Wood Fence Installation in the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver
There’s a reason wood is still the fence most people picture. Nothing else gives you that warm, natural look for the money, and a well built wood fence can wrap a backyard in privacy for a fraction of what other materials cost. APNA Fencing and Landscaping has been building them across the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver for over 25 years, and we still build every one as if it were on our own property.
Family Owned & Operated
25+ Years of Fencing Experience
Reliable Fence Contractor
Wood Is the Most Forgiving Fence to Design, and the Least Forgiving to Build
Here’s the thing about a wood fence. On paper, it’s the simplest fence there is, just posts, rails and boards. In practice, it’s the one where cut corners show up fastest. Posts set too shallow start to lean after a wet winter. Cheap boards cup and split within a season. Rails that aren’t fastened right let the whole panel sag in the middle.
None of that is the wood’s fault. It’s the build. Done properly, with the right cedar and posts set deep, a wood fence stands straight and looks good for a long time. That’s the whole job, and it’s the part we don’t rush.
Styles, From Full Privacy to Open Rail
We install the full range of wood fence styles so you can match the look to your home and the level of privacy you want:
Privacy
Solid boards butted tight, closing your yard off completely
Board on Board
Overlapping boards that eliminate gaps as wood naturally expands and contracts, with a clean look on both sides
Shadowbox
Alternating front and back boards for privacy that still lets a breeze through
Lattice Top
A solid privacy base topped with a decorative lattice crown
Spindle Top
A solid privacy base topped with a decorative spindle crown
Open Picket and Post and Rail
Classic boundary and front yard looks that dress up the property without closing it in
Pickets can be finished flat, dog eared, or pointed, and posts can be capped or trimmed. Not sure which fits your property? That’s what our free consultation is for. We’ll bring the options and help you match the style to your home.
The Honest Truth About Wood and Maintenance
We’ll always be straight with you: wood asks for more than vinyl or composite does. Left bare, a cedar fence weathers to a silvery grey over a year or two, which some people love and others don’t. To keep the colour and get the most life out of it, you’ll want to stain or seal it every few years.
That’s the trade you make for the look and the lower starting price. If you don’t mind the occasional weekend with a stain brush, wood rewards you with a fence nothing else quite matches. If you’d rather never touch it again, that’s a conversation worth having, and we’ll point you toward composite or vinyl instead. We’d rather you get the right fence than the wrong one.
Choosing Your Wood: Cedar and the Alternatives
Most of what we build is cedar, and there’s a good reason for it. Cedar contains natural oils that fight off rot and insects, so it holds up to our damp coast far better than the cheap spruce and pine you’ll find stacked at the big box stores. It also takes stain beautifully and stays straighter over time. It costs a little more up front. It’s worth it, and it’s usually the difference between a fence that lasts and one you’re repairing in five years.
Pressure treated wood is the budget alternative, chemically treated to resist rot, and it has its place, usually for posts or where cost is the deciding factor. We’re happy to walk you through the trade off. If you want the fence to look good as well as last, cedar is almost always the answer.
What Holds It Up: Posts
If there's one place we won't cut a corner, it's the posts, because everything else hangs off them. We set our wood posts at least 36 inches deep so the fence stays plumb through wind and the freeze thaw our winters bring. Shallow posts are the single most common reason a cheap fence starts to lean, and it's the hardest thing to fix after the fact.
Our Simple 3-Step Process
Measure and Consult
We walk your property, talk through the look and privacy you want, and take accurate measurements. Then you get honest material advice and a clear, custom quote.
Choose Your Style
Pick the wood, the style, the height, and the finish. We'll lay out the cedar versus treated trade-off and help you land on the right combination.
Installation
Our crew sets the posts, builds the fence and gates cleanly, and leaves your property tidy when the job's done.
Warranty
We back every wood fence with our workmanship warranty. Wood itself doesn't carry a manufacturer's warranty the way vinyl or metal does, since it's a natural material that weathers over time, so the quality of the build and the wood is everything. That's exactly why who you hire matters most with a wood fence. We'll explain what's covered before we start.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wood Fencing
How long does a wood fence last in our climate?
With good cedar, proper posts, and a stain every few years, a wood fence here can last well over a decade, often much longer. The two biggest factors are the depth of the posts and whether you keep them sealed.
Will my cedar fence turn grey?
It will if you leave it bare. Cedar weathers to a soft silver grey within a year or two, which is a look some homeowners genuinely prefer. If you want to keep the warm cedar tone, a stain or sealer every few years holds the colour and adds protection at the same time.
How soon should I stain a new wood fence?
It’s usually best to let a new fence dry out for a few weeks to a few months before staining, so the wood can release its moisture and take the finish properly. We’ll give you a straight answer for your specific fence and the time of year it goes in.
Can a wood fence handle our wind and rain?
Yes, when it’s built for it. Deep posts and quality cedar are what carry a fence through coastal storms. Most fences that fail in wind do so at the posts, which is why we don’t skimp there.
Is cedar really worth more than treated wood?
For most people, yes. Cedar’s natural oils resist rot and bugs; it stays straighter, and it simply looks better. Treated wood is the budget route and works fine for posts or lower cost projects. We’ll help you decide based on your priorities, not just push the pricier option.
Do you build custom gates and heights?
Absolutely. Wood is the easiest material to customize, so we build gates to match your fence and can adjust heights and picket styles to suit your property and any local height rules. Just tell us what you have in mind.
Ready for a New Wood Fence?
Tell us the look you’re after and how much privacy you want, and we’ll build it right, posts and all. APNA Fencing and Landscaping can install wood fencing across the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver.
