Cedar Privacy Fence: Styles, Heights, and What Makes One Last

Short answer: a cedar privacy fence is usually 6 feet tall, built from vertical cedar boards over two or three horizontal rails, on posts set in concrete. It lasts when three things are right: the cedar grade, the posts, and the fasteners. Choose Grade 1 or better cedar, posts rated for ground contact or steel posts, and stainless steel fasteners, and a cedar fence will hold up to Portland rain for many years.

Cedar privacy fencing is most of what we build around Portland. For how our crews install it, see our Portland fence contractors page. This guide covers the choices you make before the first post goes in.

Why is cedar used for privacy fences?

Because the heartwood resists rot without chemical treatment. The USDA Forest Products Laboratory rates western red cedar heartwood as resistant to very resistant to decay. That natural durability, plus the fact that cedar stays relatively straight and takes stain well, is why it is the default privacy fence wood across the Northwest. It is not immune to decay, especially where boards sit in wet soil, which is why the build details below matter.

What are the types of cedar privacy fence?

If full, permanent privacy is the goal, board on board is the answer, because the overlap covers the gaps that open as cedar dries. We cover it in detail on our board on board fence page.

What is a semi-privacy fence?

A semi-privacy fence screens the view without walling the yard off. The boards are spaced, alternated or run horizontally with gaps, so you get a sense of enclosure and a softer look while light and wind still pass through. It suits front yards, gardens, and side yards where a solid 6 foot wall would feel like a box. It also takes some of the wind load off the fence, which matters on exposed lots.

The most common semi-privacy build is the good neighbor, or shadowbox, fence. Here is how it compares with the other styles in our guide to good neighbor fence styles.

How tall should a cedar privacy fence be?

Six feet is the standard, and in Portland it is the sweet spot. The city allows up to 8 feet in the side and rear setbacks, and a wood fence does not need a building permit until it passes 7 feet, so a 6 foot fence clears both rules. Lattice or a decorative top counts toward the height. In the front setback, Portland caps fences at 3 feet 6 inches, so a front-yard fence is a low one no matter what it is made of.

What makes a cedar fence last?

• Cedar grade: Grade 2, often sold as builder grade, has more knots and warps, twists and cracks in a wet climate. We use Grade 1 or better on every cedar fence, and clear cedar on premium builds.
• Posts: posts sit in the ground, so they need to be rated for ground contact, set in concrete. The American Wood Protection Association puts posts in its ground contact category, Use Category 4A or higher. Steel posts are the option that never rots at the ground line.
• Fasteners: iron from ordinary nails reacts with the natural extractives in cedar and leaves blue-black stains. Stainless steel, hot-dipped galvanized or aluminum prevents it. We use stainless on every cedar install.
• A kickboard: a board along the bottom keeps the pickets up out of wet soil, where cedar rots first, and stops dogs digging under.
• A top cap: a cedar cap across the top shields the end grain of the boards from rain.
• Stain: a penetrating stain slows weathering and helps the boards shed water. Time it around the rain.

Our crews have been building cedar fences in the Portland area for more than 20 years, and more than 100 of the fences our team has built here are over 20 years old and still standing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a cedar privacy fence last?

A well-built cedar fence typically lasts 15 to 25 years. The grade of the cedar, whether the posts are rated for ground contact or steel, and keeping the boards up off wet soil make the biggest difference.

Do cedar fence boards shrink?

Yes. Cedar shrinks as it dries, so boards butted tight on a standard privacy fence can open thin gaps over the first season. Board on board avoids this because the second layer covers the seams.

Should a cedar fence be stained?

It does not have to be, since cedar weathers to a silver gray on its own. Stain slows that weathering, helps the boards shed water and keeps the color. If you stain, give it dry weather to cure before the next rain.

Which side of a privacy fence faces the neighbor?

By convention the finished side faces out, toward the neighbor and the street, and if you have an HOA, check its rules. A good neighbor or board on board fence avoids the question because both sides look finished.

Gorilla Works proudly serves Portland, Gresham, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Milwaukie, Troutdale, Vancouver WA, and Camas WA. Call (971) 343-4964 or request a cedar fence quote.