Wood fence styles for Peterborough yards

Every wood fence we build starts the same way, with posts augered below the frost line and set in concrete. What changes is what goes on top. The style decides how much you see through it, how it looks from the neighbour's side, and where on your lot it's allowed to go.

These are the styles we build most around Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

Board-on-board privacy

Boards go on alternating sides of the rails and overlap, so there's no straight line of sight through the fence even when the wood shrinks in a dry summer. It's the style to pick when privacy is the whole point: a backyard that backs onto close neighbours, a hot tub, a patio.

It uses more lumber than a single row of boards, so it sits higher in cost for a wood fence.

Solid panel privacy

Boards butt tight together on one side for a flat, clean face. It looks tidy and it's private when it goes in. Wood moves with the seasons, so expect thin gaps to open up between boards over time.

Lattice tops and caps

A lattice strip along the top of a privacy fence softens a tall wall of boards, adds a little height and gives climbing plants something to hold. A cap rail over the top gives the fence a finished edge. It's a common way to dress up a fence that faces your own patio.

We built a lattice-topped privacy fence with an arched gate in Peterborough and a long lattice-capped run in the Kawarthas if you want to see the look.

Picket and spaced-board runs

Boards with gaps between them. They mark a boundary without walling you in, which makes them the usual pick for front yards and gardens. They also suit the rules: front yard fences are kept low in most towns around here. Cobourg allows 0.75 m out front, and Selwyn and Asphodel-Norwood allow about 1 m. Our fence height guide has the numbers for each town.

See a front yard picket fence we built, photographed in winter.

Gates

A gate gets more abuse than any other part of a fence. We size walk gates for a mower or a wheelbarrow and hang them on posts heavy enough that they don't sag. Arched tops are easy to build in wood and pair well with a lattice-topped fence.

Which style goes where

Style	Privacy	Typical spot	Relative cost
Board-on-board	Full	Backyard, hot tub, patio	Higher
Solid panel	Full when new	Backyard, side yard	Middle
Lattice top or cap	Adds to the fence below	On top of a privacy fence	Adds to the fence
Picket or spaced board	Low	Front yard, garden	Lower

Lots of yards use two styles: full privacy along the back and sides, and a low picket run out front where the by-law keeps fences short anyway.

Cedar or pressure-treated

Any of these styles can be built in either. Cedar costs more and looks good left alone as it weathers to silver-grey. Pressure-treated costs less and takes stain well. Either one lasts 15 to 25 years here when the posts are set below frost, and either one wants a wash or stain every 2 to 4 years. Our wood fence page goes into the details.

Common questions

Which wood fence style is the most private?

Board-on-board. The overlapping boards leave no straight gap to see through, even after the wood shrinks.

Can I mix styles on one property?

Yes, and it's common. A privacy style along the back and sides with a low picket run out front often fits the by-law better than one style everywhere.

What does each style cost?

Every fence is priced per foot, in writing, after a free visit. Style matters less than people expect. Length, gates, slopes, rock and tearing out an old fence usually move the price more. The fence cost guide explains what drives it.

Not sure which style suits your yard? Book a free estimate or call (705) 977-2531, and we'll walk the lot with you.