Boston Wood Fence

Wood fence in Boston takes on many shapes, styles, and forms. Standard cedar privacy fence works great out in the suburbs, but as you close in on the City of Boston itself the yards get smaller and the architecture gets more distinct, making a variety of fence designs the rule rather than the exception. And since Boston is the third smallest major city in the nation when it comes to square mileage, and the fifth highest when it comes to population density, it's easy to see why fences of any kind aren't exactly commonplace in Boston proper. Still the classic, timeless, traditional look of wood fence is perfect for a city where the history is so rich it's practically seeping out of the cracks in the sidewalk.

Boston Wood Fence Styles
If you're thinking about putting up wood fence, the most important thing is to choose a fence design that fits your property and your home. As mentioned, out in the suburbs wood fence can be just about anything, be it a 6' cedar privacy fence or more traditional (and popular) stockade picket fencing. New home builds usually favor the modern privacy fence, while stockade fencing is perfect for the older, colonial style homes that date back hundreds of years (and the modern counterparts that mimic them).

Closer to the center of the city style really becomes homeowner preference. The front yards of traditional brownstones, for example, are often bordered with shorter picket fencing that creates barriers between properties, but doesn't hinder the tight community feel that characterizes many Boston neighborhoods. Backyard Boston wood fencing, on the other hand, ranges from the short picket fence mentioned above to tall, basketweave privacy fence that can be manipulated to create a small, private, outdoor oasis smack in the middle of crowded urban areas.

Boston Wood Fence Costs and Timelines
Drawing from the data ServiceMagic collects from homeowners who used our services to hire Boston wood fence builders, we can provide a fairly accurate picture of the costs you should expect if you're hiring someone to put up a wood fence on your property. Including labor and materials, almost every wood fence installation in the Boston area that was performed by a contractor working with ServiceMagic ended up costing between $1000-$4000, with $2,500 being representative of an average job. The time it took to build the fences averaged a relatively speedy two weeks, with eight days and four weeks taking the prizes for the speediest, and slowest, installations respectively. As you'd expect, the longer a job lasted, presumably because of having to fence larger yards, the more expensive the installation ran.

Important Advice for Those Purchasing Wood Fencing in Boston
What does all this mean for the average homeowner in Greater Boston? It's actually pretty favorable for homeowners. Since Boston wood fencing prices are fairly consistent across the board in the Boston area, you can be assured you'll get your money's worth as long as you find a good contractor and know what to ask for. And when it comes to Boston wood fence, you should always be asking for cedar. Boston's hot, humid summers and long, rough winters, complete with offshore storms and Nor'easters, can be pretty hard on wood fencing. Cedar contains naturally occurring oils that help it repel the elements, making it the perfect fencing material for harsh New England weather.

You'll still need to treat cedar every 5-10 years to keep it looking good and to prevent weather damage, but compared to other woods, cedar is still a cut above when it comes to fencing. If you don't choose cedar wood fence, then you're wise to use pressure treated lumber, and you should paint your new fence if you want it to last for any length of time. On a final note, it's always smart to check a few references just to ensure your contractor has a good track record when it comes to building a fence that lasts. It takes a little effort on your part, but it's time well spent and will virtually guarantee you a quality wood fence that's fitting for the City on a Hill.