White vinyl is one of the most installed fence materials in the Columbus area, and it's easy to see why. It doesn't rot, never needs painting, and holds its color for decades without much effort. But Fence Company of Columbus installs several distinct vinyl styles that look very different from one another, each suited to a different part of the yard and a different purpose.
Here's a breakdown of the three most common styles and where each one makes the most sense.
Privacy fence is what most people picture when they think of a vinyl fence: solid panels, no gaps between the boards, typically around 6 feet tall. The boards lock together in a tongue and groove arrangement so there are no visible seams on the outside face, just a clean unbroken surface from post to post.
It's the right call for backyard applications where you actually want privacy: a patio or outdoor seating area, a yard that backs up to a busy road or alley, or any space where you want to define an enclosed outdoor room. Privacy panels also provide some acoustic benefit, softening noise from neighbors or nearby traffic.
Privacy vinyl holds up especially well in Ohio because there's nothing to rot, warp, or absorb water. The same smooth surface that gives you privacy is also what makes it so low maintenance year after year.
Picket fence is the open style: vertical pickets with visible spacing between them, usually topped with a decorative point or flat cap, and running 3 to 4 feet tall rather than 6. Because of the open design, picket fence defines a space without fully enclosing it.
This style is most common in front yards and side yards where you want a boundary that reads as welcoming rather than a wall. It works well around flower beds, along a driveway, or as a side yard return connecting the house to a backyard privacy section. If curb appeal is the goal, picket is usually the right direction.
The open design doesn't obstruct sightlines from inside the house, and it lets air and light pass through naturally, which matters in yards with landscaping you want to show off.
Scalloped picket is a variation on the standard open picket style. The top of each panel dips in a gentle curve between the posts and rises at the post, creating a wave or scallop profile across the top of the fence. The individual pickets are the same open spaced design as a standard picket, just arranged so the panel outline curves rather than sitting flat.
The scalloped top adds a more traditional or decorative look without changing how the fence functions. It's a popular choice for front yard applications, especially on homes with traditional architecture where the added detail fits the overall style. Decorative post caps in a ball or pyramid shape pair naturally with the scalloped profile.
If the standard straight top feels too plain for your front yard, scalloped is an easy way to add character while keeping the same material and open design.
These styles don't have to be used in isolation. A common approach is to run a full privacy section across the back of the yard and transition to a picket or scalloped picket run along the side yard. The two styles connect at the corner posts and work well together when they're the same material and color. This gives you the privacy where you need it and the open decorative look where it matters for curb appeal.
Not sure which style fits your yard? Fence Company of Columbus can walk you through the options and help you pick the right combination for your property. Free estimates available.
👉 Call us, email us, or fill out the form on the home page to receive a free quote. We serve Powell, Dublin, Westerville, Worthington, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, and Delaware.
80 Grace Drive Suite L - Powell, OH 43065
Business License # HIC-L01324
