Wood privacy fence
Pine or cedar pickets on posts and rails. The backyard standard across Acadiana. Tell us the footage and get an estimate, installed or materials only.
- Common heights
- 6 ft or 8 ft
- Typical life
- 10–15 yrs, longer in cedar
- Upkeep
- Oil-based stain every few years
- Best for
- Privacy, pets, backyards
What you’re getting
A wood privacy fence is pickets fastened to horizontal rails, with posts usually set about every 8 feet. Most fences here use pressure-treated pine. Cedar costs more but resists rot and weathers to a silver gray.
- Dog-ear: the clipped-corner picket most people picture.
- Flat top or capped: a cleaner line, often with a top cap board.
- Board-on-board: overlapping pickets, so no gaps open up as the wood shrinks.
- Shadowbox: pickets alternate sides of the rail. Looks good from both yards and lets wind through.
What matters in Acadiana
Wood fences here almost always fail at the posts first. Wet clay, standing water and humidity rot a post at the ground line long before the pickets give out. Ask for ground-contact rated posts set in concrete, and ask how deep they go. Some builders put galvanized steel posts behind the wood for a fence that outlasts the pickets.
A solid privacy fence also catches wind like a sail. In hurricane country, post depth and spacing matter more than picket style.
What a materials order includes
- Posts, rails and pickets
- Concrete for each post
- Ring-shank nails or exterior screws
- Gate frames, hinges and latches
- Optional cap board and trim
Stain it
We recommend an oil-based stain on every wood fence. It soaks into the wood, slows graying and cracking, and adds years to the pickets.
Have this ready
Total footage, the height you want, how many gates and how wide, and whether an old fence has to come out first.
Questions
Pine or cedar?
Pressure-treated pine is the common choice and holds up well with an oil-based stain. Cedar costs more, resists rot and insects naturally, and stays straighter. Both need posts set right to last.
6 ft or 8 ft?
Six feet is the standard backyard height. Eight feet adds privacy on a slope or next to a two-story house. Check your city and HOA rules before choosing a height.
Should a new wood fence be stained?
Yes. We recommend an oil-based stain on every wood fence. Give pressure-treated wood a few weeks to dry out, then stain it, and re-coat every few years. It slows graying, cracking and rot and adds years to the fence.
Ready for a number?
Tell us the footage. A local pro or supplier follows up with current pricing.
Get an estimate