What is the difference between a stick-built fence and a pre-made panel fence?

What is the difference between a stick-built wood fence and the premade panels?

We get this question a lot and it is a very important one! There are 3 main things to consider in regards to this subject.

First: Ability to rack

The difference in total job cost between a stick-built wood fence and a premade panel is minimal compared to the difference in quality and longevity you will get out of your fence. Premade wood panels are made square so if there is any slope where they are being installed the panels will have to be installed in a “step” like manor to follow the change in grade. When we stick build our panels we buy all the pieces for the fence individually and we put it all together on site to suit your exact landscape grade.  We are able to follow the grade and “roll” the fence to follow with an even sightline across the top. Another important aspect is gates. Current codes require a minimum of 6” of fall from the edge of the house in the first 10’. This allows for water to drain away from the home and also means that 95% of the time we are installing a gate we are installing it on a slope on each side of the home. When we stick build we can rack the gates so that they are level side to side but follow the grade of the land. Premade gates are square so you may have more gaps and a “step” like sight line across the top of the fence. 

Second: Fasteners

Fasteners are important. No one wants to have a new wood fence installed and be out every weekend refastening loose pickets and boards because the fasteners aren’t doing their job. When we stick build our fences we use full round head (not clipped), ring shank galvanized nails. These nails are galvanized (to be used in exterior environments), they are ring shank (the nail shank is ribbed for extra holding power, and they have a full round circle nail head (not a clipped, half head), so you get the full 360 degrees of nail head holding your fence together and not just 180 degrees of nail head. We have tried using coil picket nailers in the past but have found that the nails are just too small. Once a picket is nailed on you can easily grab it and pull it off, the nails coming out with the fence picket. Our 21 degree framing strip nailers that we use to install our wood fences fire the largest and highest quality nails to help your fence last for years to come. The other thing a good quality nail does is it helps keep the wood fence straight. Wood fences naturally warp, twist and check overtime but the stronger fasteners you have holding all your pieces together the better your chances are of your fence minimally moving over time. 

Third: Larger dimensional lumber

The final aspect of installing a stick-built fence over a premade section is that you get full size dimensional lumber. For example, in your standard wood privacy fences that are 6’ tall you typically have 3 horizontal nailers in each section. These are the pieces the vertical pickets get attached to. A lot of the premade panels use either 1x4 or a 2x3 to save money. We use a full 2x4. The main advantage of using a full 2x4 is its ability to resist larger lateral wind loads as well as to keep the fence panel from sagging in the center. When you have 8’ of pickets between posts the horizontal nailers are what support the section from post to post. When you have 3 full 2x4’s doing that supporting versus smaller dimensional lumber you have a much better wind load rating and a much lower chance of your new fence sections sagging from post to post. The last thing you want is after a year of having your new fence installed it looks like a wave pool across the top because the sections sagged in the center between the posts. 

We hope this helps educate you when you are making your next purchasing decision for a wood fence! Let us know if you have any questions or comments and please consider the differences in quality between a stick built fence and a premade panel fence before making your next wood fence purchase!