Mike Dominique Lands 1st White Picket Fence Order of Spring as 6-Foot Privacy Walls Dominate
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · May 31
Mike Dominique Lands 1st White Picket Fence Order of Spring as 6-Foot Privacy Walls Dominate
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 31
Edward Cink accepted Mike Dominique’s quote for a stained-white cedar fence, giving the Connecticut contractor his first white picket fence order of the spring ahead of the home’s open house.
Zero picket-fence sales had alarmed Dominique because by this point last year he had sold 20, underscoring how sharply demand has shifted toward taller, gap-free barriers.
Customers increasingly favor low-maintenance vinyl or composite fences that last 30-plus years and offer more privacy, while Dominique said cedar costs have risen by a third over the past year.
At Southington Rustic Fence, picket fences once made up about 40% of orders in his father’s era; now Dominique’s $80,000 equipment mostly turns out vinyl products.
The lone new order stands out against broader tastes shaped by child safety, privacy and security concerns, suggesting the white picket fence has become a niche symbol rather than a default suburban choice.
As tariffs reshape home improvement, is the vinyl fence boom here to stay or just a fleeting economic trend?
Beyond wood and vinyl, what next-gen materials will build the privacy-focused fences of America's future?
As private vinyl fences replace iconic wood pickets, what is the hidden cost to our communities and environment?