Wood privacy fence installation
The classic Missoula backyard fence, built so it stays straight through dry summers and snowy winters.
A wood privacy fence gives you a closed-in yard for kids and dogs, blocks the view from the alley or the neighbor's deck, and can cut some of the noise from a busy street. Most Missoula privacy fences are cedar or pressure-treated pine, in styles like straight board, board-on-board, shadowbox or a horizontal slat look.
What makes a wood fence last?
- Posts set deep and right. Posts need to go deep enough to resist frost heave and wind. Ask whether they'll be set in concrete, gravel or driven steel, and how deep.
- Post material. Wood posts rot at the ground line first. Steel posts hidden behind the boards last longer and are common on newer fences.
- Rails and fasteners. Three rails on taller fences and exterior-rated screws or ring-shank nails keep boards from warping loose.
- Clearance at the bottom. Boards a little above the soil dry out instead of wicking moisture. A treated kickboard protects the bottom edge.
- A finish. Missoula summers are hot and dry. A stain or sealer slows graying, checking and splitting.
Cedar or pine?
Cedar is lighter, more stable and naturally rot resistant, and it looks good with a clear or tinted stain. Treated pine costs less and resists rot where it's treated, but it can twist and check more as it dries out. Ask the contractor what grade of board they use and where it comes from.
Height, permits and neighbors
The City of Missoula requires a fence permit for new fences, and its rules limit how tall a fence can be depending on where it sits on the lot. HOA covenants may also set height, style and color. If the fence runs on or near a property line, confirm where the line is and talk to your neighbor before posts go in.
What affects the price?
- Length and height of the fence
- Board type, style and post material
- Number and width of gates
- Slope, rocky digging and removal of an old fence
- Stain or sealer
The contractor prices the job after walking the fence line, checking the ground, the slope and any gates, and hearing what the fence needs to do. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone has seen the property is only a ballpark.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
How long does a wood privacy fence last in Missoula?
It depends on the wood, the posts and upkeep. Posts usually fail first, which is why many contractors now use steel posts behind wood boards.
Should I stain a new cedar fence?
Most people do. A stain or sealer slows sun damage and drying in Missoula's dry summers. Ask your contractor when the wood is ready to take it.
Related services
More background: Missoula fence guide.
Need a yard fenced, a gate fixed or a leaning run replaced?
Call now and a local fence contractor will come walk the line and quote the job.