Wood Fence Installation in Rhode Island & Connecticut

Wood Fence Styles

Cedar board-on-board gives full privacy with overlapping pickets. Spruce stockade is the classic pointed-top privacy fence and an affordable way to enclose a large yard. Cedar picket fences frame front yards and gardens. Split rail outlines property lines, fields and driveways, and pairs with wire mesh to keep dogs in. Horizontal wood and wood-on-steel-post systems give a clean, modern line.

Tops can be flat, scalloped, arched, or finished with lattice for a softer look. We can build a gate to match any style.

Heights

Wood privacy is usually 6 feet, with 4 and 5 foot options for patios and gardens. Pickets run 3 to 4 feet, and split rail is typically 3 to 4 feet with two or three rails. We confirm local height and setback rules before ordering.

Cedar vs. Spruce vs. Pressure-Treated

Cedar resists rot and insects naturally and stays straighter as it dries. Spruce is lighter and lower cost, ideal for long stockade runs. Pressure-treated pine is used for posts and rails for added ground-contact protection. Wood benefits from a stain or sealer every few years to keep its color, or you can let cedar weather naturally.

Board-on-Board vs. Stockade vs. Shadowbox

Stockade fences use pickets butted tightly side by side on one face of the rails, so the rails show on the inside. Board-on-board overlaps pickets on alternating sides, which hides gaps as the wood shrinks and looks finished from both directions. Shadowbox, sometimes called good-neighbor fence, alternates boards on each side with small spaces, allowing airflow while still blocking most of the view. Each style has a different look, cost and level of privacy.

Wood Grades and What They Mean

Cedar comes in grades based on knots and appearance. Clearer grades have fewer knots and a more refined look; knotty grades have a rustic character and cost less. Spruce stockade is often sold in standard and premium grades. For posts, pressure-treated lumber rated for ground contact holds up far better than untreated wood. We help you choose grades that match the look you want without paying for clear lumber where it doesn’t show.

Staining, Sealing and Weathering

New wood should dry before you stain it, usually a few weeks to a few months depending on the season. Semi-transparent stains show the grain and are easier to refresh; solid stains give more color coverage and protection. Untreated cedar naturally turns a silver gray, which many New England homeowners love. Sealing every few years slows weathering and cupping, especially on south-facing runs and near the water.

Preventing Rot and Warping

Most wood fence problems start at ground level. We set posts in concrete and slope the concrete away from the post so water doesn’t pool. Pickets should sit a couple of inches above soil and mulch so they can dry out. Keep sprinklers, gutter downspouts and piled snow away from the fence line where possible. Galvanized or stainless fasteners prevent rust stains and hold boards tight as the wood moves.

Wood and Steel-Post Systems

For a cleaner, longer-lasting install, wood panels can be mounted on galvanized or black powder-coated steel posts. The steel resists rot at the ground, holds straighter in wind, and gives a modern look, while you keep the warmth of cedar or other wood on the face of the fence.

What Affects the Cost

The price of a fence depends on its length, height, material, terrain and the number and type of gates. For a price on your actual yard, use our instant fence quote.

Wood Fence Gallery

Our Wood Fence Installation Process

1. Price it first. Use our instant fence quote for a fast estimate, then we confirm details on site.
2. Measure and plan. We walk the line, review your survey or property pins, and plan gates, grade changes and any obstacles like ledge, roots or wet spots.
3. Permits and utilities. We confirm local height, setback and pool rules and arrange utility mark-outs before digging.
4. Installation. Our crews set posts in concrete below the frost line, hang panels level or stepped to the grade, and install gates that swing and latch smoothly.
5. Final walk-through. We clean up, walk the finished fence with you, and make sure every gate works the way it should.

Built for New England Weather

Rhode Island and Southeastern Connecticut are hard on fences. Frost heave lifts shallow posts, coastal wind loads long runs, salt air corrodes cheap hardware, and many yards sit on ledge, clay or wet ground. We set posts in concrete below the frost line, size gate posts heavier than line posts, use galvanized, stainless or coated hardware, and adjust footings for soft or rocky ground. On waterfront and open lots we plan post spacing and rail strength for the wind.

Why Homeowners Choose Fence Pros Direct

Fence Pros Direct brings 25 years of construction experience to every residential fence. Our own crews handle the install from layout to cleanup, we give clear written pricing up front, and we focus on the details that make a fence look right for years: straight lines, consistent gaps, level gates and clean transitions at corners and slopes. Residential fencing is our focus, and we also take on commercial projects.

Permits, Property Lines and Neighbors

Fence rules vary from town to town. Many residential fences don’t need a building permit, but height limits, setbacks, corner-lot sight lines, pool-barrier rules and coastal or historic district review can apply. We check the requirements for your property before we schedule, and we always recommend confirming your property line with a survey or your property pins.

Where We Install Wood Fences

Rhode Island: East Greenwich, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Narragansett, Warwick, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton, Barrington, Jamestown, Newport, Middletown, Westerly, Cranston, and towns statewide.

Southeastern Connecticut: Mystic, Stonington, Old Lyme, Groton and nearby towns. We also serve Southeastern Massachusetts. See all service areas.

Licensed in Rhode Island and Connecticut: Rhode Island Contractor License #20431 · Connecticut Home Improvement Contractor HIC.0705172.