Horizontal fences are all the rage - not only are they sturdy and sophisticated, but they’re also a classic, allowing your house to have a modern, residential feel. We are one of the oldest and largest fencing companies in the country, and we have countless experiences dealing with horizontal fences. With decades of experience working with horizontal fences, we know exactly what you need for your house, so you can rest assured knowing your horizontal fence material is in good hands.
But what are horizontal fences? Basically, there are two types of fences: a horizontal fence and a vertical fence. The vertical fence is what people normally think of when they think of a fence - wooden vertical slats that are connected with two wooden strips. This look is standard - and boring - which is why homeowners often look toward horizontal fencing. A horizontal fence is when the slats of a fence are horizontally laid out, connected via sparsely distributed vertical slats. Horizontal fences tend to be sturdier, to look rustic and classic, and to provide a unique look to your residence.
A very common type of horizontal fence is a split rail fence. Split rail fencing is also known as log fencing, zigzag fencing, or snake fencing because of how it looks. Split rail fencing is very common in agricultural areas because they are traditionally constructed with timber, which is more easily accessible in rural areas. Split rail fences are also easy to assemble, as there are very limited tools required to assemble split rail fences. Because wood rots easily in split rail fences, we highly recommend constructing this type of fence with vinyl, which is just as easy to assemble.
A second very common type of horizontal fence is the vinyl post fence. Very similar to the split rail fence, the vinyl post fence has three slats instead of the 2 found in split rail fences. Vinyl post fencing is also incredibly easy to assemble, with very few tools.
Both types of horizontal fencing have a lot of advantages, outlined below.
Delineate Your Property
A horizontal fence is a great way to delineate your property in a clean and sophisticated manner. Some people choose to add hedges or trees at the end of their property, but a horizontal fence provides a more succinct and clear-cut look. Because of the shape, size, and versatility of a horizontal fence, you can use a horizontal fence as a boundary. Avoid a lot of property disputes, trespassing issues, and other land issues by clearly outlining where you property ends and your neighbor’s starts. Just make sure that when you are planning and assembling your horizontal fence, you look back at the original deed to the land, in order to ensure that you are outlining all of your property, without encroaching on your neighbor’s. Our vinyl horizontal fencing lasts a long time, so you want to make sure that you get it right the first time.
Simplicity Leads to Better Security
Because of the simplistic nature of the horizontal fence, you can easily notice trespassers or intruders. You can quite easily see what’s happening in and around your property. Horizontal fences are not large or fancy, which works well for you to be aware of what is happening. If you feel like you want to keep the visibility but want some added security, we recommend adding a wire mesh to your horizontal fence. With the wire mesh, you can maintain the clean visibility, simplistic nature, and security of a horizontal fence.
Follows Your Land’s Curves
Unlike vertical fencing, which requires straight lines, horizontal fencing is very easy to construct to follow your land’s curves. Traditional vertical fencing needs to stop at a corner in order to turn in a different direction, but because of the design and mechanism of a horizontal fence, you can easily twist and turn your horizontal fence the way your property needs you to. With horizontal fencing, it does not matter if you have hills or bumps in your land - as long as 1/3 of the post is in the ground, the rest of the horizontal fence can adjust to your land. Horizontal fencing can also be installed if you have hard or rocky ground, which is unusual for fencing. Overall, a horizontal fence is flexible but strong, making it an ideal choice for your property.
Easy to Assemble Yourself
Fencing Direct provides high-quality material for fencing that will last for years to come. The first step in assembling a horizontal fence is to acquire all materials. Horizontal fencing is easy to assemble yourself, so first, order the material from us, and we can help you decide how much material you need and what type of material you will need. The second step is to designate which posts will be corner posts and which posts will be end posts. Most of the rest of your posts will be line posts, which will be used to support the horizontal fencing around your property. The next step will be to figure out where you want to dig the holes for your posts; one-third of your post will be in the ground, with the first hole about six inches above the ground.
A key important detail is that you will want to use wire to initially connect your posts, so that you will know where the line posts will be. You will want to plant your end posts first, so that the rest of the fence falls into order simply.
Vinyl is More Durable Than Wood
The reality is that wood rots - and quickly - so we highly recommend vinyl fencing for your horizontal fence. If you want your fence to last as long as your home, then invest in a vinyl fence. Especially if you have livestock, which like to chew on wooden fences, it is important to ensure that the material of your fence will be durable and long-lasting. A major advantage of vinyl is that it is flexible, so it also is more capable of adapting to your land’s needs. We stand behind our vinyl, which is always the best quality.
Overall, horizontal fencing is easy to assemble, provides a classic and rustic look, and is long-lasting. We stand behind all of our fencing materials because we know that you deserve the best quality materials for your home.
