Wood fence installation
Wood still fences a lot of Twin Falls backyards. In a dry, sunny, windy place, its lifespan comes down to the posts and the finish.
Walk the older streets of Twin Falls and you'll see wood fences of every age, from new cedar to boards that have gone silver after decades of high-desert sun. Wood is popular because it looks natural, suits both older homes and modern horizontal designs, and is easy to repair one board or rail at a time. Whether it lasts ten years or twenty depends mostly on what happens at and below the ground.
Which wood fence style fits your yard?
| Style | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Dog-ear or flat-top privacy | Backyards, screening a street or neighbor | Full wind load; needs stout, deep posts |
| Board-on-board | Privacy that looks good from both sides | No see-through gaps as boards shrink |
| Horizontal slat | Newer and modern homes | Long boards need a center support to stay straight |
| Picket | Front yards, gardens, older homes | Must stay low inside sight triangles |
Cedar boards, treated posts or steel posts?
Cedar resists decay and stays straighter as it dries, which makes it a common choice for boards and pickets. Pressure-treated lumber rated for ground contact is often used for posts. Galvanized steel posts hidden behind the boards are another option that won't rot at the soil line. Ask the contractor what they plan to use for each part and why.
What does the Magic Valley climate do to wood?
The City of Twin Falls rates the area for severe weathering, and the air is dry most of the year. Bare boards gray, check and cup faster under strong sun and big temperature swings. A penetrating stain or sealer, applied once new lumber has dried and renewed every few years, slows that down. Aim sprinkler heads away from the fence line, too. A post that gets soaked every morning all summer is one of the fastest ways to rot wood in an otherwise dry climate.
Posts, rock and frost
The city's design criteria use a 24-inch frost depth for footings, and much of the area sits on basalt. A contractor may hit rock in some holes, and how they deal with it matters: a post set short in a shallow hole is the one that leans first. Ask what depth they'll set posts for your fence height and what happens if a hole hits rock.
What affects the price?
- Length, height and style
- Cedar, treated lumber or steel posts
- Number of gates and the hardware
- Tearing out and hauling off an old fence
- Rocky digging, slope and yard access
A fence is priced after the contractor walks the line, checks the digging, counts gates, corners and grade changes, and hears what the fence has to do. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone before someone has seen the property is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
How deep should fence posts be in Twin Falls?
Deeper than the frost line, and deep enough to resist wind. The city uses a 24-inch frost depth for footings. Ask your contractor what depth they use for your fence height.
When should a new cedar fence be stained?
Usually after the wood has had time to dry. Follow the contractor's or stain maker's guidance for the lumber used.
Related services
More background: Twin Falls fence guide.
Fence flattened by a west wind, or a new backyard with nothing around it?
Call the number above and a Magic Valley fence contractor will set a time to see the job and quote it directly.