Boasting timeless appeal, durability, affordability and a bevy of styles, wood has been America’s most popular fencing material for more than four centuries.
From crisscrossing lattice and picket patterns to post-cap designs, wall toppers, and linear post-and-rail, these traditional and lightweight privacy fences can artfully add individuality and character to any residential property, while significantly enhancing a home’s curb appeal and making a powerful aesthetic statement.
Depending on their personal style and affinities, homeowners can also choose to stain the wood for aesthetic purposes, thus making it recede or stand out from the landscape as either a delightfully subtle or distinctively vivid frame for their residences.
When choosing a wooden privacy fence, it is vitally important to take into consideration your specific privacy needs, your budget, the style of your home and your personal preferences as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the main types of wood.
Likewise, you need to keep in mind that naturally rot-resistant woods ( i.e. redwood and red cedar) have twice the life span of untreated whitewood ( a term encompassing inferior wood species of fir, pine and spruce).
Main Types of Wood, Their Benefits and Costs
1. Redwood – this clear grade western softwood is sap-free, naturally rot-resistant and stable, yet more expensive than other woods ( about $37 per linear foot, depending on where you purchase it).
2. Western red cedar – this sap-free, stable and highly affordable type of wood (sometimes around $7 per linear foot) also boasts superior, natural insect and rot resistance.
3. Douglas fir – this strong softwood is sap-free and stable in clear cuts, yet less rot-resistant than redwood and red cedar; it costs around $30 per linear foot, the price varying based on where you buy.
4. Eastern white cedar – this stable, sap-free and rot-resistant wood with small knots can go up to $27 per linear foot depending on where you purchase it.
5. Southern yellow pine – this knotty type of wood is an inexpensive choice ( about $4 per linear foot from some companies), but it needs to be properly treated to remove sap, deter insects and resist rot.
6. Cypress – this tan, sap-free and stable type of wood typically has tight, small knots and it usually costs somewhere around $17 per linear foot depending on where you buy.
Here are some additional considerations and tips to help you get the right privacy fence for your residential property:
- Either butted edge to edge or overlapped, vertical-board fences are by far the most popular types of fences for privacy purposes. Additionally, these offer protection against noisy neighbors and wind.
- In addition to offering more privacy, roof structures also protect post tops against the elements, thus extending their life span as well as add a distinctive Asian feel to vertical board panels.
- Out-fencing framing is not only less aesthetic, but it also compromises the privacy and security of your home – choose to face the framework toward your home.
- In terms of the height of the privacy fence, this should be six feet maximum; engineering plans as well as a permit are required by many communities for a fence that exceeds six feet.
- Fences made of rot-resistant wood can last around 20 years, yet maintenance is very important. Coatings such as waterproofers and clear toners need refreshing each year, semi-transparent stains every 3-4 years and solid-color stains can last up to 7 years.
The easiest, fastest and most convenient way to get the privacy fence of your choice properly installed is to hire a trusted professional and local fencing contractor.
In addition to offering the largest selection of wood panel fencing and stick-built styles, reputable and experienced professionals can masterfully create the design of your dreams and in case your property is sloped, they will conveniently customize the panels to follow the grade.
