A horizontal fence runs the boards side to side instead of up and down. That's it. But it catches your eye, because you just don't see it that often. Out of everything we've built, the horizontal cedar fence we did in Andale gets the most attention. It's the one in these photos.
What I like most is that it's still a wood fence at the end of the day. Same cedar, same warmth. It just doesn't look like every other fence on the block.
What does a good horizontal fence look like?
Tight boards with no gaps. A 2x6 cedar cap laid flat across the top. No posts showing on either side, so all you see is wood. And a top line that's dead straight, because on a horizontal fence your eye runs right along it.
Should you stain a horizontal cedar fence?
You can leave it raw. It'll turn gray on its own. But our staining gets a lot of comments, and long horizontal boards really show off a color.
Most people go with a darker tone or a reddish tone. The red is by far my favorite. One thing to know going in: the rough side of the cedar takes stain differently than the smooth side. The rough side soaks up more, so it can come out a little deeper red or darker brown. That's normal, and it's why we bring real samples to your yard.
We use Wood Defender oil-based stain. We also stain existing fences in Wichita.
How do you build a gate into a horizontal fence?
Build it from the same boards, at the same spacing and height as the panels next to it. When the lines carry straight across, the gate almost disappears. You find it by the handle.
Here's the honest part. Horizontal gates get heavy. They stay functional as long as we use tension cable, and a gate that doesn't sag is the first thing I look for. On an oversized gate, like a drive gate, you may be better off with a wrought iron gate and horizontal cedar for the rest of the fence.
Is horizontal better than a steel frame or composite?
Depends on the house. Cedar is my first pick, and you can stain it to match or complement the home. If the house is more modern, FenceTrac is a cool look: black steel frame, boards slid in sideways. You can stain the boards in that too. We cover it on our modern fencing page.
How tall should a horizontal fence be?
Most of ours are privacy height. The boards end up about 5.5 ft tall with the 2x6 cap on top. We build a 4 ft version too, for front yards. We settle the height in your yard, not from a website.
Horizontal fence questions
Who builds horizontal fences in Wichita?
Ovora Outdoor builds horizontal cedar fences across Wichita and the metro, with a flat 2x6 cedar cap, no posts showing and stain if you want it. Quotes are free and itemized in writing.
Does a horizontal fence cost more?
Yes, more than a standard vertical cedar fence. A custom look costs more, and materials have gone up a lot. Our cost estimator prices your exact length, or get a free quote.
How long does it take to build?
The Andale fence went up in 2 days. Most cedar fences take us 2 to 3 days. Tearing out an old fence adds about a day.
Can you see through it?
Not ours in cedar. The boards go up tight. If you want a little see-through, a steel-frame fence with spaced boards does that.
Want to see what yours would run? Price your length in our cost estimator, see our work, or get a free quote.