Most people looking for a fence in Memphis are looking for privacy first. Whether it’s a neighbor’s line of sight, a busy street, or just wanting your backyard to feel like your own space, a privacy fence does the job when it’s built right. At 5 Ash Construction, privacy fencing is one of the most common jobs we do across the Memphis area, and we’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. Here’s what’s worth knowing before you decide.
Height and Local Rules
Standard privacy fencing runs six feet tall. That’s the height that clears most sightlines and works within the fence height limits most Memphis-area municipalities have for residential backyard fencing. Some cities in the Mid-South allow up to eight feet in certain situations, but front yard fencing typically has its own, lower restrictions, often four feet or less.
Before you build, it’s worth checking with your local city or county about permit requirements. In Memphis proper and in surrounding cities like Bartlett and Germantown, fences often require a permit, especially for taller structures. HOA rules are another layer to check if your neighborhood has one. We can help you navigate that process, but you’ll want to know what you’re working with before you pick a material or a height.
Material Options for Privacy Fencing
Wood is the most common material for privacy fencing in the Memphis area, and for most residential applications it makes a lot of sense. It’s cost-effective, installs relatively quickly, and can be stained or painted to match your house. The trade-off is maintenance. Wood requires periodic sealing or painting and will eventually need boards replaced as they weather.
Vinyl privacy fencing has gotten more popular in recent years. It doesn’t rot, doesn’t need painting, and holds its color reasonably well. The upfront cost is higher than wood, but the long-term maintenance cost is lower. It’s a good option for homeowners who want to put up a fence and mostly forget about it. The main knock on vinyl is that it can look a little uniform and plastic in a way that wood doesn’t. That matters to some people and not at all to others.
Chain link with privacy slats is another option when the priority is keeping something contained, like a dog, rather than purely blocking sightlines. It’s durable and lower cost, but it doesn’t offer the same visual privacy as a solid fence.
What Affects the Cost
The biggest variables in privacy fence pricing are linear footage, material, gate count, and terrain. A straightforward flat lot with a simple rectangular layout is the easiest quote to give. Add in slopes, trees near the fence line, existing fence removal, or multiple gates, and the cost goes up accordingly. Vinyl costs more per foot than wood. Taller fences cost more than shorter ones.
One thing we’d caution against is making the decision purely on the lowest per-foot price. How the posts are set and how solid the framing is makes a bigger difference in how long the fence holds up than which boards are used.
Gates Matter More Than People Think
A privacy fence without a good gate is a problem waiting to happen. Gates need to be properly hung with the right hardware for the weight of the door, and they need posts that are set deeper and more solidly than the standard fence posts. An undersized gate post is one of the most common reasons gates start sagging within a couple of years of installation.
Think through how many gate openings you need and where they make sense for how you use the yard. A single walk gate and a double drive gate is the most common setup for a backyard, but every property is different.
Get a Straight Quote
5 Ash Construction installs privacy fencing throughout the Memphis metro, including Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Cordova, Olive Branch, and Southaven. If you want to talk through what your project involves, reach out through our contact page or give us a call. We’ll take a look at your property and give you an honest estimate.
