Are Timber Picket Fences Making a Comeback?

There is something so iconic about the wooden picket fence.

It evokes the aura of times past, when neighbours leaned over them to share lemonade and gossip. Their elegant design make them suitable for most home designs, and they are likely to fit in yards of any shape.

It isn't too much of a surprise then that they were very popular in urban homes in Australia early in the 20th century.

Wooden Picket Fence History

Actually, the picket fence goes further back than 1900.

Prior to 1851, residential property boundaries were marked out with 6 feet tall stringy-bark palings, but then people started importing designs for light timber-frame buildings and picket fences from America.

It became wildly popular before 1869 because they were well-matched to homes and were easy to put up.

The vertical pickets were 91 to 122 cm tall and attached to two horizontal rails. Posts held the horizontal rails in place. These early fences were made of split timbers and were generally flat or v-shaped on top.

Garden Design Trends Changed in the 20th Century

Picket fences remained popular for the first couple decades of the 1900s, but trends changed.

New technology, such as cheap, prefabricated metal rails and chain links, started edging the picket fence out of popularity by the middle of the 20th century.

They were never completely phased out, but suburban and urban homes increasingly were built without them.

Timber Picket Fences Make a Comeback in Modern Garden Design

Then trends changed again. As people move into older inner suburban homes, they often realise that these houses would look perfect with a timber picket fence.

This is especially true when the homeowner realises that they can paint the pickets to match the house or stain them in attractive hues.

These new picket fences transform the older homes into little sanctuaries, framing the front of the home and creating welcoming focal points in yards.

Inner suburban homes with them look more like traditional homes from a simpler era.

Picket fences are still easy to build. You only need nail guns and wooden planks.

If you would like to make your home look like a classic suburban home from the turn-of-the-century, contact us here at Narangba Timbers for help and advice on your project. We will only be too pleased to help you out.