Fence or deck costs in Spartanburg

Spartanburg is an old city by the numbers. About two in three homes in the city were built before 1980, and about a third before 1960.

Two neighborhoods have their own design rules: Hampton Heights and a historic mill village. The city's Historic Architecture and Review Board reviews exterior changes in both. The mill village's design guidelines are clear about fences. Front yards in the mill village were traditionally open to each other, and the guidelines say no front fence is best. If you do want one, it's a major work. It should be no taller than 48 inches and follow a rectangular pattern, and wood is the most fitting material. Chain-link, split rail and stockade fences belong only in rear yards that can't be seen from the street. Vinyl isn't considered appropriate anywhere in the district. A repair with matching materials needs no certificate at all.

For decks, the city's building permit page points builders to the American Wood Council's prescriptive deck guide. For a single-level deck attached to the house, it calls for 6x6 posts at minimum and hot-dipped galvanized or stainless fasteners with treated wood. If a contractor's plan doesn't look like that, ask why.