Blog Content
23
Aug
2025
Types of wood privacy fences come in several popular styles, each offering different levels of privacy and aesthetic appeal:
Nothing transforms a backyard quite like a well-designed wood privacy fence. As landscape designer Janice Parker notes, "Privacy fencing creates a sense of sanctuary, seclusion, and peacefulness." Wood remains the most popular choice for privacy fences due to its natural beauty, design flexibility, and ability to complement any home style.
Wood privacy fences offer multiple benefits beyond just blocking the view. They reduce noise from busy streets, increase property security, and can boost your home's value by up to 70% return on investment. Unlike vinyl or metal alternatives, wood fences can be easily customized with different stains, paint colors, and decorative accents to match your home's exterior.
The key to choosing the right fence lies in understanding your specific needs. Do you want complete privacy or some airflow? Are you looking for a budget-friendly option or a premium, long-lasting investment? Each fence style and wood type offers distinct advantages for different situations and budgets.
Learn more about types of wood privacy fences:
When we talk about types of wood privacy fences, we're looking at how the individual boards (pickets) are assembled. Each style offers a unique blend of privacy, aesthetics, airflow, and cost. At Brentwood Fence, we install these popular options for clients across New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. Let's explore what makes each one unique.
If absolute privacy is your top priority, a board-on-board fence is the best choice. This style features pickets installed with a slight overlap, typically alternating on either side of the fence rails. This clever design ensures that even as wood naturally expands and shrinks, no gaps will appear, giving you complete visual blockage for a secluded backyard oasis.
Beyond blocking views, board-on-board fences are fantastic for sound insulation due to their dense, layered structure. This can significantly reduce noise from busy roads or neighbors. Another perk is its finished appearance from every angle, making it a popular 'good neighbor' choice for shared property lines.
The main consideration is the cost; because it uses more wood, it is more expensive than other options. However, for those who value ultimate privacy and noise reduction, it's a worthwhile investment.
For more insights into creating your private outdoor sanctuary, you can find more information about privacy fence options.
The shadowbox fence is an attractive twist on the traditional privacy fence. It features pickets that alternate on either side of the fence rails, but with small, intentional gaps between them. When viewed straight on, the fence appears solid, but from an angle, you can catch a slight glimpse through.
This design is why it's often called a "Good Neighbor" fence—it looks equally appealing from both sides, so neither neighbor is stuck with the exposed posts and rails. The spacing also allows for better airflow, which reduces wind resistance and makes the fence less prone to storm damage. While it doesn't offer 100% visual blockage from every angle, it provides ample privacy for most backyard activities.
The side-by-side fence, also known as a stockade fence, is one of the most common types of wood privacy fences. The style is simple: pickets are placed edge-to-edge, forming a solid barrier. The biggest advantage of side-by-side fences is their affordability and ease of installation, making them a budget-friendly option for effective privacy.
When first installed, they offer excellent visual blockage. However, it's important to know that as wood ages and dries, the pickets can shrink slightly, potentially creating small gaps over time. Despite this, the side-by-side fence remains a popular choice for its classic look and great value.
You can learn more about the definition of a stockade fence from Merriam-Webster.
For a sleek, contemporary look with absolute privacy, the tongue and groove fence is a standout among the different types of wood privacy fences. This style uses specially milled boards that interlock, much like hardwood flooring. One edge has a "tongue" that slides into a "groove" on the next board, creating a seamless, solid panel.
This interlocking design results in a completely gapless wall, offering maximum seclusion and noise reduction. Its smooth, continuous surface provides a modern, high-end look that improves property style. Due to the precise milling and skilled installation required, tongue and groove fences are typically the most expensive wood option. However, for homeowners prioritizing a premium modern appearance and robust security, the investment is often well worth it.
Now that you've fallen in love with a particular fence style, it's time to talk about what really makes or breaks your investment: the wood itself. The wood you choose will determine how long your fence lasts, how it weathers over time, and how much maintenance it will require.
We've installed thousands of fences across New England and have seen how different wood species perform in our challenging climate. From humid summers to brutal winter freeze-thaw cycles, your fence needs to be tough enough to handle whatever Mother Nature throws at it.
Western Red Cedar is a premium wood packed with natural oils that protect against rot, decay, and insects without chemical treatment. It's nature's own preservation system at work.
What really sets cedar apart is its natural beauty and distinctive aroma. The wood starts with gorgeous reddish-brown tones. If you let it age naturally without staining, cedar gracefully transforms into a stunning silver-gray patina that many homeowners love.
A well-maintained cedar fence can easily last 15-20 years, especially when properly stained and sealed. It works beautifully with all types of wood privacy fences. While it's one of the pricier options upfront, its longevity and timeless appeal make it a worthwhile investment.
Pressure-treated pine is the practical choice that doesn't sacrifice quality for affordability. During treatment, chemical preservatives are forced deep into the wood fibers, creating a barrier against rot, decay, and insects.
This process transforms an ordinary, budget-friendly wood into a durable option that can serve you well for 10-15 years with proper care. The light color of pressure-treated pine acts like a blank canvas that readily accepts stains and paints, giving you complete freedom to match your home's exterior.
For homeowners working within a tighter budget, pressure-treated pine offers the best bang for your buck. It's a reliable, practical choice that works beautifully with any of the types of wood privacy fences we install.
Ipe (pronounced "ee-pay") is the Rolls-Royce of fence materials—expensive, impressive, and built to last for decades. This South American hardwood is so dense and durable that it's often used for commercial boardwalks. As landscape architecture firm Richardson & Associates notes, Ipe wood's resilience against harsh elements is truly remarkable.
The wood starts with a rich, deep reddish-brown color. You can maintain this color with occasional oiling or let it weather naturally to a silver-gray without any loss of structural integrity. Ipe is naturally resistant to rot, insects, and fire.
With a lifespan often exceeding 25 years, Ipe represents a significant upfront investment that pays dividends over time. Its minimal maintenance requirements make it perfect for homeowners who want a "set it and forget it" solution for ultimate luxury and longevity.
For a broader perspective on fencing options for your outdoor space, we also offer more info about types of fencing for backyards.
Your privacy fence is more than just a barrier; it’s a key part of your home’s outdoor aesthetic. A custom fence doesn't just secure your yard, it also improves your home's curb appeal and reflects your personal style.
Even within the main types of wood privacy fences, there are many design choices for the top of your fence and any decorative accents. These details can transform the feel of your outdoor space.
Common top styles include Dog-Ear, where the top corners of each board are cut at an angle. This simple cut helps with rain runoff and offers a relaxed look. For a neat, modern aesthetic, a Flat Top fence has boards cut straight across, creating a clean, contemporary line. For a softer look, an Arched top gently curves upwards, while a Scalloped fence curves downwards, creating a charming, traditional feel.
Special accents can make your fence unique. A Lattice Topper is a fantastic way to mix style with function. This decorative criss-cross section adds privacy height (typically 12-18 inches) without making the fence feel overwhelming, and it's a perfect trellis for climbing plants. A Cap and Trim involves a horizontal board along the top of the fence (the cap) with trim boards below, creating a polished, framed look. This also protects the tops of the pickets from moisture, extending the fence's life. Finally, Post Caps are decorative covers for each fence post, available in various materials like wood, metal, or solar lights, that significantly boost your fence's appearance.
These additions help us build a fence that perfectly matches your vision and improves your home's beauty.
For more ideas on how to make your outdoor space truly yours, check out our privacy fence ideas.
Choosing to finish your fence with stain or paint is a crucial decision that impacts both its look and its longevity.
Stains are ideal if you love the natural look of wood. They soak into the wood, enhancing its color while allowing the grain and texture to show through. Stains range from clear UV blockers to semi-transparent and solid colors. They are crucial for protecting your fence from sun damage, moisture, and mildew, which helps prevent graying and cracking. Regular staining every few years is key to keeping a wood fence beautiful and strong.
If you want a bolder look or an exact color match for your home, paint is the way to go. Paint creates a solid, opaque layer over the wood, offering excellent protection against moisture and sun damage. It gives you endless customization options. For example, designer Zoe Feldman chose Farrow & Ball’s French Gray for a wood fence, showing how a subtle color can blend beautifully with the landscape. While paint offers great protection, it typically requires more upkeep than stain, as it can chip or peel over time and will need repainting.
Both staining and painting are vital for the long-term care of all types of wood privacy fences. They add your personal touch while creating a necessary barrier against the tough New England weather, ensuring your fence remains beautiful and functional for years.
To see all the ways you can create the perfect outdoor space, take a look at our residential fencing options.
Over the years, we've helped countless homeowners create their perfect backyard sanctuary, and many of the same questions come up. These answers should help clear up any confusion about types of wood privacy fences.
The durability of your fence depends on the wood species, installation quality, and maintenance.
The "most durable" choice really comes down to balancing your budget with your long-term goals. All three are excellent options when professionally installed and cared for.
For most residential properties, six feet is the gold standard for a privacy fence. This height effectively blocks ground-level views and creates a sense of seclusion for your yard.
However, it is crucial to check your local town regulations and any HOA rules first. Many municipalities have strict rules about fence height, placement, and even style. We help our clients steer these requirements as part of our service.
If you need more height, adding a 12 to 18-inch lattice topper is a fantastic solution. It provides an extra visual barrier without making the fence feel overwhelming, while also adding a decorative touch and allowing light and air to pass through.
A 'Good Neighbor' fence is designed to look equally attractive from both sides of the property line. This avoids the common issue where one side looks finished and the other shows the exposed posts and rails. It's a considerate choice, especially when sharing the cost of a fence with a neighbor, as it ensures both parties get an appealing view.
The most popular Good Neighbor options among the types of wood privacy fences are shadowbox and board-on-board styles. A shadowbox fence uses an alternating picket pattern so both sides look identical. A board-on-board fence also has a finished appearance from either direction due to its overlapping design. Choosing a Good Neighbor fence is a thoughtful gesture that contributes to a positive neighborhood aesthetic.
Wow, what a journey we've been on together! We've truly dived deep into the wonderful world of types of wood privacy fences. From the complete seclusion offered by board-on-board and tongue & groove styles, to the friendly charm of a shadowbox fence, and the timeless appeal of side-by-side (stockade) options, you now have a much clearer picture of what's out there.
We also explored the best wood species for your project – whether it's the natural resilience of Western Red Cedar, the budget-friendly durability of pressure-treated pine, or the luxurious, long-lasting appeal of exotic hardwoods like Ipe. And let's not forget how much fun it is to customize your fence with different top styles, decorative accents like lattice toppers, and the perfect stain or paint to truly make it yours!
A thoughtfully chosen and professionally installed wood privacy fence does so much more than just define your property line. It transforms your outdoor space into a personal haven. Imagine enjoying maximum privacy for family gatherings, improved security for your loved ones and pets, and a significant boost to your home's curb appeal. It's about creating that tranquil, beautiful sanctuary right in your own backyard.
Feeling ready to bring your vision to life? That's where we come in! At Brentwood Fence LLC, we're passionate about helping homeowners like you across New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine – including cherished communities like Portsmouth NH, Manchester NH, Concord NH, Derry NH, Dover NH, and Haverhill MA. Our team of friendly experts is here to guide you every step of the way. We'll help you steer the options, select the ideal type of wood privacy fence and material that perfectly suits your needs, budget, and home's unique style.
Don't let your dream backyard remain just a dream. Let's make it a reality!
Explore our privacy fencing installation services to get started on your project!
Copyright 2022 Brentwood Fence | All Rights Reserved | Sitemap | Website by Plumb Development a Digital Marketing Agency