Wood Fence Materials and Styles in Chehalis, WA:
A Lewis County Guide
PNW Fence & Gate | 132 Pier Rd, Chehalis, WA 98532 | (360) 996-4250
Wood fencing remains one of the most popular choices for homeowners in Chehalis and throughout Lewis County because it fits Pacific Northwest properties well. From backyard privacy fences to decorative front yard fencing, cedar offers a natural appearance, strong curb appeal, and reliable performance in Western Washington’s wet climate.
But not all wood fences are built the same. The type of cedar, the fence style, and the installation method all affect how well a fence holds up over time. At PNW Fence & Gate, we build cedar and wood fences across Chehalis, Centralia, and surrounding Lewis County communities using materials and installation methods designed for PNW conditions.
This guide explains the most common wood fence styles, cedar grades, and material options homeowners should consider before installing a wood fence in Western Washington.
Why Wood Fences Fail Early in Lewis County
Western Washington’s climate is hard on fences. In Chehalis and throughout Lewis County, the ground can stay wet for months during the rainy season. That constant moisture creates problems at the exact point where most fences are weakest: the posts below grade.
Even pressure-treated wood posts eventually break down when they remain surrounded by wet soil year after year. In many cases, the fence boards above ground still look fine while the structure underneath is already failing.
That is why we build cedar privacy fences with steel posts set in concrete instead of wood posts buried directly in the ground. The cedar remains above grade while the structural support below ground is steel, which greatly improves long-term durability in PNW conditions.
The other major factors that affect lifespan are the grade of cedar used, lumber moisture content, and ongoing staining or sealing maintenance. A well-built cedar fence made from quality materials and maintained regularly can last for decades in Lewis County.
Cedar vs. Pressure-Treated Pine: Which Wood Holds Up in the PNW?
Two wood species account for most of the residential fence installations in Lewis County and Thurston County. They perform differently, and the right choice depends on what you need the fence to do.
Western Red Cedar
Cedar is the standard for privacy and decorative wood fencing in the Pacific Northwest because it contains natural oils that resist rot and repel insects without any chemical treatment. These oils give fresh cedar its characteristic smell and are why cedar holds up better in wet climates than most other softwoods.
A cedar fence with proper maintenance, including staining or sealing every two to three years, will typically last 15 to 20 years. With good materials and excellent installation, that range extends closer to 25 years. The difference between a fence that lasts 12 years and one that lasts 25 years usually comes down to the grade of lumber the contractor used, and whether the homeowner kept up with sealing.
Without staining, UV radiation will gradually gray out the wood and open the surface to moisture penetration. Regular maintenance helps protect your fence and is much easier and less expensive than trying to restore neglected wood years later.
Pressure-Treated Pine
Pressure-treated pine is infused with copper-based preservatives that protect against rot and insects. It’s a durable, cost-effective material commonly used for fence posts and rails, and a practical option for agricultural or utilitarian fencing.
For privacy fence pickets, though, cedar is generally the better choice in the PNW. Pressure-treated pine needs to fully dry before it will accept stain, typically six to twelve months after installation. Apply a finish too early, and it won’t penetrate properly, leaving the wood to gray just as it would untreated.
One more practical note: PT lumber requires stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized fasteners. Standard steel hardware reacts with copper preservatives, corroding faster than you’d expect.
Considering a metal option instead? See our wood vs. aluminum fencing guide for a side-by-side breakdown.
Wood Fence Styles for Lewis County Properties
Choosing the right material is only part of the decision — style matters too. Here’s an overview of the four most common wood fence styles we install in Lewis and Thurston Counties, and what each is best suited for.
Board-on-Board
Board-on-board uses overlapping pickets, meaning each board overlaps the next by an inch or two, eliminating gaps and ensuring there’s no “bad side” of the fence. That overlap also gives the fence room to handle natural wood shrinkage without developing visible gaps over time.
This style uses roughly 30% more lumber than a comparable stockade fence, but it’s the most popular choice for full-privacy backyard fences in Chehalis because it looks finished from both sides and holds its appearance as the wood ages.
Shadowbox
A shadowbox fence alternates pickets on opposite sides of the horizontal rails. From straight on, it looks solid. From an angle, you can see light through the gaps between boards. The result is genuine privacy without completely blocking airflow.
On rural Lewis County lots where wind is a factor, a shadowbox fence is worth considering. The airflow through the fence reduces the load during wind events, which means less stress on the posts over time, which is a real advantage on more exposed properties.
Stockade
Stockade is the classic full-privacy style with pointed-top pickets set side by side tightly on horizontal rails. There’s no overlap, which means stockade uses less lumber than board-on-board and costs less to install.
The trade-off is that as boards dry and shrink over the first couple of seasons, small gaps may appear between pickets. Starting with properly dried lumber reduces this significantly. Stockade is a solid choice for homeowners who want the traditional wood privacy fence look at a lower material cost than board-on-board.
Spaced Picket
Spaced picket uses evenly spaced pickets on horizontal rails, enough to define a boundary clearly, but without full privacy. It’s the right call for a front yard, garden perimeter, or property line where you want to stay open and visible. On rural Lewis County properties with longer frontage, it’s often the most practical option where full privacy fencing would be cost-prohibitive or simply unnecessary.
Cedar Grades Explained: What Homeowners Should Know
Not all cedar fencing is the same quality. The grade of cedar used has a major impact on how the fence looks when installed and how it performs over time.
Two and Better Cedar
This is the standard cedar grade we recommend for most residential privacy fences. It contains fewer knots and defects than lower-grade cedar commonly sold through large retail suppliers. For most homeowners, it provides the best balance of appearance, durability and value
1 Grade Cedar
1 grade cedar contains even fewer visible knots and imperfections. It is a strong option for highly visible fencing near patios, decks, or front-facing side yards where appearance matters more.
Clear Grade Cedar
Clear-grade cedar contains virtually no knots and offers the cleanest appearance available. Homeowners typically choose this option for premium projects where aesthetics are a top priority.
Why Board Thickness Matters
True 5/8-inch cedar pickets generally hold up better over the long term than thinner material commonly sold at big-box stores. Thicker boards are more stable and less prone to excessive warping over time.
Moisture content matters as well. Wet lumber shrinks as it dries, which can create visible gaps in privacy fences during the first season. Properly dried cedar helps fences maintain a tighter, cleaner appearance after installation.
How We Install Wood Fences in Chehalis, Centralia,
and Surrounding Lewis County
All of our work is backed by a 2-year workmanship warranty covering labor and craftsmanship.
Our cedar fence installations begin with a site visit.
Tallon, or one of our project managers, comes out to your property to take measurements, evaluate the grade, and walk through style and material options with you. There’s no charge for the estimate.
Set Posts & Prepare the Structure
Every cedar privacy fence we build uses steel posts set in concrete rather than wood posts buried in the ground. This isn’t an upgrade or add-on—it’s simply how we build. We also work with custom-cut cedar sourced to our specifications, rather than relying on standard inventory from big-box stores. That allows us to maintain consistency in quality and fit across the entire project.
Install Fabric, Gates, & Align the Fence
For homeowners looking to minimize maintenance after installation, we offer pre-staining as part of the build process. We’ve developed an in-house pre-staining system capable of coating up to 1,000 linear feet of cedar per day. Because the stain is applied before installation, every surface of each board is fully sealed—including edges that would be inaccessible once the fence is assembled. The result is a level of coverage and durability that’s difficult to achieve with post-installation staining.
Where We Serve Across Lewis County and Thurston County
- Chehalis and Centralia: These are our primary service areas, with a mix of older neighborhoods and newer subdivisions. Properties here often come with specific setback requirements, and in the City of Chehalis, solid fences are limited to 42 inches in street setback areas and up to 7 feet elsewhere.
- Rochester and Tenino: These areas combine rural acreage with newer residential development. Larger properties allow for more flexibility in fence design, but they also involve longer runs and more varied terrain, which we evaluate carefully during each site visit.
- Napavine and Winlock: Smaller, mostly rural communities where many properties are not governed by HOAs. This gives homeowners more freedom to choose styles such as board-on-board fencing or custom heights without additional restrictions.
- Toledo and Castle Rock: Located further south, these areas often involve rural properties with longer fence runs and more complex layouts. We regularly take on projects here, even though many contractors in the region do not travel this far for residential work.
- Oakville: A more rural part of the county where properties tend to be larger. Homeowners here often prioritize boundary definition over privacy, making styles like spaced picket and split rail common choices.
- Tumwater, Olympia, and Lacey (Thurston County: These areas include more HOA-managed communities, where CC&Rs often define fence height, material, and style. We’re familiar with these requirements and can help clarify what’s allowed before installation begins.
- Yelm and Lacey (JBLM Communities): With a strong military presence in the area, many homeowners prioritize low-maintenance fencing. Vinyl is a common choice, but pre-stained cedar offers a comparable balance of durability and reduced upkeep.
Start Your Cedar Fence Project in Lewis County
We build wood fences across Lewis County and into Thurston County using custom-cut cedar, steel posts, and our in-house pre-staining service.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wood Fencing in Lewis County
Do I need a permit to build a wood fence in Lewis County?
In unincorporated Lewis County, fences under 7 feet tall generally don’t require a building permit. Within Chehalis city limits, solid fences are limited to 42 inches in the street setback and 7 feet elsewhere. Thurston County and incorporated cities like Olympia and Tumwater each have their own codes. We recommend confirming with your local planning office before starting any fence project.
How long does a cedar fence last in Western Washington?
With proper maintenance, a cedar fence built with quality lumber and steel posts should last 20 to 25 years in Lewis County’s climate. The biggest variables are lumber grade, post material, and how consistently the fence gets stained or sealed.
How often does a cedar fence need to be stained or sealed?
Every two to three years is the right interval for the Pacific Northwest. Pre-staining at installation gives you a stronger starting point — full coverage on all board surfaces, including the edges you can’t reach once the fence is up.
What’s the difference between board-on-board and stockade?
Board-on-board overlaps pickets; stockade sets them edge-to-edge without overlap. Board-on-board uses roughly 30% more lumber and stays gap-free as the wood seasons. Stockade uses less material but may develop small gaps in the first year as green lumber dries.
Why do you use steel posts instead of wood posts?
Wood posts in PNW soil rot at the ground-contact point, typically within 5 to 10 years — even when the fence boards above still look fine. Lewis County soil stays wet for months at a time. Steel posts set in concrete simply don’t rot.
What cedar grade is best for a privacy fence?
At minimum, we recommend “two and better” — fewer knots and defects than the #2 select cedar sold at big-box stores. For a high-visibility fence where appearance matters as much as function, stepping up to #1 or clear-grade cedar is worth the investment.