The Best Fences for Privacy and Curb Appeal in the Upstate

A 6-foot fence with 1/2-inch gaps between pickets gives almost no real privacy. The eye fills in the gaps from any distance.

Real privacy comes from overlap — shadowbox, board-on-board, or tight tongue-and-groove panels. The fence still breathes (important for wind survival), but you can't see through it.

Shadowbox: alternating pickets on each side of the rail. Looks finished from both sides — your neighbors will thank you. Our most-requested style.

Board-on-board: front-side overlap. More privacy, slightly less elegant from the back. Great for backyards where one side faces a busy street.

Top-cap with trim board: any of the above with a horizontal 2x6 cap and a kickboard at the bottom. Adds 30% to the visual weight and at least 10 years to the life. Worth every dollar.

Horizontal modern: 1x6 boards run horizontally with steel or wood posts. Beautiful on contemporary homes. Needs perfect grading and isn't cheap.

Post rot at the ground line. Set posts in gravel with a concrete collar — not concrete cups that trap water. This single detail doubles fence life.

Pickets touching the dirt. Always leave a 1.5–2 inch gap or use a treated kickboard. Pickets are not designed to be in soil contact.