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If you are buying a fence for the first time, here's what you need to know:
The basic types of fence available are: wood fence, aluminum fence, vinyl fence (also called PVC fence), and chain link fence. There’s also a new composite fence available. Let's look at each type. Since wood fence has the most choices, we'll save that for last.
Composite Fencing
Composite materials are something new in the fence industry, but have been very successful in the deck industry. Composite materials are a combination of resin and wood flour. Although they are the most costly materials we offer, using composite products is the best way to get a truly custom maintenance free fence. The Fence Guys are proud to offer Timbertech composite fence materials. Just like their time tested deck products, this “plastic lumber” will always look new. Using Timbertech’s steel lined backrails, composite fence boards, and 5” posts, The Fence Guys can create a custom fence that will never decay.
Aluminum Fence
Aluminum fence is usually black, with thin pickets and rails, but is also available in white, bronze, green, and sandstone (beige). The Fence Guys offer 4 grades of Aluminum Fence, from residential grade to industrial grade. Aluminum fence is sometimes mistaken for wrought iron. The advantage aluminum fence has over iron or steel are that it is much less expensive and will never rust. It has a sophisticated look, and is priced between wood and vinyl.
Click here for aluminum fencing
Vinyl Fence
Vinyl fences are made of PVC plastic, and are often seen in white, although there are many color options available today, some which simulate the look of wood. Quality vinyl fencing will last and last. The Fence Guys offer a full line of vinyl fencing in a wide array of styles and colors that will be sure to meet your needs.
Vinyl is the most expensive of the fence materials, but worth every penny.Click here for vinyl fencing
Chain Link Fence
Chain link is the fence used around baseball fields and many schools. It is also used in most industrial applications. We offer chain link fence in many colors now, though it is still usually seen as galvanized steel posts with galvanized steel or green plastic coated fabric (mesh).
Chain link fence is one of the most affordable fences.Click here for chain link fencing
Wood Fence
There are four main categories of wood fence:
 Split Rail Fence
Affordable and natural, split rail fence can be installed with green or black coated "wire" to keep in children or pets, or to meet pool code.
 Post and Board Fence
Post and board fence is similar to split rail fence, but constructed with finished boards rather than split rails for a more refined look.
 Stockade Fence
The most affordable privacy fence, stockade fence is only available in spruce, and is not able to be customized.
- Custom Wood Fence
Available in red cedar with an estimated 20 year life span, or spruce, with an estimated 12 year life span, we build our custom wood fences to order right here at our Montgomeryville fabrication facility. This category includes spaced picket fence, solid board (privacy) fence, shadowbox fence, tongue and groove fence, and lattice-topped fence. There are many variables in designing a custom wood fence. Learn about them below, browse our gallery to look for a style you like, or call 215-591-1591 to schedule an appointment with one of our friendly fence consultants.
Click here for wood fencing.
Custom Wood Options
Want a simple picket fence? Call 215-591-1591 now and your Fence Guys fence consultant will fix you up in no time. If, however, you are interested in learning all there is to know about your custom wood fence options, keep reading.
Height
How high do you need your fence to be? Six feet high is good for privacy. Four feet high is good for keeping in dogs and kids without creating a fortress-like look, and meets most townships' pool codes. Standard fence heights are 3’, 4’, 5’, and 6’, but The Fence Guys will make your custom wood fence whatever height you need.
Section Top
Each section of your fence will be either straight, domed (convex), or scalloped (convcave). For properties with hills, straight top fence styles are best; domed and scalloped sections loose their shape when installed on hills.
Picket Top
Each picket, or vertical board, of your fence may be carved into one of 6 available shapes, or left flat at the top. Usually fences with straight section tops have carved picket tops, and domed and scalloped fences have flat picket tops.
Spacing Between Pickets
Do you want privacy? If so, you need a solid board fence. If you would like a more open look, you may choose a spaced picket fence. A 1 inch spacing will keep little hands out and provide a semi-private enclosure. A 1 ½” spacing is available if you’d like an open look but still need to meet pool code. Our typical spaced picket fence is a 2” spacing Pickets are typically spaced up to 2 inches apart, but larger spacing is available. Shadowbox fence has pickets staggered on either side of the back rail, creating a semi-private effect. Shadowbox is a “neighbor friendly” fence because it has boards on both sides.
Post Orientation
Here there are 3 options for wood posts, extended rail, face nailed, or toe nailed.
 Extended rail means that the sections are attached to the back of the post, and the post is exposed from the front, or good side, of the fence. Extended rail fences commonly have a carved or capped post top.
Face nailed means that the sections are attached to the front of the post. This, along with using a shorter post, makes the post hidden when looking at the front of the fence.
 Toe nailed means that the posts are sandwiched between the sections so that they are visible on both sides. This is how our Tongue and Groove fence is installed.
 There are also occasions where steel posts are preferred for strength or for applications involving concrete pads. These posts can be mounted in a “face nailed” fashion so they’re only visible on one side. We have “wood to steel” fittings available to attach the wood panels to the steel posts.
Post Top
If you choose an extended rail style, your post top will need a design. The same designs available for your picket tops are available for your post tops, along with 2 additional upgrades: pyramid caps or flat caps. French Gothic posts are the most commonly used. Some like to match their posts with their pickets.
Post width
The standard posts The Fence Guys use for our custom wood fence are pressure treated 4x4 posts. A 6x6 post provides strength for a heavy gate, or, coupled with a wood cap, adds a touch of class to your fence.
Toppers
 
Lattice is an elegant look for your fence. The Fence Guys offer lattice that is framed diagonally or square. Face boards along the front of your fence, and cap boards, along the very top of the fence, are more ways to dress up your design.
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