Backyard Cedar Privacy Fence
A long run of new cedar privacy fence now closes in this large backyard. The fence has vertical boards with a flat top and cap, set in straight sections between posts, and it follows the lawn on one side and a neighboring gravel driveway on the other, so the whole yard is screened at a single, even height.
- Service
- Fence remodel
- Style
- Flat-top privacy fence with a cap
- Scope
- Long perimeter run around a backyard lawn and along a neighboring driveway
- Materials
- Unstained cedar boards, posts and cap
- Contractor
- Volcano Builders, WA license VOLCABI792C6
The finished fence
Know someone planning a project like this? Refer them: you get $500 cash or $1,500 credit, they get $500 off.
How this backyard was closed in
The goal
The yard is a wide, open lawn with a young fruit tree, tall evergreens at the edges and houses on the neighboring lots. On one side a gravel driveway serving the lot next door runs right along the property line. The job was to enclose the whole yard with one solid, uniform wood fence.
The challenge
The fence line is long and not perfectly straight: it bends with the edge of the lawn beside the driveway and turns corners at the back of the yard. Over that length the top of the fence had to stay at one height and the sections had to line up, or the run would look uneven from the house.
The solution
We built the fence in straight sections of vertical cedar boards, each section between two posts, with a flat top and a continuous cap along the line. The boards sit close together for full privacy, and the sections follow the bends of the lawn edge while the top stays at one height.
The result
The finished fence wraps the lawn in an even band of new cedar from the driveway side to the far corner. Seen from the yard, the neighbors and the driveway are screened, and the clean, flat top gives the long run a tidy line against the trees.
Related pages
- Fence Installation Across the Greater Seattle AreaOur fence service: wood privacy fences, gates and remodels.
- Remodeling Pricing Guide for the Greater Seattle AreaWhat drives the price of a remodel, fences included.
- Cedar Fence Remodel in Seattle, WACedar fencing stepped along stone walls around a side yard patio.
- Horizontal Cedar Fence on a Rock WallHorizontal cedar boards above a boulder wall, with a matching gate.
- Wood Privacy Fence Around a BackyardA long wood privacy fence with dark posts and caps.
Questions about this project
What is a flat-top privacy fence?
It is a solid board fence whose boards are cut to one level and finished with a cap along the top, rather than dog-eared or scalloped boards. On a long run like this one the flat line keeps the fence looking even, and the cap helps shed rain off the board ends.
Can a fence run right beside a neighbor's driveway?
Yes, as long as it stands on your side of the property line. Here the fence follows the edge of the lawn next to a gravel driveway. Before any posts go in, we ask you to confirm where the line is. Washington law also requires a utility locate request through 811 before any post hole is dug, and we place that request for you.
How tall can a backyard privacy fence be?
It depends on the city and the spot on the lot. In Seattle neighborhood residential zones, for example, a fence may be 6 feet tall in a required setback, plus up to 2 feet of predominately open features such as a trellis outside the front and street side setbacks, where the limit is 4 feet (SMC 23.44.090.H.4.a and .b). We confirm your local limits before pricing.
How do I get a price for a backyard fence like this one?
Book a consultation. We walk the whole fence line with you, measure it, note slope, gates and any old fence to remove, then send a written, itemized price before work starts. For background, read the Remodeling Pricing Guide for the Greater Seattle Area.
Before you book
- Remodeling Reviews in Seattle and Bellevue, WAWhat homeowners say about working with us, in their own words.
- Home Renovation Financing in SeattleHow remodeling financing works, and the application.
- Remodeling Warranty in Seattle and Bellevue, WAOur 2-year workmanship warranty and how to make a claim.
- Referral Program: You Get $500 Cash or $1,500 Credit, They Get $500 OffRefer a friend who is planning a remodel and choose your reward.
Book your fence consultation
Four quick steps. Tell us about your project and we’ll reach out to discuss it and see if we’re the right fit.