Blog · Choosing a fence
Paling vs Picket: Choosing the Right Fence
Privacy, street appeal, pets, gardens and budget — weighing the common styles.
Most Christchurch sections end up with one of four fence styles: full-height paling, classic picket, a lighter garden boundary, or a modern mixed-material fence. Each suits a different job — the trick is matching the fence to what the boundary actually needs to do.
Paling and privacy fences
Full-height pine paling is the workhorse of Canterbury backyards. It gives real privacy, breaks the wind for kids, pets and washing, and sits naturally in the streetscape. It is the right call when the back boundary faces neighbours' living areas, or when the section needs shelter more than outlook. The trade-off is shade and a heavier look — worth thinking about on narrow sections where the fence shadows the garden.
Picket fences
Pickets suit front boundaries where street appeal matters more than screening. A white picket front with a proper gate says a lot about a family home, and it keeps small children and pets contained without walling the place off. Pickets need a straighter eye and more finishing than palings, so workmanship shows — which is exactly why they reward a careful contractor.
Garden and side boundaries
Side yards and garden fences often need a lighter touch: enough definition to mark the boundary and hold climbers like jasmine, while letting sun reach the planting. These fences live a damp life behind foliage, so drainage, airflow and fixings matter more than height.
Modern and feature fences
Horizontal timber boards combined with corrugated metal panels suit newer builds and side boundaries that cop the weather. They read fresh without reading flashy, and they pair well with bamboo or native planting. As with any fence, the structure underneath — posts, rails, fixings — decides how long it lasts.
How to decide
Ask four questions: How much privacy does this boundary need? What does the wind do here? Are pets or children part of the picture? And what does the budget allow? If you can answer those, a contractor can recommend the right build quickly. Bitter E Fencing serves Parklands, Christchurch and the Canterbury Region — call 03 383 0926 to talk through your section.