Start with the job the fence has to do. If you want privacy for a patio or a pool, you're choosing between a six-foot wood privacy fence and white vinyl. If you need to keep a dog in without blocking the view, black aluminum or chain link will do it for less money and less visual weight.
Wood is the most flexible option: it can be stained any color, built in shadowbox or board-on-board styles, and repaired one picket at a time. The trade-off is upkeep. Pressure-treated pine in North Carolina sun and humidity looks its best when it's sealed or stained every few years.
Vinyl costs more up front but asks almost nothing of you afterward: no staining, no rot, and a hose-down when it gets dusty. Aluminum suits front yards and pool areas where you want a clean, open look, and chain link is still the most economical way to enclose a big lot.
Whatever you pick, the posts decide how long it stays straight. Union County clay swells when it's wet and shrinks when it's dry, so we set posts deep in concrete and request an NC 811 utility locate before digging. Check your HOA guidelines for allowed heights and styles too. We can help you put together what the HOA application asks for.