A fence is one of the most visible structures on the property. It defines the perimeter. It frames the yard. It creates the privacy, the security, and the boundary that the homeowner depends on every day. And unlike a patio or a planting bed that can be modified incrementally, a fence is a committed installation. Once it is in the ground, it is staying there. Which means the decision about who builds it and what they build it from deserves more attention than most homeowners give it.