Roofing & Exterior
A Cedar Fence That Stays Straight and Private for Decades
Western red cedar privacy fencing built for Northwest ground — graded boards, ground-contact posts set to drain, and cap-and-trim details that keep the line straight long after the first wet winter.
Free inspection & photo report · Fixed, line-item bids· Written workmanship warranty
- ★ 4.9 · 52+ Google reviews
- 1,500+ projects completed
- Licensed & bonded in WA, OR & ID
- Written workmanship warranty
Signs to watch
Is this you?
You want real privacy, not gaps
Board-on-board and tight dog-ear layouts close the sightlines that standard picket spacing leaves open. How the boards overlap decides whether you actually get privacy once the wood shrinks.
The old cedar is graying and cupping
Unsealed or under-graded cedar cups, checks, and silvers fast in PNW wet-dry cycles. Board grade and how the posts are set decide how the fence ages far more than the stain does.
You care how the top line looks
A capped, trimmed top reads as a finished fence instead of a row of pickets — and the cap board sheds water off the end grain that would otherwise wick and rot.
The last fence leaned within a few years
Cedar almost never fails at the boards first. It leans because the post rotted at the soil line, where cheap installs skip the drainage that keeps water off the wood.
Your options
Board grade, post system, and the details that outlast the wood
We build in western red cedar — naturally rot- and insect-resistant — in dog-ear, flat-top, or full board-on-board for true privacy, in 4-, 6-, or 8-foot heights where the jurisdiction allows. You choose the board grade, from knot-clear premium to sound tight-knot, and we're honest about what each buys you. Under the boards is the part that actually matters: ground-contact-rated posts set in concrete over a gravel base so water drains away instead of pooling at the wood, hot-dipped or coated hardware that won't bleed rust down your new boards, and a cap-and-trim top that sheds water off the end grain. We'll also lay out staining and maintenance so you know what keeps it looking new versus letting it weather to silver-gray.
The method
How we do it
- 01
Line, permit, and utility locate
We confirm the property line, pull any permit the city requires, and call in a utility locate before a single post hole — what's underground is ours to sort out, not yours.
- 02
Posts set to drain
Holes below frost line, a gravel base so water moves away from the post, and concrete set plumb — the step cheap installs skip, and the reason their fences lean by year three.
- 03
Boards, cap, and walkthrough
Graded cedar hung to your privacy layout, cap and trim finished clean, gates hung to swing true, then a walk of the whole line together. Most residential runs: 2–5 days.
Straight numbers
Cedar fence pricing
Most cedar privacy fencing runs $35–$65 per linear foot installed, so a typical residential project lands $4,500–$12,000 depending on length, height, board grade, terrain, and gates. Board-on-board and cap-and-trim details sit at the upper end; standard dog-ear is the value build. Posts, drainage, gates, and haul-off of the old fence are in the number, not add-ons — we quote the whole line before any wood is cut.
Where we do this work
Cedar Privacy Fences: straight answers
How long does a cedar privacy fence last here?
Set right, 15–20 years for the posts and structure. The boards weather to silver-gray in a season or two unless you seal them, but that's cosmetic — a rotted post is what ends a fence, so that's where we spend the extra care with drainage and ground-contact material.
Should I stain it, and how often?
Only if you want to keep the warm cedar tone or a specific color — bare cedar weathers to gray but doesn't rot from being unsealed. If you do stain, plan on re-coating every 2–4 years depending on sun exposure. We'll tell you honestly whether your fence needs it or just wants it.
What's the difference between board-on-board and standard privacy?
Standard privacy butts boards edge to edge; when cedar shrinks in summer, gaps open. Board-on-board overlaps every other picket, so it stays private even after the wood moves. It uses more material and costs a bit more — worth it where privacy is the whole point.
Do I need a permit or my neighbor's sign-off?
Height limits and permit rules vary by city — many allow up to 6 feet in back and 3–4 in front without a permit, but not all, and taller privacy fences often trigger review. We check your jurisdiction, confirm the property line before we dig, and handle any permit so it's not a surprise at sale time.
Get the cedar privacy fences conversation started.
Free 20-minute inspection. Photo report you keep either way. Zero pressure.