Posts, Rails, And Pickets…Oh My!

OK, so you are ready to fence in your yard. You know you will need some uprighty things and some
connecting dohickeys, a few of those horizontal whatchamacallits and maybe a door (or is it called
a gate?! ?)…but when you talk to your fencing contractors they have no idea what you mean!
Well, maybe they do know, but wouldn’t it be better if you knew what a fence was all about? You
know why you need a fence, and you know where you want it…so how about knowing what it’s
components are called!
Here are the basic components of fences that we like to call the “anatomy of a fence”:

VINYL:

1. Post Cap: This is a decorative piece that you can place on top of a post to give it a finished look
   that comes in many different styles.
2. Post: A post set in the ground as a supporting part of a fence.
3. Picket: Evenly spaced vertical, horizontal, or diagonal boards attached to fence rails.
4. Rail: The fence rails are the horizontal members that connect the fence posts and support the
   vertical picket or privacy fence boards. There are top rails, mid rails, and bottom rails.
5. Lattice: Part of a fence that is arranged in a criss-cross or diamond pattern with spaces in
   between

WOOD:

6. Post: A post set in the ground as a supporting part of a fence
7. Rail: The fence rails are the horizontal members that connect the fence posts and support the
   vertical picket or privacy fence boards. FYI: We here at Florida Fence use 2 x 4 boards—some
   companies or big box stores use 2 x 3 boards or even 1 x 3 boards.
8. Picket: Evenly spaced vertical, horizontal, or diagonal boards attached to fence rails.

ORNAMENTAL METAL:

9. Picket: Evenly spaced vertical metal components attached to fence rails.
10. Rail: The fence rails are the horizontal members that connect the fence posts and support the
    vertical metal pickets
11. Finial: Decorative piece at end of picket which comes in many different styles and colors

CHAIN LINK:

Fun Fact: A chain link fence is sometimes referred to as cyclone fence by folks from up North! A
chain link fence has quite a few parts to it, so here are the basics you need to know…

12. Post Cap: Piece placed on top of metal post.
Tension Band: In chain link fencing, this piece keeps the fencing material taut with the line and
end posts.
13. Line Post: A post set in the ground as a supporting part of a chain link fence. Terminal Post (not
pictured): A post similar to line post but stronger to hold gate and it’s also used in corners and at the
end of fence line.
14. Tension Bar: The bar which help keep the chain link fencing material taut.
Diagonal Tension Truss: Used for bracing a chain link fence and keeping posts plumb. *Tension
trusses are found in commercial fences only.
15. Chain Link Fabric: The metal mesh material used to create a chain link fence which comes in
galvanized metal or green and black vinyl
16. Rail: Horizontal, mid, and bottom metal bar on fence. *Mid and bottom rails are found only in
commercial chain link fences.

Now that you know the vocabulary and can talk like a pro, why not contact us today to get started on
your brand new fence or use our online tool to design your fence on a map of your actual property to
get the ball rolling!