Few fences suit Main Line architecture as naturally as a picket fence. Along a porch in Narberth, in front of a Victorian in Wayne or around a cottage garden behind a stone colonial, a well-proportioned picket fence adds charm without hiding the house. At 76 FENCE Main Line, we install picket fences in cedar, pressure-treated pine and vinyl, and we pay close attention to the details that make them look right: spacing, post caps, gate placement and how the line meets the sidewalk, driveway and house.
What a Picket Fence Does Well
- Defines the front yard without blocking views of your home or the street.
- Keeps small kids and many dogs from wandering toward the sidewalk, especially with a latching gate.
- Frames gardens and walkways, giving plantings a crisp edge.
- Fits historic and traditional homes, which matters in neighborhoods with design review.
A picket fence is not a privacy fence. If you need screening, consider pairing a picket front with a privacy or semi-privacy fence around the backyard.
Wood or Vinyl?
Wood pickets are the traditional choice. Cedar can be painted crisp white, stained or left natural, and it’s easy to shape into dog-ear, pointed or French gothic tops. Painted wood looks wonderful but needs touch-ups, since our freeze-thaw winters and humid summers are hard on paint.
Vinyl pickets give you the white-picket look with almost no maintenance. Vinyl won’t rot, peel or need repainting, and an occasional wash keeps it bright. Scalloped and straight-top vinyl profiles are both popular. Compare the two in detail on our wood vs. vinyl page, or visit wood fencing and vinyl fencing.
Picket Design Choices
Straight top
Every picket at the same height. Clean, orderly and classic in front of colonials.
Scalloped
Pickets dip between posts in a gentle curve. A softer, cottage-style look that suits gardens and Victorian homes.
Picket tops
Dog-ear, pointed and gothic tops change the character of the fence more than most people expect. We’ll show you examples.
Arbors and gates
An arbor over the front walk gate creates a real entrance. Matching gates keep the line continuous. See our gates page.
Getting the Proportions Right
A picket fence sits right in front of your house, so small decisions show. Picket spacing affects both looks and function; tighter spacing reads more formal and keeps small dogs in, while wider spacing feels lighter. Height should relate to the porch, windows and landscaping. And the ends matter: where the fence meets the house, a driveway or a neighbor’s fence, a clean termination post or a short return makes the whole run look finished.
Main Line lots add their own wrinkles. Front yards on older streets often slope toward the sidewalk, and mature street trees send roots across the fence line. Clay-heavy soil and rocky schist can make post holes slow going. We set posts typically 30″–36″ deep in our area so they stay below the frost line; local code governs. On slopes, we step or rack sections so the tops follow the grade gracefully.
Front Yard Rules and Historic Districts
Front-yard fences often get more scrutiny than backyard fences. Rules vary by municipality, and some neighborhoods sit in historic districts or HOAs with design review that covers height, style, color and which side faces out. We check the rules for you, prepare the permit application and handle HOA approvals.
If you’re torn between a picket and a more open metal look, aluminum and ornamental steel are worth a look too.
Ready for a fence you'll love?
Book a free, no-pressure estimate. Zero dispatch fees — and we handle permits, HOA paperwork and the 811 call.
How We Work
Andrew Taylor, our General Manager, meets most customers on site to walk the front yard, talk about the look you want and point out slope, roots and property line questions. Your estimate is free, and there are no dispatch fees. We submit the PA One Call (811) request so utilities are marked, and most residential installs take about a day or two on site once materials arrive. We offer and honor manufacturer warranty coverage on every fence we install.
Call or text 484-779-6307 or book your free estimate to start planning your picket fence.