The right fence depends on what it's for, what your HOA allows, and how much upkeep you're willing to do in Florida sun and rain. Here's how the common ones hold up.
Wood
Pressure-treated pine is the cheapest privacy fence and the most common. It looks good new, then it needs staining or sealing every couple of years or it goes gray and starts to check. Rain, humidity and termites are all hard on it. Cedar holds up better and costs more. Expect to replace pickets over time, and plan on the posts being the first thing to go if they weren't set in concrete.
Vinyl (PVC)
The low-maintenance privacy option. No painting, no rot, no termites. Hose it off when it gets green streaks. It costs more than pine up front and it's popular with HOAs because it stays uniform. The downsides: it can crack from a hard hit (a mower, a falling branch), and a section can't be repaired with a picket and a nail. Cheaper vinyl also gets brittle with age.
Aluminum
The open picket fence you see around pools. Doesn't rust, doesn't need painting, and it's what pool-barrier rules usually push you toward. No privacy at all. Good for front yards, pools and anywhere you want to keep a dog in without blocking the view.
Chain link
The cheapest way to keep a dog in a yard. Long-lasting and easy to fix. Not much to look at, and a lot of HOAs don't allow it. Black-coated chain link disappears into the landscape better than the plain galvanized kind.
Composite
Wood-look boards made from plastic and wood fiber. Looks like wood, needs no staining, and holds up well. It's the most expensive of the lot and heavy, so it needs strong posts.
Florida things to know
- Wind. A solid privacy fence catches a lot of wind. Post depth and concrete matter more here than in most places.
- Pools. Florida has pool-barrier rules on fence height, gaps and self-closing, self-latching gates. If the fence is doing pool duty, the design has to follow them.
- HOAs. Many limit height, material and color, and want approval before work starts. Get that going early.
- Permits. Most cities and counties want one for a fence. We'll check the rules for your address.
- Property lines. Your survey shows them. Guessing is how fences end up on the neighbor's land.