Choosing a Fence: Material, Height, and the Rules Nobody Reads

Most fence regret is not about the material chosen but about a rule missed beforehand: a height limit, a boundary line, or a shared-cost agreement with a neighbour. Settle those first, then choose the material.

Check before you buy anything

• Local height limits, which are often lower for front-facing than side or rear boundaries.
• The actual boundary line — a survey or deed plan, not the existing fence, which may already sit on the wrong side.
• Whether the finished side is required to face the neighbour's property, which is standard courtesy in many areas and a rule in some.
• Utility lines before digging any post holes.

Material comparison

Post spacing and depth decide durability more than the panels do

Posts set less than a third of their above-ground height into the soil rack loose within a few years, and this is the single most common fence failure regardless of the material chosen for the panels. Standard practice is one third of the total post length below grade, set in concrete, with a gravel base beneath the post to let water drain away from the end grain.

Shared boundary fences

Where a fence sits exactly on a shared boundary, many jurisdictions treat it as jointly owned regardless of who paid, which means both neighbours technically need to agree on removal or major changes even years later. A conversation and a simple written agreement before building avoids most future disputes.