And I sit one hundred percent on the 'no fence' side of your survey. Nothing makes your personal property feel smaller and more closed in than a solid fence on four sides. We have close neighbors and there are very few backyard privacy fences. I, for one, enjoy the pretty backyards of my neighbors and they appreciate ours. The open vistas create a lovely view.

Chain fences are different. If I had a dog, I'd consider a chain fence for the back yard only, one with a black vinyl coating.

Those in the neighborhood who have a need for privacy have their solid fences. We don't know a thing about them behind their little barricades, nor do they about their neighbors. Who knows, that might be a good thing, lol.

Will you feel vulnerable without that part of your fence?

I've never lived in a place that didn't have a fence on three sides. It's the norm here. The vines were pulling down the back fence and the neighbor wanted to put in a block wall. I didn't. We settled on him putting the wall on his side of the line and I paid for half the footing. A few years later, when we redid the garden, my landscaper came up with a way to make the wall look better. Our friends' ranch had fences. Not around the house, but around the property. Keeps the sheep and cattle in and the neighbors' animals out.

So you're asking about a fence streetside, right? Like in the picture. Because the two sides with neighbors have fences? I agree with FlamingO about keeping other animals out, but perhaps you can enclose the yard bordered by the two fences you're keeping, so that they meet the house with a gate or something? Then, you would have a more protected place to let your animals be outside, especially alone.

Is there anything pushing you to make a decision? Couldn't you live with it open for a few months and see how you like it before you decide?

BTW, do you have an "attractive nuisance" like a pool, swing set or something else that the neighborhood kids want to get at? If so, you need a solid locked fence around it to limit your liability.

At our Dallas househouse we had acreage and wanted to fence from behind the house to the back of the property and all the way around to the house. We wanted a more open view option, not closed in and not chain link. We went with a 3 rail board fence with a top rail flat on top, attached inside the wooden fence was installed heavy metal square hog wire. From a distance all you see is the very nice three rail board fence you could not see the wire till right at it. You could use chain link wire the same way and make it a much better looking fence. We used all weather treated lumber and everything was screwed not nailed. We had people stopping by to ask about the fence often. My husband and a friend did the entire thing and did a wonderful job. It was completely straight all the way around, the only fence in the neighborhood that was straight andand they were done by professionals. The new neighbors a few houses down saw him out working on it and asked if he could come give them a bid lol. He said no sorry I am the owner here.

That kind of fence would serve both objectives, a good view and keep things in or out.



Very similar but ours had a flat top rail, you could sit your coffee cup on it, and we pot carriagecarriage lights that go on the top of the posts at the Gates.

Seems simple to me. Why ask here? :) If you don't want a fence that should decide it AFAIC. We may have different reasons for a fence that you don't seem to have. I didn't want a fence on the one side since it was nice to see the big open area but the neighbor wanted it so he put it up as was his right. Since, I've been glad it's there given the neighbors in the house subsequently so I've been happy it's there now. Again, that's a different issue.

My only concern is the one fence you mentioned sounds like it could be a joint fence so can you take it down or is it yours to remove?

If you don't put one up, you certainly can put a fence up later if need be. Just be sure the boundary lines are clear so there's no disputes in that respect.

I like fences, for looks, for security. I love my front picket fence with flowers on each side.

ravencajun that is exactly what we had but after nearly 35 yrs, it was looking shabby. We would replace it with the same kinda fence. But so far, we are leaning towards no fence, at least for a while to see how we like it and if intruder dogs are a problem. thanks all.

Cynic, don't understand your ?, why not ask here?

I like the 'no fence' look, but would you have to set all those posts again if you decided you did want one after pulling them out? Seems to me the posts are the 'hard part'.

yes would have to do all again. don't mind that if we change our mind in favor of fenced in look

pulling out old posts with their cement base was a bear but we're done. DH didn't want to just bury them and then hit them with equipment and ruin equipment, much later when all was forgotten. We went to a cement recycling place in our county. its a large lot with mountains of diff. sizes of crushed concrete. As we were dumping our cement bases, there was an enormous jackhammer breaking down what seemed to be an old concrete slab. very interesting. free. for fence postings, you must cut off wood part or wont be accepted, which we did

we will live with it for a while but already liking it a lot so doubt we will refence.

Dumping concrete bases

Must cut off wood posts

Here is one of the many mountains of concrete.

Wow! Thanks for the pics. Good work, and I'm glad you're enjoying the view. :)

I like the fencing. Invisible fences sometimes fail. I feel like you will get less skunks and other critters. If you ever have to sell, it's not a negative.

No fence.

I am with Flamingo on the invisible fencing. Will also add, that your pets can still be stolen with it also.