Privacy fences are very popular in residential areas, as they give homeowners a much-needed visual barrier from the rest of the neighborhood.

While the standard wood board fence is the go-to chosen by many investing in privacy fence installation, those are far from the only options available.

For those planning to have a privacy fence company do an installation, these tips on preparation and selection will ensure every homeowner chooses the perfect fence for their needs.

1. Height - Privacy fences are those that create solid barriers over four feet in height. Most privacy fence installations in residential neighborhoods use panels that are either 6 or 8 feet in height, as these provide the highest degree of privacy in areas where houses are closer together.
2. Materials and Styles - While wood and more specifically cedar or treated pine are the most common materials used for privacy fence installation, other types are available. PVC and composite are the most popular after wood. Brick, stone, and other masonry are also used to create solid, taller, privacy-type fences. In all cases, there are privacy fence options in many different styles available to create different aesthetic looks.
3. HOA Requirements - Before finalizing on a material, height, or style, homeowners within a neighborhood should always check with any existing HOA on any requirements they may have for privacy fence installation. Some require them to be a certain height or material and prohibit options outside of a certain few.
4. Budget - Another important factor when choosing a privacy fence is having a fencing budget established ahead of time. Installations done by a privacy fence company can vary in cost depending on the height, material, and style of the panels being installed. Get estimates and choose based on what the budget will allow.
5. Preparation - Once the height, type, and style of privacy fence installation have been chosen, homeowners can then prepare for their installation by having property lines clearly marked, informing utility companies so they can mark utility lines, and then clearing the areas where the fence will be installed.

An attractive and stylish privacy fence is not just useful for creating backyard privacy, but also for enclosing a safe area where kids and pets can wander freely.

Whatever a homeowner's needs may be, these quick tips are all anyone needs to be able to choose the right fence when having a privacy fence company do an installation for them.