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Privacy and picket fencing
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Guide
Split Rail vs. Chain Link vs. Aluminum
Comparing cedar split rail, chain link, and ornamental aluminum for Toledo yards. Lifespan, pet security, cost, and what fits your property.
Open-Style Fencing
Three ways to mark a line without building a wall.
Marking a boundary, containing a dog, or meeting pool code without closing in the view. Split rail, chain link, and ornamental aluminum all do it, and they're very different fences.
| Spec | Chain Link | Cedar Split Rail | Ornamental Aluminum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Boundary, budget, dogs | Acreage, country lots | Pools, front yards |
| Lifespan | 20–30+ years | 20–30 years in cedar | 50+ years |
| Section | Continuous mesh | 10'-0" typical | 6' panels, rack to grade |
| Typical height | 4' to 6' | 4'-0" ± | 4' to 6' |
| Maintenance | None | Low | None |
| Pet secure | Yes, as built | With mesh + kickboard | With picket spacing |
| Finishes | Galvanized or black | Cedar, silvers to gray | 6 styles, powder coat |
| Warranty | Manufacturer | 3-yr workmanship | Applicable manufacturer’s written warranty |
| Cost | $ | $$ | $$$ |
Chain Link
Chain link, honestly.
Heavy-duty steel, fast to install, easy to repair, and 20 to 30 years of service. It is the least expensive fence we build.
On Colour
Black vinyl-coated mesh disappears against grass and tree lines. Silver doesn't. It is a small upgrade for a noticeable difference in how the yard reads.
Straight talk: it still reads industrial from the street, and galvanized can surface-rust at cut ends. If that bothers you now, it'll bother you more in year eight.
Cedar Split Rail
The rails aren't nailed on. They sit in the post.
Paddle-end rails lock through mortises cut in the posts. Nothing fastens them. So a rail that twists and shrinks works its own ends loose, and five years on you're walking the line pushing rails back in. That's why the wood matters more here than in any other style.
| Species | Dimensional stability |
|---|---|
| Michigan Northern White Cedar | Superior |
| Western Red Cedar | Excellent |
| PT Pine | Moderate to poor |
| Spruce / Fir | Poor |
Pet Security, Invisibly
A 2"×4" welded wire mounts to the inside face of the rails. Cedar and open yard from the street, a barrier from the dog's side. A cedar kickboard seals the gap at the ground for diggers.
Straight talk: it's an open fence. A boundary and a look, not privacy or security. And it will go gray.
Ornamental Aluminum
Aluminum sounds flimsy. The alloy isn't.
35,000psi
6005-T5 tensile110mph
Wind rated50+ yr
Service life- It can't rust. Not rust-resistant. Aluminum doesn't oxidize into rust at any age.
- AAMA 2604 powder coat, an architectural finish specification. Finish coverage depends on the product’s written manufacturer warranty.
- Ultra Aluminum, made in Michigan. Material and finish coverage follow the applicable manufacturer’s written warranty.
- Six styles: flat top, flat with spear, flat 201, spear top, loop top, stagger spear.
- Panels rack to your grade. They follow the slope instead of stair-stepping, so there's no wedge of daylight underneath. Around a pool that's not a preference, it's code.
Straight talk: highest cost of the three, and it's an open fence. It won't give you privacy. It'll give you a fence you install once.
Pick one.
Chain Link
Budget first, dog in the back yard. Spend the small upgrade on black.
Split Rail
Country lot, horses, or a long front boundary. Add mesh if you have a dog.
Aluminum
Front yard, pool, or curb appeal that has to hold for decades.
If you are between two of these, we can price both on the same quote so you are comparing real numbers for your yard.