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Posts for a horizontal fence should be no more than 6 feet apart. Wood pickets are not as strong when mounted horizontally as when mounted vertically. As such, the fence panels on a horizontal fence can’t cover the same span between posts as a vertical fence can. If you install the posts further apart on a horizontal fence, the fence will lose stability, making the boards more likely to sag. 

Privacy fences in residential neighborhoods tend to stand between 6 and 8 feet tall, but local building code usually dictates the maximum height. Livestock fences that border large land plots range from 3 to 6 feet. Shorter, decorative fences, which are common in front yards, are around 3 feet tall, on average. Fence height also tends to vary by material, with wood fences usually sitting at 6 feet tall, and chain-link and wrought iron fences tending to sit at half that.

Wood fences last an average of 15 years but can have a life span of 20 years or more depending on the type of wood used, your local weather, and how well you maintain it over the years. Pine fences will only last five to 10 years if untreated, but pressure-treated pine fences will get you to 20 years. Cedar’s natural resistance to the elements lends it to a remarkable lifespan of 40 years or more.

One of the best alternatives to a snow fence is to plant a living snow fence of grasses, shrubs, trees, and crops like corn. Another temporary option is using hay bales to create a barrier to disrupt the wind flow, and cause snow to accumulate in specific areas. However, hay bales are not a permanent option, so keep that in mind when choosing what type of snow fence you should install.