. While traditional fences have a “good side” and a back side, a good neighbor fence provides both neighbors with an equal view.

Do I need my Neighbours permission to put up a fence?

You will need to apply for planning permission if you wish to erect or add to a fence, wall or gate where: it would be over 1 metre high and fronting a road used by vehicles (or the footpath of such a road) or over 2 metres high elsewhere.

How tall is a typical privacy fence?

You might build a privacy fence so nosy neighbors can't see into your yard. A privacy fence would be solid material (wood or vinyl), and you'd want it to be as high as possible, most likely six feet high.

What size do pickets come in?

Pickets are the vertical members of a wood fence. Pickets can be installed tight to each other or with a space between them. Typically, pickets are 3 1/2" wide, 5 1/2" or as much as 11 1/2" wide, if you are going to use dimensional kiln-dried lumber.

How do you measure a fence for a picket?

To calculate pickets, decide the width and spacing of your pickets. Add the width and the spacing together to get the combined width. Change the length of your fence to inches to match the picket measurements. Divide the fence length by the total picket width to get the number of pickets needed.

How many pickets come in a bundle at Home Depot?

240 picketsQ:How much is a bundle? If the bundle is about 240 pickets at 6" each. Q:how many of these are in a bundle? A: Most likely, 240 pieces, depending on your location.

What is the standard size of a fence post?

The lumber industry defines standard wood post sizes as 4x4 or 6x6. The outside dimensions of the standard 4x4 measure 3-1/2" x 3-1/2", and the outside dimensions of the standard 6x6 measure 5-1/2" x 5-1/2".

What is a picket fence?

Picket fences consist of vertical “pickets” that are usually pointed at the top with two horizontal boards attaching the pickets and space left between each picket. Because of these spaces, the main goal of a picket fence is not to provide privacy but rather to add curb appeal. They also work well to keep children and pets contained, and they mix well with some clever gardening.

What is the best material for a picket fence?

If you don’t want to handle the high maintenance requirements of wood, then vinyl is a nice alternative. Vinyl fences have all the appeal of a wood picket fence without the demanding maintenance requirements. Some homeowners choose to make their own wood pickets if they desire a taller fence; the downside of a vinyl fence is that it does not afford the same luxury.

How tall is a picket fence?

A picket fence is generally 36 to 48 inches (91 to 122 cm) tall. A horizontal top rail and bottom rail are attached to fence posts, which are installed upright into the ground. Evenly spaced boards are affixed vertically to the rails. These boards with pointed tops are called "pickets" for their resemblance to the pointed stakes historically used by infantry to repel cavalry.

What is a picket fence made of?

Traditionally picket fences were made out of wood and painted white ( or whitewashed ), but now picket fences are also widely available in polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Why are picket fences so popular?

Picket fences are particularly popular in the United States, with the white picket fence coming to symbolize the ideal middle-class suburban life.

What is the best material for picket fences?

Historically, wood has been the most popular material used for picket fences. This wood can be untreated, treated, or naturally insect and rot resistant. Available non-wood options include vinyl (PVC) and aluminum.

What is the meaning of the phrase "picket fence"?

Botticelli shows a picket fence in his painting Agony in the Garden, painted c. 1500. The phrase "picket fence" also describes text without spaces between words. Such texts are very common in Old Latin, with documents often lacking both spaces and punctuation.

When did cricket fields start being surrounded by fences?

Until the introduction of advertising on fences in the 1980s, cricket fields were usually surrounded by picket fences, giving rise to the expression "rattling the pickets" for a ball hit firmly into the fence .

How high are pickets?

The picket shapes are generally limited to versions of the traditional spear. Powder-coated metal panels tend to be closer to 6 feet high. Composite materials come in shorter, 6-foot-long panels, to keep weight down. Set the posts, then fasten panels in place. MATERIAL OPTIONS: wood, metal, and composite.

What is a row of white pickets?

Shown: a row of white pickets marks the front yard's boundary while allowing views from the street and the porch.

Why White?

In early America, affluent colonists preserved their fences with creamy-white paint or whitewash, a mixture of lime and water, to match the home's trim color, which through the Greek Revival period usually meant white . Then, in the mid-1840s, Victorian homeowners, with access to a broader range of paint colors, began coating fences in park-bench green or brown to blend in with the landscape. When the Colonial Revival style arrived in the early 20th century, white came back into vogue on new suburban homes—and pickets became an icon.

What is a hollow picket?

VINYL: Hollow pickets attach to or go through rails for a lightweight fence that never needs painting. Vinyl's white color tries to mimic painted wood, but the material's glossy finish is unmistakable.

What helped make the white picket fence an American staple?

Shown: The postwar Cape Cod helped make the white picket fence an American staple.

Why did the colonists build a picket fence?

Like so many old-house details, the picket fence has roots planted squarely in utility: Colonists built them to keep chickens in the yard and to protect the garden. Then, as they are wont to do, the carpenters came along and, armed with pattern books, started introducing new details to the wood parts.

How much does a picket cost?

What do they cost? Depending on style and species, 3½-foot-tall panels of wood pickets run $3.40 to $50 per linear foot, not including installation. Vinyl or aluminum versions cost $5 to $12.60.

What is a white picket fence?

White picket fences are traditional in style, but can also incorporate more modern elements, such as arbors or curved top edges. I’ve explored some of the most interesting white picket fence ideas, so you can see how easy it is to match it with every yard and house style out there.

Why use vinyl picket fence?

Choose a vinyl picket fence for enhanced durability, as they are more resistant to water compared to other types of fences and materials. Plus, this beauty can really increase the value of your property, should you ever decide to sell. Dig into other vinyl fence ideas for your yard over at illusionsfence.com.

Is a white picket fence good for the long run?

Surrounding your yard with a white picket fence is practical, visually appealing, a durable option in the long run, and quite inexpensive. Giving your white fence a fresh coat of paint or fixing any damage that may occur over time is a very small investment, compared to how dreamy your landscape can look if you choose this particular style.

5 Surprising Benefits Of A White Picket Fence

When you hear the term white picket fence it can conjure up an image of the old American dream.

1. Robust Quality Material

You can still have a traditional wooden painted picket fence but modern materials, like vinyl, can provide more robust options.

2. Stylish While Functional

When you visualize a white picket fence, you think of a low fence with a view of a manicured lawn.

3. Easy To Install

One of the prime benefits of a white picket fence is how easy they are to install.

4. Inexpensive

Modern technology and innovations have meant that the new fencing materials such as vinyl are relatively inexpensive.

5. Adding Value To Your Property

Your fence is one of the first things that anyone approaching your property sees.

White Picket Fences Are Awesome

Who would have known that the humble white picket fence had so many benefits?

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The Purpose of Picket Fences

Size Matters

  • The mark of a privacy fence is that it is solid and tall to block as much view as possible. Because a picket fence is not solid and therefore not meant to provide privacy, it is also not made to be very tall. Most picket fences are only three to four feet tall and sections are about eight feet wide.
See more on fencesnewportnews.com

Use The Right Materials

  • For all of America’s history, wood has traditionally been the fencing material of choice. While wood does have a one-of-a-kind natural beauty, it does have to be protected from mold and moisture damage as well as consistently repainted or restained. If you don’t want to handle the high maintenance requirements of wood, then vinyl is a nice alternative. Vinyl fences have all th…
See more on fencesnewportnews.com

Get in Touch with Hercules Fence Today

  • Hercules Fencehas experience with nearly every type of residential and commercial fencing material imaginable, from wood and aluminum to chain link, vinyl, steel, and even temporary fencing. We have developed a reputation for quality work and fair, competitive prices. Hercules Fence is ready to serve you from six convenient locations. We have offices in Manassas, Richm…
See more on fencesnewportnews.com

Overview

Picket fences are a type of fence often used decoratively for domestic boundaries, distinguished by their evenly spaced vertical boards, the pickets, attached to horizontal rails. Picket fences are particularly popular in the United States, with the white picket fence coming to symbolize the ideal middle-class suburban life.

Design

A picket fence is generally 36 to 48 inches (91 to 122 cm) tall. A horizontal top rail and bottom rail are attached to fence posts, which are installed upright into the ground. Evenly spaced boards are affixed vertically to the rails. These boards with pointed tops are called "pickets" for their resemblance to the pointed stakes historically used by infantry to repel cavalry.
Picket fences can be made of several types of materials. Historically, wood has been the most p…

History

Picket fences are particularly popular in the United States, where the style has been used since America's earliest colonial era and remains popular today. Pickets were historically sharpened logs used to defend positions and used as such by early colonists. Now they are a decorative way to contain pets and children without blocking views, and are used around both front and back yards. Traditionally picket fences were made out of wood and painted white (or whitewashed), but now p…

Installation

The first step in installing a picket fence is to insert the posts into the ground. Traditionally this is done by digging deep holes (usually 36 inches (91 cm) x 12 inches (30 cm)) either manually or with a power auger. The posts are then placed upright into the ground and concrete is poured to cement them into place. Once they are set, the horizontal rails are affixed to the posts using fast…

Symbolism

A picket fence, ideally white, has iconic status as Americana, symbolizing the ideal middle-class suburban life, with a family and children, large house, and peaceful living. This stems from the fact that houses in quiet, middle-class neighborhoods often have yards enclosed by picket fences. In recent years, some people have associated picket fences with what they regard as the more negative aspects of this lifestyle. For example, the director David Lynch uses ironic images of th…

In popular culture

• Botticelli shows a picket fence in his painting Agony in the Garden, painted c. 1500.
• The phrase "picket fence" also describes text without spaces between words. Such texts are very common in Old Latin, with documents often lacking both spaces and punctuation.

See also

• Temporary fencing
• Polyvinyl chloride
• Lawn
• Get off my lawn

1.Videos of How Tall Is a White Picket Fence

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27 hours ago  · The standard height of wooden picket fences is about 40 inches. The panels are about 96 inches wide and are spread out evenly throughout the property. These fences are …

2.How Tall Should a Picket Fence Be? - Hercules Fence …

Url:https://www.fencesnewportnews.com/blog/how-tall-should-a-picket-fence-be/

21 hours ago A fence 3 to 4 feet tall makes for a nice barrier from the street. For fences enclosing a pool, code requires a minimum height of 4 feet.

3.Picket fence - Wikipedia

Url:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picket_fence

33 hours ago How tall should a white picket fence be? Traditionally, a picket fence is about three to four feet tall (if taller than four feet, a picket fence starts to look like a barricade) with 1 × 3 or 1 × 4 …

4.All About Picket Fences - This Old House

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5 hours ago This attractive fence is a custom designed framed picket fence and is about 4 1/2 feet tall. The outside and inside of the fence are framed at the top and bottom and there is a running cap on …

5.Tall Picket Fence - Photos & Ideas | Houzz

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13 hours ago  · This short, alternating height white picket fence is the perfect way to feature those beautiful roses — sure to astonish all those who pass by this amazing example of what a …

6.Top 32 White Picket Fence Ideas for 2022 - A Nest With A …

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32 hours ago  · A three-foot high picket fence (or even higher) is still relatively cheap to install when compared with other fencing options. These cheaper upfront installation costs are not …

7.5 Surprising Benefits Of A White Picket Fence

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21 hours ago

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