Cedar Fence in Denver, CO
Locally built cedar fences set on steel posts with full concrete footings, rated for Colorado's weather.
Get Free QuoteSearching for fence companies close to me that actually build cedar right? J.A's Privacy and Perimeter installs Western Red Cedar fencing across the Denver metro, steel posts on 6-foot centers, full concrete footings below the frost line, and 70 mph wind-rated construction. Owner Julian Lopez is licensed and insured in Colorado, has completed 500+ projects across the metro, and doesn't subcontract. You get the same crew, same standards, every time.
Cedar is the right call for homeowners who want a natural wood look without constant maintenance headaches. The tight grain naturally resists moisture, insects, and rot better than pine or spruce. You still get full design control, board-on-board, shadowbox, dog-ear, or a custom cap-and-trim profile, and the wood takes stain beautifully if you want to lock in the color long-term. It's not the cheapest fence you can buy. It's the one you won't be repairing every three years.
What We Offer
- Steel posts set at 6-foot centers
- Full concrete footings below frost line
- 70 mph wind-rated construction
- Board-on-board, shadowbox, and custom profiles
- Owner-operated by Julian Lopez, no subcontractors
- Permit guidance for Denver and surrounding cities
- #2 or better Western Red Cedar lumber
- Fence staining available as add-on service
Why Cedar Outperforms Other Wood Fences
Most wood fence failures we see aren't from Colorado weather. They're from cheap lumber. Pine posts rot at the ground line within five years, we've replaced dozens of them. Western Red Cedar contains natural oils that fight moisture and insect damage from the inside out. That's not a sales pitch; it's why cedar has been the go-to fence lumber on the Front Range for decades. It holds up to freeze-thaw cycles better than pressure-treated pine and doesn't warp as aggressively through summer heat swings. You'll still want to stain it every two to three years if you care about color, but structural integrity holds even if you skip a cycle. Any fence company near you selling pine posts as a comparable option is cutting your budget and your fence's lifespan at the same time.
Post Depth and Footing Standards
This is where fence contractors cut corners most often. We set 6-foot-center steel posts in full concrete footings, not dry-packed, not gravel-only. In Colorado's clay-heavy soils, a dry-pack footing heaves and leans within a couple of seasons. Our footings go below the frost line, which matters when March brings a hard freeze after a warm February. Every post is plumb-checked before the concrete sets. You don't get a leaning fence six months after install. Wood posts in direct-bury concrete are a different story: they hold for a while, then they rot where the post meets the footing, and suddenly you've got a structural failure in the middle of your fence line. We use steel. It costs a little more. It lasts decades longer.
Denver Fence Height Rules and Permits
It's your permit, your fine if the fence is built wrong. Most Colorado jurisdictions follow a 6-foot maximum for rear and side yards and a 4-foot maximum for front yards. Anything above those heights requires a permit through Denver Community Planning and Development or your local building department. HOA neighborhoods, Highlands, Lowry, Stapleton, and others, also require Architectural Review Committee approval before we break ground, regardless of height. We can walk you through what documentation is typically required and what to expect in the approval timeline. We don't pull permits on your behalf, but we won't start a job that's headed for a stop-work order either.
Cedar Fence Styles We Install
Board-on-board is the most popular choice for full privacy: alternating boards overlap so there's no visible gap even as the wood naturally expands and contracts through the seasons. Shadowbox gives you airflow with a partial privacy effect, good for side yards where solid fencing feels heavy. Dog-ear is the standard budget option and there's nothing wrong with it for a clean, functional fence. If you want more visual weight, a cap-and-trim or lattice-top profile adds detail without a big labor premium. We don't do decorative ironwork or ornamental picket on cedar builds, that's a different trade. What we do, we do clean. Wood fence panels are cut and installed on-site, not pre-assembled off-cuts that don't fit your yard's grade changes.
Pairing Cedar with Staining for Longevity
A raw cedar fence left unfinished will gray out within one season. That's UV oxidation, not structural damage, but it's a significant change in appearance that surprises a lot of homeowners. If you want to keep the warm honey tone or a richer brown, a quality penetrating oil stain applied within 30 days of installation locks in color and adds a UV barrier. We offer fence staining as a separate service. Honest opinion: it's worth doing, but it's not an emergency if your schedule doesn't allow it the first year. The wood won't fail without it. It'll just look different than it did on install day. Semi-transparent stain is the most popular choice, it preserves the wood grain while adding meaningful UV and moisture protection.
What to Expect During Installation
A standard residential cedar fence job runs two to four days depending on linear footage, terrain, and gate count. Day one is layout, post digging, and setting. Concrete needs cure time, we don't frame and panel the same day posts are set. That's not inefficiency; rushing it produces fences that rack in the first year. The crew that shows up is Julian's crew. We don't sub out to whoever's available that week. If site access is tight on one side of the lot, tell us before scheduling because it directly affects how we plan the dig and whether equipment can get in. We work Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 6 PM. We don't schedule weekend installs, the crew does better work on a consistent schedule.
Fence and Posts: Material Specs That Matter
The fence and posts together determine whether your fence is still standing in 15 years or needs full replacement in eight. Here's what we spec on every cedar build: steel posts, not wood, at 6-foot centers minimum; fence boards are #2 or better Western Red Cedar, not hemlock or a cedar-hemlock blend; top and bottom rails are 2x4 cedar or steel depending on span and wind exposure; and post caps are installed on every terminal post to keep water out of the hollow top. Cheap fence panels from big-box stores use finger-jointed boards and nominal-dimension lumber that's often undersized. We buy from suppliers, not retail. The difference shows up in five years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a cedar fence last in Colorado?
A properly built cedar fence in Colorado lasts 15 to 20 years before major structural work is needed. The main variables are post quality, footing depth, and whether you stain it. Steel posts in concrete footings outlast wood posts by a decade. Individual boards and rails can be replaced as needed, which makes cedar more cost-effective to maintain long-term than most fence types. Cheap pine construction fenced in the same yard often fails within 5 to 7 years.
Does a cedar fence need to be stained or sealed?
It doesn't need stain to stay structurally sound, cedar's natural oils do real work on their own. But unfinished cedar grays out from UV exposure within the first season. If you want to preserve the warm wood tone, apply a penetrating oil stain within the first year and re-apply every two to three years. A solid stain lasts longer between coats but covers the wood grain entirely. Semi-transparent is the middle ground most homeowners choose. We offer fence staining as a separate service if you want it done at the same time.
What fence height is allowed without a permit in Colorado?
Most Colorado municipalities allow up to 6 feet in rear and side yards and 4 feet in front yards without a permit. Anything above those heights requires a permit through your local building department, Denver Community Planning and Development for Denver addresses. HOA neighborhoods including Lowry, Stapleton, and Highlands also require Architectural Review Committee approval before installation, regardless of fence height. Get that approval in writing before scheduling your install.
How do I find fence builders near me who actually do quality work?
Ask for photos of completed jobs on similar terrain. Ask specifically whether they set steel posts or wood posts, and ask what their footing method is. Any fence company near you that won't answer those questions clearly is telling you something. Verify they're licensed in Colorado. J.A's Privacy and Perimeter is owner-operated by Julian Lopez, you get the same crew on every job, not a rotating subcontract crew. We've completed 500+ projects across the Denver metro.
Can I install a cedar fence myself or should I hire a fence contractor?
You can, but the post-setting phase is where most DIY fences fail. Getting posts plumb, at consistent depth, with proper concrete footings on Colorado's clay soil is harder than it looks. A fence that leans or heaves after the first freeze-thaw cycle is one you're paying to redo. If you're handy and patient with layout, the board-and-rail work is manageable. The post work is where a fence contractor earns their cost. Don't skip the steel posts to save money, that's the decision you'll regret in year four.
How much does cedar fence installation cost?
Cost depends on linear footage, terrain, gate count, board profile, and site access. We don't publish price ranges because a quote built on those numbers would be wrong for your specific job. What we can tell you: material quality, footing depth, and post type are the three biggest cost drivers, and they're also the three biggest failure points when a fence company cuts corners. Contact us for a free on-site estimate, Julian will walk the property and give you a real number.
What's the difference between board-on-board and shadowbox cedar fence?
Board-on-board overlaps alternating boards so there's zero gap from any angle, it's the go-to for full privacy. Shadowbox staggers boards on alternating sides of the rail, leaving a partial gap that allows airflow but limits sightlines. Both use the same post and footing system. Board-on-board uses slightly more lumber per linear foot. Shadowbox is a good choice for side yards or shared fence lines where your neighbor wants light and air flow preserved. Neither style requires a premium on labor, the difference is in the board layout.
Cedar Fence Service Areas
We provide cedar fence services across the Denver metro:
Other Services
- Privacy Fencing — Cedar, vinyl, and composite privacy fences built for Denver wind, clay soil, and 100+ freeze-thaw cycles a year.
- Security Gates — Custom-fabricated security gates, the controlled access point of your complete perimeter plan.
- Chain Link — Galvanized and vinyl-coated chain link for Denver homes, pool enclosures, dog runs, pickleball courts, and commercial yards. Built to ASTM spec.
- Vinyl & PVC — Aluminum-reinforced vinyl fencing built for Colorado's climate — rated to -30°F, installed to frost depth.
- Fence Repair — Licensed Colorado fence contractor. Repair or replace — we'll tell you which one actually makes sense for your fence.
- Fence Staining — Penetrating oil stains, moisture-tested prep, and re-coat schedules built for Denver UV, 100+ freeze-thaw cycles a year, and HOA color compliance.
- Electric Gates — Professional electric cantilever and arm gate installation — hardwired, solar, or battery backup.
- Wrought Iron Fence — Permanent wrought iron fencing installed right: permits handled, posts set to frost depth, no subcontractors.
- Fence Replacement Cost — Fence replacement quoted line by line, no hidden demo costs, no bundled surprises.
- Fence Installation Cost — Transparent, material-specific cost guidance from a licensed Colorado fence specialist, no generic averages, no surprises.
- Composite Fencing — Composite fence panels that look like wood and outlast it, installed on steel posts by Julian Lopez's crew.