Insider Look: Ranking Backyard Fencing Options

In most cases, there’s a lot more that goes into finding the perfect fence than just selecting a picture from a catalog. Each of the most popular backyard fencing options excels in different areas and is attuned to different lifestyles or uses. To help you make the most informed decision about what matters to you, we’re ranking the best fence materials right here.

At Freedom Fence & Railing, we’re a Pittsburgh, PA Fence company that goes above and beyond with our installation and our service. Since we’re dedicated to helping our clients find the right fence for their needs, we’re sharing our unbiased rankings of aluminum, vinyl, and wooden fences. Keep reading to get the scoop on these three leading backyard fencing options – or talk to our team right now to get your quote and to see material samples!

 

Finding the Best Fence Materials for You: Aluminum, Vinyl, or Wood

All of these options are great and can be perfect for certain homeowners – that’s why we proudly install all three. The purpose of these rankings is to help you find the best fence material for you based on what you really care about. We’re breaking down how each of these fences fares in terms of maintenance needs, total lifespan, privacy potential, style options, and color choices:

 

Easiest to Own (Fewest Maintenance Needs)

1. Aluminum
2. Vinyl
3. Wood

While both vinyl and aluminum fences never require the serious maintenance that wooden fences need, aluminum takes the top spot. That’s because vinyl fences may need washed periodically with soap and water to look their best – whereas aluminum fences won’t even need that. Simply put, an aluminum fence is the number one backyard fencing option for those who care about convenience.

 

Longest Lifespan

1. Aluminum & Vinyl
2. Wood

Aluminum and vinyl fences are tied for the best fence material here. Since both of these deluxe fencing materials are 100% immune to rot, mold, and wear from the elements, you can expect them to last 50+ years and look great the entire time. Since wooden fences are a natural product, they don’t have all of the same protection and will only last around 15 years on average.

 

Most Style Variety

1. Vinyl
2. Wood
3. Aluminum

Style is subjective, so we can’t rank the best styles – just which fencing material offers the most different options. Vinyl fences come in a huge range of different styles, including open yard fences, full privacy fences, and picket options – all of which come with a variety of custom touches. Wooden fences have a strong variety as well. While aluminum fences may certainly have a striking style, most have a similar (albeit gorgeous) look with just a few differences among them!

Explore some of the most beautiful fences we’ve installed!

 

Most Color Variety  

1. Aluminum
2. Vinyl
3. Wood

You might not expect it but there are a staggering variety of aluminum fence colors from standards like black and bronze to options like silver and speckled walnut. While vinyl fences offer modest color variety, wooden fences simply offer the naturalistic color of stained wood.

 

Privacy Potential

1. Vinyl & Wood
2. Aluminum

Backyard privacy is one of the most important reasons that many people look into getting a fence in the first place. Both vinyl and wood come with dedicated privacy lines that make them tied for the best fencing material for backyard seclusion. These dedicated privacy models feature tall panels without any space between them to keep prying eyes away from your backyard. On the other hand, the reason aluminum fences are gaining popularity is their open and modern look that while attractive, is not suited to privacy.

Check out some of our favorite privacy fence designs.

 

Offering Aluminum & Vinyl Railings

While your fence may be your big home project for this year, your porch and deck railings deserve your attention, too. Just like with a new fence, upgraded railing systems will enhance the look of your space as well as provide you enhanced style and maintenance-free convenience. We offer lines of deluxe railings made of vinyl and aluminum – which boast many of the same benefits as their fence counterparts.

Trust us for your new outdoor railing installation.

 

Get Quotes on these Backyard Fencing Options

The right backyard fencing options depend so much on your needs, your backyard style, and your budget. That’s why we often recommend the homeowners we work with to get quotes from us on multiple styles of fences. If you’re interested in moving forward, the first step is to schedule a conversation with our experts. Not only will we able to give you free quotes and honest guidance for the best material for your project, but we’ll be able to show you sample materials as well.

Reach out right now to schedule a consultation!