What is the difference between a stick-built fence and a pre-made panel fence?

3 things to consider before building your next wood fence!

1. Ability to Rack and Follow Your Landscape



• Premade panels are built square. On a sloped yard, they must be installed in a “stepped” pattern, which leaves gaps at the bottom and creates an uneven sightline across the top. Gates built this way also struggle on slopes, often leaving awkward gaps.
  
  
• Stick-built fences are assembled piece by piece on site. Each picket and rail is installed to “roll” with the natural grade of your yard, keeping the top line smooth and even. Gates can also be racked to stay level side-to-side while following the slope of the ground.
  
  

Why it matters: Proper racking ensures your fence looks seamless, eliminates large gaps, and keeps gates functional—even when installed on a slope.

2. Fasteners and Structural Integrity

• Premade panels often rely on smaller nails from coil nailers. These nails don’t have the strength to hold up long-term—pickets can loosen or even be pulled off by hand.
  
  
• We’ve actually tested coil picket nailers ourselves and found the nails were simply too small. Once a picket was nailed on, you could grab it and pull it off, with the nails coming out along with the board.
  
  
• Stick-built fences, by contrast, use full round head, ring-shank, galvanized nails fired from 21-degree framing strip nailers. These nails provide:
  
  
• 360° holding power versus clipped heads that only cover 180°.
  
  
• Galvanized protection for outdoor durability.
  
  
• Ring-shank grip that locks boards and rails in place, resisting movement over time.
  
  

Why it matters: Stronger fasteners not only hold your fence together but also help minimize natural warping, twisting, and sagging.

3. Full-Dimension Lumber for Strength

• Premade panels often use undersized rails (1x4 or 2x3) to save cost.
  
  
• Stick-built fences use full 2x4 horizontal rails for every 6-foot section. This has big structural advantages:
  
  
• Resists higher wind loads.
  
  
• Prevents sagging between posts.
  
  
• Keeps fence lines straight and sturdy for years.
  
  

Why it matters: With full-size lumber, your fence is better equipped to withstand storms, heavy winds, and natural yard settling without turning into a wavy, sagging line.

The Bottom Line

While premade wood fence panels might seem quicker and cheaper, they often sacrifice quality. A stick-built wood fence is tailored to your property, fastened with stronger hardware, and reinforced with full-dimension lumber. The result is a fence that not only looks better on installation day but also continues to perform for many years.

At Freedom Fence, we’re proud to be a trusted Sarasota fence company, serving homeowners and businesses throughout Sarasota and the surrounding Gulf Coast communities. Our expert fence installation services extend across Bradenton, Venice, Lakewood Ranch, Parrish, Port Charlotte, and nearby coastal areas including Casey Key and Manasota Key. Whether you need a new fence for privacy, security, or curb appeal, our team delivers custom solutions built to withstand Florida’s unique climate.