What this covers
A wood fence is posts, rails and boards, usually cedar or pressure-treated pine. The installer confirms the property line, locates buried utilities, lays out the run with a string line, and sets posts in concrete at a depth that suits the local frost line. Rails are fastened level between posts, then pickets or boards are hung plumb with consistent gaps or in a board-on-board pattern that hides the gaps. Careful work shows in the details: posts spaced evenly, the top line straight or stepped cleanly on a slope, corrosion-resistant fasteners, and post caps that keep water out of the end grain.
When to call
- A bare yard that needs a boundary for children or pets.
- An old wood fence that leans, rots at the ground or has more patches than original boards.
- A fence destroyed by a fallen tree or storm that is simpler to replace than repair.
- A new deck, pool or garden that wants a backdrop.
What to expect
- LayoutThe line, gate positions and height are agreed, and utilities are located before any digging.
- Set postsHoles are dug below frost depth and posts set plumb in concrete, then left to cure.
- Rails and boardsRails are fastened level and boards hung plumb with even spacing.
- Gates and capsGates are built and hung, caps installed, and you walk the line with the installer.
Get a certified company
Look up a certified company by ZIP code. Every company's license, insurance and trades are verified before it is listed, and placement is never paid.
Questions people ask
Cedar or pressure-treated pine?
Cedar resists rot and insects naturally, weathers to gray and stays straighter. Pressure-treated pine holds up well for posts and rails, though boards can twist as they dry.
Should a wood fence be stained?
Staining or sealing slows weathering and keeps the color even. Most installers suggest waiting several weeks for new wood to dry before the first coat.
How deep do the posts go?
Usually a third of the post's exposed height, and below the frost line where the ground freezes, so the posts do not heave. Gate posts are set deeper and often larger.
Related: Privacy fence installation · Gate installation · Fence staining · All fences and gates
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