On the fence here..

[Heather]

Ok I've made up a template of how we want our fence posts to look like, and we've got the lumber, paint, and everything to build our white picket fence now but I was wondering what you all like better - the fence posts to be even or staggered?

[ChapterTwo]

I'm a traditional kinda gal and I like the posts even (although staggered would look nice too)! ;)

[Hillary Black]

Nice! You can't go wrong either way, that's for sure. Since I like a taller-than-average picket fence, I choose the staggered one.

[cheapdiva]

Like CT - I am a traditionalist. I say, all same height. We had an herb garden at our old house surrounded by a white picket fence. At Christmas fresh greens with little white lights and some snow would make me feel like I was in New England. My daughter (who bought our house) and her husband took the herb garden out and put an above ground pool in that area! They still do the greens over the holidays . . . I miss that fence!

[memmey]

Huuummmm...... I think I would look take a photo of the area to be fenced and then visualy or even on the photo draw the straight fence and then the staggered to see which one fits the landscape better.
Once you build it you will not want to change it and that little bit of time will be worth it in the long run.
Hey! I want a picket fence!!!;)

[annielinz]

I think either one would look adorable, I so want to put a picket fence up.

[Nikki]

Personally, I like the pickets to be all the same height. On either side of the gate, you could add a few taller ones, and maybe stagger them on the gate itself? I really like that look.

[shabbychick]

I'm not usually that much of a traditionalist, but I kind of like the pickets all the same height as well unless you're planning to do something different, like nail a bird house to each of the tall pickets so they'll hang above the top of the fence.

[Heather]

Well, thank you for your replies! I tried to make my original post a poll but that didn't work out, dunno why... anybody else know how polls work on here?

[yarborough house]

We did our fence with those exact same pickets. We did them to be 42 inches tall from ground to top of picket. I kinda wanted them a bit taller and that is as tall as we can do in the historic district and not have to jump through a hearing with a board..anyway. I like the staggered that dip down then up but figured that I'd get that effect once the roses climbed on them.
So, we did straight across. But at the front gate we did larger posts there from 4x4's on all posts to 8x8's on the front gate posts and they are about 55 inches tall. So from the last section to the gate posts we had them slowly rise to mee the gate so it goes down to up. does that make sense?

Here is a look.
1292

[CohenCottage]

I think I like the idea of straight, but both would be totally cute.

[Heather]

Oh thanks! We've got concrete posts in there now - have been in there for years and years. We tried growing shrubs in between but I was getting frustrated at how SLOW they were growing so I took them out and gave them away - that's how the fence project began. This is the only pic I have of what it looked like:

[CohenCottage]

We were having the same problem with the shrubs we planted as a screen. They are supposed to grow super fast and ours didn't. It ended up that we got a bad batch from the nursery and we got a refund. Now we need to replace them, but I'm mad we lost all that growing time and have to start over.

[ChapterTwo]

Heather, are those shrubs a variety of "Arborvitae"? If so, I have a funny story. My former husband planted some that looked very similar to the ones in your photo around our backyard fence about15 yrs. ago. We had a lot going on through the years, and we sort of ignored them.

By the time we moved last Fall, the shrubs were over ten feet tall! :eek: And they started out just a bit bigger than those you have. Soooo, maybe they'll just take TIME. :rolleyes:

[Heather]

Well, C2 they are gone. That's ok I like the white picket fence better - I've got a lovely butterfly bush and oakleaf hydrangea I'm going to transplant there to go beside the wild rose bush. Right now it's all about digging and pulling at that nasty ivy! Now here are some pics of the existing cement posts (and where I've been diggin') should I paint them all white? The fence will go between the posts...

[yarborough house]

How cool. I would probably not paint them and get the fence up to see how it looks . Then if you don't like it then paint. Because paint on cement requires lots of touchups..sun and weather really mess it up on cement.
I love them and can't wait to see it all done.

[vintage girl]

I agree with Tammy, I would not paint the cement posts. I think it will look really cute and rustic to leave them as is. It will be a nice contrast to the pickets. I am looking forward to seeing pics when you have it done:)

[Heather]

Ok, I won't paint them until y'all have a look with the pickets up! Thanks!!!

[chyna]

I vote for leaving the posts unpainted too. I think they give the fence some weight in looks to be rusticated like they are now. Heck maybe you could do that buttermilk and moss treatment to them and really get them rustic. :)

[Heather]

Ok so about 75% of this fence is up and we're getting lot's of good comments from the neigbours and passer-bys! I copied Tammys fence and now I have to come up with something for the driveway gate. Would you have any inspiration pics for me? I was thinking the same pickets but arched upwards, like in longer lengths. Thanks!

[yarborough house]

On the driveway gate - remember it is a much longer span so the gates will be heavy..I would recommend you get two wheels to put on the two posts that will move as it will help and not puch such a strain on the panels.
I thiink a tall part at outside swooping down or short on sides and swooping up would both look great. Can't wait to see more pics.

[Heather]

Thank you for replying to my post Tammy - you're the best!

[yarborough house]

Awww shucks Heather. :)

[CohenCottage]

I vote for 2 wheels too. At my old job, I had to open lots of farm gates, and the easiest ones were the ones on wheels. Also, be careful about how tall you make your gate. We have two ginormous ones for our dog run and have had some issues with warping b/c they are so heavy b/c of the extra height. Good luck!!