Pick Your Fence
Fence Types We Build in Richmond, VA, and How to Choose
Wood, vinyl, aluminum and chain link are the four fence types we build in Richmond, and each one fences a yard differently. Wood gives you the most privacy for the money and can be stained any color you like. Vinyl costs more up front, but it asks almost nothing of you afterward. Aluminum keeps a view open, so it suits pools and front yards. Finally, chain link is the budget-friendly workhorse for big runs, dog yards and commercial sites. Below is how each one holds up in Central Virginia weather, what drives its price, and which properties it suits best.
Side by side
Fence Materials Compared
Here is how the four fence types stack up on the things homeowners ask about most. Lifespan and cost are relative, because footage, height, gates and ground change every job.
| Material | Best for | Privacy | Maintenance | Lifespan in Virginia | Relative installed cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | Backyards and full privacy | Solid, in privacy styles | Stain or seal every few years | Moderate; sealing extends it | Moderate |
| Vinyl | Low-maintenance privacy | Solid, in privacy styles | Rinse with a hose | Long | Higher |
| Aluminum | Pools, front yards, keeping a view | Open pickets; semi-privacy panels available | Almost none | Longest | Higher |
| Chain link | Dog yards, large properties, commercial | Open mesh | Almost none | Long | Lowest |
Every yard prices differently, so the only way to compare real costs is a quote. Get a fast, free quote for the materials you are weighing.
Find your style
Which Fence Material Fits Your Yard?
Each card below covers one of the fence types we build: its styles, the usual heights and a recent project from our crews. Then pick one to see more photos and styles.
Richmond
Wood Fences
All of our wood fences are custom built or stick built on-site. We tailor-fit the fence into the landscape, leaving no gaps under the fence. Popular styles include dog ear and cap and trim privacy, lattice top privacy, horizontal semi-privacy, classic picket and farm paddock fencing.
Most privacy styles go up at 6 feet, but picket styles stay lower for front yards. Wood also follows sloped and odd-shaped lots well, and a stain or sealer every few years keeps it ahead of humid Virginia summers. For a Hopewell waterfront home, we ran 6 foot pressure-treated pine dog ear privacy along the side lines and stepped it down to 4 feet toward the river.
Richmond
Vinyl Fences
Vinyl fences are long-lasting, low maintenance, and specifically engineered to retain freshly painted appearances for decades. We build vinyl in cap and trim privacy, lattice top privacy, classic picket, cross buck and farm paddock styles, in white, tan or two-tone.
Privacy styles usually stand 6 feet tall, like the tan vinyl privacy fence we built in Henrico for a shaded backyard. Vinyl also never needs paint or stain. So after a wet Virginia spring, a rinse with a garden hose is all it takes to clear pollen and mildew.
Richmond
Aluminum Fences
Aluminum provides a maintenance-free fence, removing the need for painting, material treatment, or prepping. It keeps a view open, so it suits pools, front yards and lots that back onto woods or water. Styles include classic picket, pool surrounding, ornamental, capped and semi-privacy panels, with matching gates built on-site.
Because aluminum will not rust or rot, Virginia humidity is no problem. For a new build in Chester, we set a 4 foot black Siskin style fence with three rails and spear-point pickets. The property line is now clear, and the treeline still shows through.
Richmond
Chain Link Fences
Chain link fencing is exceptionally durable and cost-effective and the most popular fencing for both residential and commercial properties. As a result, it is the budget-friendly choice for long runs, dog yards, large properties and business lots.
Black-coated mesh also blends into lawns and tree lines better than bare metal. For example, we ran black-coated chain link along the 18-hole course at Brandermill Country Club so the fence fades into the fairways. Once it is up, chain link needs almost no upkeep, which keeps the long-term cost low too.
Richmond
Concrete Services
From poured patios and durable driveways to stamped showpieces. Learn more about our concrete services.
Still deciding?
How Do You Choose the Right Fence?
Start with the job the fence has to do, then pick the fence type that does it best.
- Privacy: wood or vinyl in a solid privacy style.
- Low upkeep: vinyl or aluminum.
- A pool, a front yard or a view to keep: aluminum.
- A big run, a dog yard or a business lot on a budget: chain link.
Then your budget, any HOA rules and the lay of the land narrow it down. Our estimator will walk the property with you and point out what fits.
Common Questions About Fence Types
Which fence gives the most privacy?
Solid wood or vinyl gives the most privacy. When built at 6 feet, the usual backyard privacy height, either one blocks the view from the yard next door. Wood costs less up front, while vinyl needs less upkeep later.
Which fence is cheapest to install?
Chain link is usually the cheapest fence to install. That is because the materials cost less than wood, vinyl or aluminum, and long runs go up quickly. Footage, height, gates and ground still set the final price, so a free quote is the best way to compare.
Which fence needs the least maintenance?
Vinyl and aluminum need the least maintenance. Vinyl wants an occasional rinse with a hose, and aluminum needs almost nothing. Wood, on the other hand, needs a stain or sealer every few years to stay ahead of moisture.
How long does fence installation take?
Most installs take 1 to 2 days once the crew is on site. However, large properties and commercial runs can take longer.
Still not sure which fence fits?
Our estimator will walk your property and give you a fast, free quote, no obligation.
Serving Richmond, Mechanicsville, Chesterfield, Henrico, Glen Allen, Midlothian & all of Central Virginia · Family owned since 2006