Horizontal pickets give a fence a different character from vertical ones. The eye easily follows the successive bands, and the posts and the gaps between bays gain in importance. Such an arrangement can work well with a wide house volume. However, it should not be designed by simply turning any profile on its side. Metal pickets must be intended for horizontal installation and have proper support. Only on that basis is it worth refining a calm rhythm of lines and the proportions of the whole fence. Not all pickets carry the same recommendations. Some solutions permit horizontal installation, others specify vertical. The finish of the element also matters. With a horizontal arrangement, a straight cut on both sides is often used. This must be confirmed for the specific model before the length and coating are ordered.

A picket viewed on its own may look light, but once mounted on a massive base it becomes part of a heavy frontage. That is why the choice of profile should be combined with the decision on posts and plinth. These three elements form the main proportions of the fence. Metal fence pickets fill the bays, the posts set a stronger rhythm, and the plinth defines the lower line. It is good when each part has a clear role. Randomly emphasising all surfaces at once makes it difficult to achieve a calm effect. Strong masonry posts can become the main motif of the frontage. In that case, a calm infill helps to maintain order. With delicate steel supports, the rhythm of the pickets can take on a greater role. A high plinth produces yet another arrangement. There is no need to choose a single recipe for every property. What matters is that the hierarchy is deliberate and visible along the entire length.