The Different Types of White Picket Fences

• White picket fences add classic charm and functional privacy. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

  White picket fences are a classic landscape addition that adds charm to your outdoor living space. White picket fences share the same general style of posts and pickets, but you have some flexibility when it comes to the material, size and style of your white picket fence. Opt for a fence that suits your budget, your needs and your aesthetic to choose the precise picket fence for your home.

Material

• Classic picket fences are made from wooden slats and posts that are both weather treated and whitewashed with an exterior paint. Pressure treated pine is a common option for white picket fences because it is resistant to both insect and weather damage. Other woods like cedar are also options for picket fences, but they are largely valued for their natural coloring, which isn't relevant if you plan to paint the fence white. More modern white picket fencing materials includes white vinyl picket fencing. Vinyl is growing in popularity because it is easy to maintain and not prone to breaking or damage. Both wooden and vinyl white picket fences are available in a wide range of sizes and styles.

Size

• The size of your fence is determined by two factors. The most obvious factor is the size of the perimeter of the area you want to enclose with a white picket fence. Picket fences are usually incorporated into the front of homes to add curb appeal and establish a border against the road of sidewalk, but you may also choose a white picket fence to enclose your backyard pool or patio area. The second factor in determining size is the amount of privacy you want your fence to provide. Both the height of the fence and the amount of space between each slat impacts the degree of privacy that your fence offers. If you don't want to obscure the view of your home, select a 4-foot high fence with 3- to 4-inch slats placed 4 to 5 inches apart. Privacy fences are typically as high as 7 or 8 feet and feature white slats placed much closer together or touching.

Profiles

• Both the profiles of the boards and the style of posts determines the style of a white picket fence. The simplest profile for slats is the flat top board with 90-degree corners; pair flat slats with equally simplistic posts to create a modern, understated design. If you want a bit more distinction without distraction, dogeared posts feature flattened corners rather than sharp corners. The classic option for white picket fence posts is the Gothic pointed post that curves into a gentle point at the top. French Gothic profiles are the most elaborate options for white picket fence posts and feature an additional semicircular cut at the base of the Gothic point. Posts may also be topped with decorative caps in the shapes of flattened pyramids or balls to add style to the support posts.

Styles

• Though you can combine any style of posts and slats to create a personalized fence, some standard options provide a bit of direction when designing your fence. One option for adding personal style to your white picket fence is to top the fence with a 12-inch wide panel of lattice work. Lattice work adds height to your fence without completely obscuring the view of your home. Incorporate a barn gate into your white picket fence to provide a distinctive focal point as well as a clear entrance to your front walkway or backyard pathway. A simple way to vary your white picket fence is to opt for different size slats in each section of fence; arrange the shortest slats in the center and the taller slats on the edges to create a gentle slope and curve down your landscape.