When we had to replace our fence a few years ago (we had the stardard board against board privacy fence) we decided to go with the open shadowbox fence to try to get better air circulation in the back yard so it would be cooler too. It worked like a charm. The plants love the air circulation and a little bit of sun that filters between the slats. I like the breeze that used to go over the fence and miss the patio, and now I can feel even light breezes. The open shadowbox has the boards on each side of the rails and do not overlap. The closed shadowbox has the boards on each side of the railing but there is some overlap of the boards. You get more privacy that way, but I wanted the max air circulation. Maintenance issues don't seem to be anything more than a standard wood fence. We don't stain ours, and don't have the top rail. It's just a natural cedar wood fence. I would recommend using cedar as the cedar boards haven't warped out of shape and they last longer. No termites have invaded either. We have the metal poles rather than the wood. Recommend it. Makes our smallish backyard more fun to work in and sit and watch the flowers grow and the birds and squirrels play.

Thanks debndal. Is your fence anything like the shadow box on this page? I wondered what that style was called. I think that might work for our situation. Can you imaine a planted built next to it?

Yes, that's what we have, except we didn't do the rail along the top, which sometimes I wish we had. The top of the boards tend to get beat up by the birds and squirrels. I think a planter would look very nice with it.

Thanks. This is what dh wants to do, rather than a spaced fence. Good to know it lets air though, that's our primary concern.

Just be aware that there is "open" shadowbox and "closed" shadowbox. Have your contractor show you the difference - it's hard to describe without pictures. Open shadowbox gives less privacy, but provides tons more air circulation.