US Residential Fencing

Report Overview

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This study analyzes US demand for residential fencing by material (metal, wood, plastic and composite, and concrete and other materials such as brick, stone, and bamboo), application (new and improvement and repair), product type (ornamental, privacy, and others such as metal chain link, rail and post, split rail, worm, and lattice), and housing type (single-family, multifamily, and manufactured).

Scope and Summary

Historical data for 2009, 2014, and 2019 and forecasts for 2024 and 2029 are presented in millions of dollars and in million linear feet.

Additionally, demand for fencing is broken out for the following US geographic regions and subregions.

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Demand for residential fencing is forecast to rise 3.3% annually to $4.6 billion in 2024. Sales gains will be driven by:

• increased spending on residential improvement and repair projects, such as renovating existing fences or adding new fencing to existing properties
• the addition of fences onto new single-family home properties to improve these homes’ marketability and as homebuyers install fences to increase privacy or for safety of children or pets
• the increased usage of high-value fencing, including ornamental metal and plastic and composite

Plastic Fencing Sees Fastest Growth, While Wood Remains the Most Used Material

Homeowners will continue to invest in wood fencing – predominately privacy and picket types – due to its widespread availability and relatively low cost. Consumers are expected to continue to opt for the appealing aesthetics of wood.

Nonetheless, an expanding share of homeowners are specifying vinyl fencing as they become more familiar with its favorable characteristics – namely its resistance to degradation caused by insects or weather. Suppliers also continue to improve the appearance of vinyl fencing to better resemble the appearance of wood, which boosts consumer willingness to invest.

More Homeowners Investing in Ornamental (Decorative) Fencing

For homeowners installing a new or replacement fence, improving aesthetics remains a chief factor influencing purchasing decisions. As such, consumers are expected to increasingly invest in higher value ornamental fencing (e.g., iron fences with scrollwork), specifically newer products made from vinyl materials that can mimic the look of ornamental wood types.

Privacy fences will also remain popular, with plastic materials making inroads at the expense of wood. Stone, brick, and concrete are also commonly used materials for privacy fences that are chosen over metal, wood, or plastic for their aesthetic benefits.

Residential Improvement to Provide Bright Spot for Fencing During COVID-19 Pandemic

Despite the near-term economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, residential fencing demand will benefit from increased homeowner spending on DIY projects and exterior upgrades that require minimal face-to-face interactions with contractors. These trends will partially offset the declines in demand that will result from a drop in new home construction.